Polls, election history and the Hobbit Law – Democracy Project weekly review
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Ian Powell: Continuing Scandal over Tunnel Vision Public Hospital Rebuilding
When Jacinda Ardern unexpectedly became the Labour Party leader shortly before the 2017 general election, she promised to lead a government of transformation. After nearly three years occupying the Treasury benches, health professionals working in public hospitals have been keenly waiting for transformational progress, including in the capacity and quality of hospital buildings where a …
Ian Powell: Threat to the right to strike in DHBs?
The right of employees to strike is an internationally recognised employment right that has been a feature of New Zealand’s industrial relations system for over a century, albeit with different constraints and limitations at different times. Although more restricted, this right even continued under the anti-union Employment Contracts Act (1993-2000). It is a basic right …
Ian Powell: Too Many DHBs? The Wrong Question
Questioning the number of district health boards in New Zealand has got to the extent that “too many DHBs” has become a perceived truth requiring no further elaboration. It is rarely challenged by policy advisers, academics, and journalists. But when one drills down further it becomes clear that the number of DHBs is the wrong …
Ian Powell: Let’s not over glorify the Government’s performance fighting Covid-19
In assessing the effectiveness of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 threat it is important to distinguish between responsiveness and preparedness. The better the former, the greater the likelihood of glossing over weaknesses in the latter. New Zealand’s response to Covid-19 has been extraordinary. Compared with much of the rest of the world we have …
Ian Powell : Vaccines and antibiotics: commodities or public good?
The coronavirus crisis afflicting the planet raises the issue of vaccines as a commercial commodity made profitable through patents rather than a public good. As a family of genetically related viruses affecting respiratory systems, coronavirus is not new. Covid-19 is its most recent and serious family member. Coronavirus was first discovered in chickens in the …
Ian Powell: How ‘High Performance High Engagement’ became a costly house of cards in health sector
The experience of trying to implement ‘high performance high engagement’ (branded as HPHE) in the 20 district health boards is an unfortunate example of zealotry flavoured with a dose of duplicity leading to poor policy-making at the taxpayers’ expense. But for the intervention of pragmatism it could have been worse. It is a case study …