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scilion.bsky.social
@scilion.bsky.social
760 followers 960 following 660 posts
Master of Science with Distinction (Biochemistry)
Kāi Tahu / Pakeha
She/Her/Ia 🏳️‍🌈
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted
jennifilm.nz
BREAKING: PATHA has filed an urgent injunction in the high court seeking to prevent the puberty blocker ban from coming into force, as part of an urgent judicial review we are seeking to overturn the ban entirely.
November 30, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Reposted
te-ara-paerangi.community
It would be nice to have a government that funded science such that no one doing it would be paid less than a living wage. While I'm at it, no one would be living in precarious circumstances to do science. Oh, and also the same for everyone working in the public service.
#NZPOL
November 30, 2025 at 7:34 AM
scilion.bsky.social
Support our trans youth. But even if you somehow don't the middle paragraph here from Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa (Māori Medical Practitioner's Association) should concern EVERYONE. note the alt text only allowed first two paragraphs rest in next post. If someone knows a better way please share #nzpol
first two paragraphs from a letter from Te ORA statement on banning of puberty blockers by NZ government Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa (Te ORA), the Māori Medical Practitioner’s Association, wishes to express its condemnation of the unprecedented decision of the coalition government of NZ to ban the new prescribing of GnRH analogues as part of the life-affirming care of young New Zealanders. This decision has removed the long-held responsibility of GnRH counseling and prescribing from health professionals who are trained in gender affirming healthcare with decades of local experience, who assert that GnRH analogues remain a useful and important adjunct to a broad range of care as part of a well-established component of gender affirming care for young people and their whānau. It is astounding that a government should make such a direct decision about the regulation of a specific medicine, and Te ORA does not support such action. The medical profession is charged with facilitating careful and considered decision making regarding the implementation of medications into the care plan of a patient, including a discussion of the risks and benefits of a medication. Public trust in this process is a vital part of this. It has never occurred that a cabinet itself take on the role of medicines regulator. Foregoing established pathways for the regulation of medicines, the decision to single out and ban a specific medication in this way would ordinarily be perplexing, given that it is completely at odds with the normal processes involved with reviewing medications – with that in mind, Te ORA can only conclude that the decision making process was purely political in nature. Te ORA asserts that gender affirming care is a human right. third paragraph in next image due to word count limits
November 28, 2025 at 12:41 AM
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kiwisockpuppet.bsky.social
After sacking 50% of Te Whatu Ora tech workers. What could possibly go wrong.
November 25, 2025 at 6:27 AM
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dejanajuk.bsky.social
It’s not enough that Labour MPs have made statements. The Party needs to speak out unequivocally.

If a section of the community is stripped of human rights to healthcare & the Party won’t make a statement, what other human rights abuses will they surrender to the possibility of losing votes? #nzpol
#SPEAKUP #SPEAKOUT #USEYOURPRIVILEGE
November 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
scilion.bsky.social
sigh - I saw a give a little to run a science kids holiday program today too. The two aren't linked except to show how broke those doing the mahi (or wishing to) are.
te-ara-paerangi.community Te Ara Paerangi Com - Research Advocacy Capability @te-ara-paerangi.community · 3d
Ongoing erosion of public research capabilities in Aotearoa. When orgs are forced to restructure like this without $ to pay for it, this is what happens. Very curious to know what the new management structure is and how much it costs in salaries...
#NZPOL
Bioeconomy Science Institute to ask for voluntary redundancies
CEO Mark Piper said the proposed voluntary redundancy offer was part of a financial improvement process to support the new organisation.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 28, 2025 at 12:09 AM
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craigmranapia.bsky.social
Every month or so, I get a charming form letter from Te Whatu Ora reminding me how long I've been on the waiting list for a consult with an opthamology specialist to perhaps schedule eye surgery. Fifteen months and no end in sight.

Pardon my Anglo-Saxon, but fuck these shitheads. #nzpol
November 27, 2025 at 1:55 AM
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petehusky.bsky.social
Amazing difference.

UK lab govt: +1.2% on employer pension contribution. Retain 4% cut on employee contribution

UK Media: Betrayal, threat to business & growth

NZ Nats: 3% reduction in take home pay AND 6% increase in employer costs. Claim good for growth

NZ Media: Seems legit 🤷🏻‍♂️

#nzpol
November 25, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Reposted
tailstrike.xyz
email and/or call Brown and your local MP now, because its always how this attempt at eliminating trans people starts

