The Nurses Collective NZ has issued an Open Letter to all political parties and candidates contesting the 2026 General Election, calling for public commitments on how New Zealand would respond to future health emergencies.
In the Open Letter the group says many nurses, doctors, paramedics, midwives, healthcare assistants and other frontline workers continue to live with the effects of decisions made during the Covid-19 pandemic, including the loss of employment, restrictions on rights, and diminished trust in the health system.
The letter asks parties to address four key areas: safeguards to prevent emergency powers from overriding fundamental rights without accountability; how they would respond to the dismissal, coercion and loss of livelihoods experienced by some healthcare workers; measures to rebuild confidence in the health system and ensure clinicians are involved in future emergency planning; and commitments to transparent, evidence-based public communication during future crises.
The Nurses Collective says its request is focused on future preparedness rather than revisiting past decisions, arguing that communities and clinicians deserve clear answers from those seeking public office. The organisation has asked all parties and candidates to publicly respond to the issues raised ahead of the election.
Image credit: Julia Taubitz
