Uncategorized – Page 4 – Grant Brookes

Newtown Union Health Service – Chairperson’s report to the 2020 AGM

Newtown Union Health Service is a not-for-profit community service providing healthcare for community service card holders, low income earners, union members and their families. NUHS is community owned and has provided affordable, accessible, appropriate, quality, not-for-profit and community based primary health care in Wellington since May 1987. Established with the support of local trade unions,Continue reading “Newtown Union Health Service – Chairperson’s report to the 2020 AGM”

‘Time for NZNO to be honest’ – Message from 2020 NZNO Award Winner

Last week, Ann Simmons received a National Award for Service to NZNO at the 2020 NZNO AGM. She had prepared a short acceptance speech, but was not given the opportunity to deliver it. In recognition of a career spanning more than 50 years, I am very honoured to be able to publish Ann’s speech notes, below. Continue reading “‘Time for NZNO to be honest’ – Message from 2020 NZNO Award Winner”

Can we vote to end NZNO’s woes?

Members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation have until Friday, 11 September to cast their vote. For the fifth time in three years, we’re being asked to elect people for positions on the NZNO Board. Voting on remits (proposed alterations to NZNO’s Constitution and policies) is taking place at the same time. As Board resignationsContinue reading “Can we vote to end NZNO’s woes?”

‘Making a mockery of democracy and partnership’ – An unpublished letter to Kai Tiaki

Erin Kennedy is an NZNO leader in Wellington. Since 2006 she has represented members in the workplace, in the media and in the Council of Trade Unions. In her roles as Lead Delegate, Convenor and Co-convenor at my DHB, I worked closely with Erin for over a decade. Last month, Erin submitted a letter toContinue reading “‘Making a mockery of democracy and partnership’ – An unpublished letter to Kai Tiaki”

Viewpoint: Why we aren’t celebrating Florence’s birthday

Debate is swirling around statues and the veneration of colonial icons in the wake of #BlackLivesMatter protests. I re-post this article I wrote in April 2020 as a contribution to a re-evaluation of the figure known as “the founder of modern nursing“. Many nurses find Nightingale’s statements on colonisation and the fate of indigenous peopleContinue reading “Viewpoint: Why we aren’t celebrating Florence’s birthday”