#nzpol #ProtectTransKids
jennifilm.nz Jennifer @jennifilm.nz · 11d
PATHA's statement has been published: patha.nz/news
The Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns today's decision from Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ideologically driven ban will have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of our transgender and gender diverse young people. We know that children, young people and their whanau will be highly distressed by this decision. We also acknowledge health professionals' frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded. "The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicidality and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people, and will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination," says Dr Elizabeth McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. "The prescribing of puberty blockers is always undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable group." This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health's November 2024 evidence brief on this care. While the evidence brief identified some limitations in the academic quality of evidence regarding the risks and benefits of GRH analogues, limitations in evidence quality are common across a number of areas of medicine, especially within paediatric medicine, and do not justify a ban on access. "PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of three key components: academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values," says Dr McElrea. "When the quality of available academic evidence is of lower quality, it's incredibly common for clinicians to lean on guidelines drawn from clinical experience." "Practising medicine, and paediatric medicine (not just within gender affirming healthcare), often necessitates providing care without a high-quality evidence base. The absence of high-quality clinical evidence does not mean providing this care is wrong." "Children benefit from innovative medical treatments that improve their survival and quality of life. Pediatric care would all but cease if physicians denied treatments for which the evidence base is imperfect." (McNamara et al., 2024, p. 15) 'An Evidence-Based Critique of "The Cass Review" on Gender-affirming Care for Adolescent The new restrictions will be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the United Kingdom, which are not due until at least 2031. "In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children," says Avery Zavoda, PATHA Executive Committee member. PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people. "That New Zealand First announced this news three hours before the Minister of Health shows the way this care has been politicised, and how politics have been prioritised over the wellbeing of New Zealand children," said Zavoda. "Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender, despite the disinformation New Zealand First are promoting," says Jennifer Shields, PATHA President. "It's obvious that this has been a political decision made to appease a coalition partner based on an imported culture war, rather than a medical recommendation reflecting the expertise of NZ clinicians and researchers who have been working in this field for over 25 years." Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences Identify, a 2022 New Zealand research survey on the experiences of rainbow young people showed "the proportion of young people who wanted puberty blockers and were able to use them was nearly half the number of young people who wanted these medications but could not access them." These findings made it clear that the prescription context and existing regulations "did not result in the easy access to young people who wanted puberty blockers that some people have claimed existed. In fact, the results demonstrate a seriously constrained prescription context that urgently needs further attention to be more equitable." "We call on the Ministry of Health to publish their consultation report immediately, so that health professionals, trans people, and the wider public can see that this decision has been made by politicians rather than based on clinical experience," says Shields. "We also look forward to the Minister now immediately allowing the updated guidelines for gender affirming healthcare to be published." "We also call on Labour, the Green Party, and Te Paati Mãori to commit to reversing this harmful decision if they are elected into government next year. Our communities need the reassurance that this ban will not last." "PATHA is committed to ensuring all trans children and children experiencing gender dysphoria have access to the best quality care.
November 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM
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dimsie.bsky.social
To which I, a member of Ngāi Tahu, say: good luck because we have money, we are determined, and we are morally correct, you racist fucks
maetl.bsky.social Mark @maetl.bsky.social · 5d
Regardless of kayfabe comms and Nat equivocation in media, ACT always says the thing to its red-faced griefer audience
ACT attacking Ngai Tahu to its racist Facebook audience.
November 25, 2025 at 6:34 AM
scilion.bsky.social
This is horrible
November 25, 2025 at 7:40 PM
scilion.bsky.social
A month till Christmas, a commonly celebrated family holiday in Aotearoa. Slim pickings for many families, some will be without homes, some will know there won't be any availability to help when DV hits, others will be thinking how the new school year will go now they will be outed by lack of meds.
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 PM
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robdickinson.bsky.social
Little clear benefit in having.. [checks notes] a rescue tug on one of the worlds famous dangerous stretches of water between our 2 largest islands ?

fucking death cult

#nzpol
November 24, 2025 at 9:07 PM
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transactualuk.bsky.social
A summary of our statement on the research protocol:
This research is not about the safety of these medications which have been used for this very purpose since 1989. It is the result of an ideological view at the very top of the DHSC and NHS that being trans is a ‘less desirable outcome.’
Statement on the launch of the puberty blocker research study. This research is not about the safety of these medications which have been used for this very purpose since 1989. It is the result of an ideological view at the very top of the DHSC and NHS that being trans is a ‘less desirable outcome.’ Full statement on our website
November 22, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Reposted
jennifilm.nz
At an absolute minimum, from a pure values perspective, why would Aotearoa want to pin our healthcare against a trial like this? It will be a stain on our history to endorse this trial as a country. Don't let it stand.
November 22, 2025 at 7:11 PM
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dejanajuk.bsky.social
#nzpol
It should be news until the ban is removed and I mean well-informed accurate news.

