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Foxy @foxylustygrover.bsky.social · 58m

Simeon Brown finding out that Drs have a very good sense of humour and don't get gaslit easy #NZPol

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Politics health42 minutes ago
Simeon Brown accuses doctors of crossing 'ethical line' with mega strike
42 minutes ago
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Health Minister Simeon Brown announces extra 75,000 diagnostic procedures, 25 September 2025.Health Minister Simeon Brown. Photo: RNZ / Nick Monro
Health Minister Simeon Brown has come out firing at the senior doctors' annual conference, accusing them of "crossing an ethical line" with industrial action that was hurting patients.

The meeting was at Te Papa in Wellington on Thursday, which comes ahead of further strike action next week.

In his speech to the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, he called on doctors to call off their strike and put patients before politics.

There were audible cries of disbelief when he said the action - while their legal right - had "crossed an ethical line".

Brown said strikes had seen thousands of procedures cancelled or delayed, and there would be more delays next week.

Health NZ told RNZ if it proceeds, the upcoming strike would see more than 900 procedures cancelled and more than 1380 first specialist assessments wiped from the schedule.

The room erupted in laughter when he said he had been advised by Health NZ that the average salary for a senior doctor was $325,000, and the employer's offer represented a $160 million pay rise.

"No one disputes that doctors need to be recognised for the job you do, but New Zealanders also deserve a health system that works for them," Brown said.

He said patients were paying the price for the strike action, and accused the union of walking away from negotiations.

"Patients should never be collateral damage in disputes between management and unions."

Senior doctors would be joining the strike set for later this month.

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Eloquentsonia @eloquentsonia.bsky.social · 58m

It’s the same at P&S! Might be a bit of price fixing going on?? 🤔

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Eloquentsonia @eloquentsonia.bsky.social · 1h

They’re probably shareholders, so it makes sense to them. 🤦🏻‍♀️

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Eloquentsonia @eloquentsonia.bsky.social · 3h

Fantastic news! Congratulations! 🎊🎉🥳

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George Penney @georgepenney.bsky.social · 1d

🧵Spotted While Cafe Writing in Aotearoa New Zealand:

A man (60s?) carefully fixes a wobbly table before producing a newspaper and pen.
Moments later, his wife joins him.
Talking softly with heads bowed together as they do the crossword, laughing at each other's silly guesses. (1)

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Russell Brown @publicaddress.bsky.social · 4h

Goddamn.

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Eloquentsonia @eloquentsonia.bsky.social · 3h

This Government are really, really bad at looking after businesses - or their customers. 🙄

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Eloquentsonia @eloquentsonia.bsky.social · 3h

It’s like the Lester Levy-level of shitness has transferred by osmosis to the catering division. 😩🙄😬

I hope you’re on the mend soon. 🙏

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morgan godfery @morgangodfery.bsky.social · 3h

gee whiz mr bolger was a complex character, but you have to admire the unbreakable conviction on the treaty partnership staring down his own cabinet, his party, his social base, and a majority of new zealanders. no way a politician would have the courage to do the same today x

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Foxy @foxylustygrover.bsky.social · 3h

"much of that appears to be down to Luxon, who has simply struggled to connect with the public in any meaningful way. The numbers on that are pretty clear, even if the reasons for it are contested, up for debate. It's difficult to put a finger on exactly why"

@dimsie.bsky.social's gaff list
#NZPol

National’s Luxon problem is now impossible to ignore

ANALYSIS: The National Party has a problem. The question is now whether Prime Minister Christopher Luxon can improve, or if the caucus will consider other options.

www.thepress.co.nz

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Kyle MacDonald @kylemacd.bsky.social · 4h

Legacies are complicated

thespinoff.co.nz/atea/28-09-2...

How Ruth Richardson’s Mother of all Budgets is still f*cking us today

Laura O'Connell Rapira looks at what successive generations of an unregulated housing market does to welfare and housing for those in the margins.

thespinoff.co.nz

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Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa @sanjanah.bsky.social · 14h

Just over a year after I posted this, glad to see the Broadcasting Standards Authority, based on a listener compliant, interpret its mandate to include networks like Plunket's platform. Tellingly, those most upset are tinpot populists, & leading far-right networks. What better endorsement of BSA?

