Call for independent probe into Nurses Council COVID reports

The Nurses Collective NZ has called for an independent investigation into employer-initiated reports made to the Nursing Council of New Zealand during the Covid-19 ‘vaccine’ mandate period, alleging some nurses were referred solely because they declined vaccination rather than for concerns about their clinical competence.

In a letter addressed to Health Minister Simeon Brown and the Nursing Council, The Nurses Collective NZ (NCNZ) said it had received “numerous accounts” from nurses who were either reported, or threatened with being reported, because they refused the Covid-19 vaccine.

The group says the reports did not relate to “clinical errors, unsafe practice, breaches of boundaries, impairment, dishonesty, or criminal offending,” but instead focused on vaccination status.

According to the letter, some reports described experienced nurses as being “unable to maintain public trust and confidence,” “in breach of Principle 4 – safe and competent practice,” and “purposely choosing not to use evidence, research and best practice,” while also questioning their ability to hold an Annual Practising Certificate.

NCNZ also alleges some affected nurses were denied access to copies of the reports made about them after requesting them from their employers.

The letter states that Health New Zealand has declined to release the documents, despite them having been authored by its staff and submitted to the Nursing Council. It further argues that because the Nursing Council is not subject to the Official Information Act, nurses currently have no legal avenue to obtain the reports and says the matter has been referred to the Privacy Commissioner.

The group is asking the Minister and the Nursing Council to investigate the number and nature of employer-initiated reports made during 2021 and 2022 relating solely to vaccine refusal, the legal basis for those reports under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act, whether they met the statutory threshold for mandatory reporting, and whether employers received guidance on reporting unvaccinated nurses.

It is also seeking clarification on whether the Nursing Council raised concerns about the volume or nature of the reports at the time.

In addition, the NCNZ has urged the Government to consider legislative changes requiring regulatory bodies that are not subject to the Official Information Act to provide individuals with access to documents authored by external agencies and submitted about them.

The organisation says many of the affected nurses had long careers, clean disciplinary records and no history of performance concerns, but were nevertheless treated “as if they were dangerous, impaired, dishonest, or criminal simply for exercising informed consent.”

The reports damaged careers, reputations and livelihoods, undermined confidence in the regulatory system, and remain unresolved.

The NCNZ is seeking acknowledgement of its letter, confirmation of whether an investigation will be launched, clarification on how nurses can obtain copies of employer-authored reports submitted about them, and a meeting with representatives to discuss the issues further.

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