Articles that have trans health experts on one side vs misinfo & bigots on the other are unforgivable and part of the problem. Looking at you RNZ @rnzrss.bsky.social
writagal.bsky.social Hayley @writagal.bsky.social · 8d
This has still not been reported in any mainstream news that I can see - healthcare is a human right, and we’re currently actively normalising its removal.
Politicisation of healthcare is a hallmark of authoritarianism, and silence as trans rights are removed means an easier path for more erosion.
Ban on puberty blockers serious human rights infringement
tikatangata.org.nz
November 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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jennifilm.nz
The deep disgusting irony in putting a child through all this, asking them "have you had enough time for yourself lately?" and "have you had fun with your friends?" and when they say no using it to take away their right to healthcare
natacha.bsky.social Natacha @natacha.bsky.social · 8d
The “Pathways” trial is, IMO on more than one level, a thoroughly unethical piece of “research” to be carrying out on children, especially children who are part of a marginalised minority.
November 22, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Reposted
jennifilm.nz
Senior medical doctors condemn the puberty blocker ban: “It is completely inappropriate for the Government of the day to be determining treatment options for our patients."

asms.org.nz/senior-docto...
Senior doctors’ union condemns puberty blocker ban | ASMS
asms.org.nz
November 23, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Reposted
kyledchurch.bsky.social
Has anyone seen Labour make an official party statement about this horrific human rights issue yet?
kyledchurch.bsky.social kyle @kyledchurch.bsky.social · 9d
Hipkins jumped on bluesky after a 2month break to support Winston Peters here

Has so far refused to do the same to support the trans community in the face of destructive and, frankly, fatal policy that NZF and National delivered this week

Really showing his, and Labour's, priorities
chrishipkins.bsky.social Chris Hipkins @chrishipkins.bsky.social · Oct 6
The attack on Winston Peters home today was totally unacceptable. MPs homes are not the place to protest. No matter the cause, political violence is never ok and should be condemned. Free speech is healthy in a democracy, political violence is not.
November 24, 2025 at 2:56 AM
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thespinoff.bsky.social
The overwhelmingly positive experiences of trans youth on puberty blockers
The overwhelmingly positive experiences of trans youth on puberty blockers
A survey of trans youth highlights the enormous value of puberty blockers – and the strong need for continued access to them....
thespinoff.co.nz
November 21, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted
pete0.bsky.social
Both NZ Health Minister Simeon Brown and NZ PM Christopher Luxon complained about the Labour led Coalition and their "nanny state policies"

Of course, that was before they got into power and then dictated what therapies qualified doctors could use some drugs for "for safety reasons"
#nzpol
November 20, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Reposted
yeehawtheboys.bsky.social
“Trust us! Marginalising these communities more will absolutely bring down the cost of a KG of Mince and get your job back!”
November 20, 2025 at 4:47 AM
scilion.bsky.social
Hence why I'm only surprised to not have heard from the greens as a collective
kaimataara.bsky.social Kaimataara @kaimataara.bsky.social · 11d
People are saying how Hipkins should say something about the anti trans policy that came out. However we need to remember his is the party who didn't ban Posie Parker who didn't include anti LGBTQ hate speech on the hate speech laws and who didn't stand up for Benjamin Doyle besides Verrall #nzpol
kaimataara.bsky.social Kaimataara @kaimataara.bsky.social · Oct 20
"Labour care deeply about the queer community"

Meanwhile Ted Greensmith-West who had multiple roles within Labour:

No one can convince me yet they won't go the Starmer Route.
November 20, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Reposted
dialogcrm.bsky.social
“For anyone who believes that Aotearoa is a country worth living in, this cannot stand.”
November 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Reposted
jennykaynz.bsky.social
Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns decision by Minister of Health Simeon Brown to ban new prescriptions of GnRH analogues (puberty blockers) for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them.
#NZpol 💗🤍💙⚕️
Full release at patha.nz/news
Puberty blockers save lives Professional Association for Transgender Health Aotearoa (PATHA) condemns the decision from NZ Minister of Health Simeon Brown introducing a ban on new prescriptions of puberty blockers for transgender children and young people who are not currently on them. This ban will have a devastating impact on lives and wellbeing of NZ's transgender and gender diverse young people. We know children, young people and their whānau will be highly distressed by this decision. We also acknowledge health professionals’ frustration at the way their expertise has been ignored and disregarded. The ban will lead to a deterioration in mental health, increased risk of suicide and increased dysphoria in gender diverse children and young people. It will put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalisation and discrimination,” says Dr McElrea, GP specialist in gender affirming care and PATHA Vice-President. “The prescribing of puberty blockers is undertaken with the utmost care and consideration. They have been prescribed safely for decades for transgender children and banning their use will lead to profound distress in this already vulnerable group. This decision is not supported by the Ministry of Health’s November 2024 evidence brief on this care. PATHA supports evidence-based medicine, which consists of academic evidence, clinical experience, and patient preferences and values. The NZ restrictions would be in place until the conclusion of clinical trials in the UK, which are not due until at least 2031. In no other area of care would life-saving medication be withheld from a vulnerable population for six years. This will have a traumatic impact on a generation of transgender children. PATHA is strongly against the decision. It is a shocking act of discrimination against transgender children and young people. Banning puberty blockers will not prevent children from being transgender. Qs: info@patha.nz Full release at https://patha.nz/news
November 19, 2025 at 10:46 AM