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𝕯𝖆𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖘™ @dallasbarnett.com · 5h

I wont subject you to too much Ryan Bridge, but god dammit, this was funny.

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Dr Sarah Hendrica Bickerton 🏳️‍🌈 @sarahhbickerton.bsky.social · 6h

Could I politely suggest, that with how Arts & Humanities research funding has been pulled from all of these, that political interference has already occurred.

RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 6h

Marsden Fund shake-up raises potential for political interference, Royal Society says

MBIE will take over administration of the Marsden Fund, but the society warns such centralisation could undermine the country's science credibility.

www.rnz.co.nz

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Tairāwhiti Doc @tairawhitidoc.bsky.social · 4h

Sunrise, Thursday, 16 October, from Makorori Headlands, Aotearoa / New Zealand.

Ata mārie / Good Morning ☀️

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Eloquentsonia @eloquentsonia.bsky.social · 4h

Congratulations! 🥳

snoopy is surrounded by fireworks and the words congratulations

Alt: Snoopy is sitting down, with his head back andvhis arms out, smiling. He is surrounded by fireworks going off, and the words “congratulations” in white are at the bottom of the image.

media.tenor.com

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Lew @lewsos.bsky.social · 5h

Reup from 2020 (recorded in 2010). This is worth your time if you are interested in the real history of the Taranaki, how Jim Bolger got to be PM, why land, the ultimate means of production, matters materially as well as spiritually

Lew @lewsos.bsky.social · 5h

"There is nowhere in this entire area that the land is not confiscated."

Here's 2.5 hours of Te Miringa Hohaia in great detail on the confiscation of Taranaki, how it was done, why, and its deep consequences.

Video by Canadian artist Jayce Salloum player.vimeo.com/video/291006...

untitled part 6: upon the resonance/weight of histories on Vimeo

player.vimeo.com

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henry cooke @henrycooke.bsky.social · 6h

Former PM Jim Bolger has passed away following months of treatment for kidney failure. He was 90.

www.thepost.co.nz/politics/360...

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger dies

The former National prime minister died on Wednesday aged 90 after months of treatment for kidney failure. “Jim was much loved and will be deeply missed,” his family said.

www.thepost.co.nz

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WeRateDogs @weratedogs.com · 5h

This is Rosie. She doesn't have a bad angle, but prefers this one because it makes her look tall. 12/10 (IG: whippyrosie)

a gray whippet puppy with white on her paws, tummy, and snoot and blue eyes sits in a living room with a gray couch behind her. she's giving us an innocent expression and the teensiest hint of a blep with her pink tongue. we're looking up at her from a low angle, so it seems as if she's towering over us.

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Micah @rincewind.run · 5h

Discworld QOTD, from Reaper Man

"C.M.O.T. Dibbler liked to describe himself as a merchant adventurer; everyone else liked to describe him as an itinerant pedlar whose money-making schemes were always let down by some small but vital flaw, such as trying to sell things he didn’t own or which didn’t work or, sometimes, didn’t even exist."

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Micah @rincewind.run · 5h

I am not remotely Catholic but somehow it's still deeply disconcerting to see Pope Bob shit-talking the Cubs from the Popemobile

Razzball @razzball.bsky.social · 7h

Someone in the crowd: “Go Cubs!”

Pope Leo XIV: “Han perdido! They lost!”

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Soon Lee @soonleenz.bsky.social · 16h

The 2025 Best Auckland Restaurant Venn diagram. Can you let me know if you spot any mistakes or typos? Uses Cuisine mag's pick for Auckland, Metro mag's Top 50 (in current issue) & a top 60 TripAdvisor snapshot. Repost
#BestAucklandRestaurant #VennDiagram #TamakiMakaurau #BestRestaurantVennDiagram