Ian Powell
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otaihanga.bsky.social
Ian Powell
@otaihanga.bsky.social
16 followers 3 following 78 posts
Health systems & politics commentator, freelance writer and blogger; former Executive Director of salaried senior doctors union in New Zealand.
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otaihanga.bsky.social
After reading an interesting article on free speech, politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the issue in the context of the ethics of conviction and the ethics of responsibility including neo-liberalism in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

politicalbytes.blog/2025/12/19/f...
Free Speech – the ethics of conviction and the ethics of responsibility
On 25 September Kwame Anthony Appiah, who teaches philosophy and law at New York University, had a paywalled article titled ‘Watch What You Say’ published by the New York Review of Books.  It …
politicalbytes.blog
December 19, 2025 at 7:04 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
This post of health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ is the second of a two-part series on how New Zealand’s health system got into its current poop and how it might get out of it.

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/12/18/g...
Getting our health system out of the poop begins with an engagement, empowerment and relational cultural shift
My last Otaihanga Second Opinion post (8 December: link at end of this post) was the first of a two-part blog series based on an address I gave in November to Kapiti U3A (Third Age). The subject of…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:53 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Yesterday ‘Newsroom’ published my column on the Labour Party’s recently announced loans policy to support GPs becoming general practice owners, partly in response to corporate ownership expansion.

newsroom.co.nz/2025/12/09/l...
Labour embraces GP-owned practices – up to a point
Opinion: No political party is fully embracing a health strategy that would focus on restoring sustainable primary care
newsroom.co.nz
December 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog discusses how New Zealand’s health system got into the mess that it is now in.

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/h...
How did our health system get into this poop
Last month (17 November) I gave an address to Kapiti U3A (Third Age) in Waikanae on the provocative subject of How did our health system get into this poop and how might it get out? The first part …
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
December 8, 2025 at 7:32 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the Government’s decision to ignore clinical expert advice and ban puberty blockers for young people suffering gender dysphoria.

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/12/06/p...
Puberty blockers ban – a political or clinical decision?
On 19 November Minister of Health Simeon Brown announced that the Government had introduced a ban, from 19 December, on new young patients being medically prescribed puberty blockers in order to de…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:17 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the public fall-out between fellow far right-wingers Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump and the insights it might provide for New Zealand politics.

politicalbytes.blog/2025/11/30/t...
Tucker Carlson ‘tuckered out’ with Donald Trump and Israel: insights for New Zealand rightwing politics
The origin of the expression ‘tuckered out’ goes back to the east of the United States around the 1830s. After New Englanders began to compare the wrinkled and drawn appearance of overworked and un…
politicalbytes.blog
November 30, 2025 at 3:50 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the pitch by Serco to run public hospitals, including new builds and public private partnerships, in New Zealand,

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/11/22/w...
What’s the difference between private management of public hospitals and a ‘perfumed turd’?
I am a panellist on Radio New Zealand’s The Panel ably run by Wallace Chapman. It is an early evening programme (6-7pm), Monday to Friday. Each programme involves two co-panellists selected from a …
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the genocide in Gaza through a doctor’s eyes and what the New Zealand government should learn from this.

politicalbytescom.wordpress.com/wp-admin/pos...
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politicalbytescom.wordpress.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:51 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Newsroom has published my column (link below) discussing the key issues and risks arising out of the Government’s intention to introduce for the first time a health target on access to general practitioners in New Zealand’s primary healthcare system.

newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/14/h...
Health minister walks alone down boulevard of broken dreams
Opinion: Simeon Brown's new performance targets could turn into a nightmare for GPs, and their patients, writes Ian Powell.
newsroom.co.nz
November 15, 2025 at 9:31 PM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the response of general practices and Primary Health Organisations to increasing corporate power in general practice ownership, including private equity investors.

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/11/09/g...
General practices and Primary Health Organisations fighting back against corporate threat
Edited by ‘acute nose for a good story’ Barbara Fountain, it is difficult to beat NZ Doctor for drilling down beyond the headlines in order for a good solid piece of published reporting on what is …
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses whether the trend of the far right cannibalising the mainstream rightwing in Europe might follow into New Zealand in the context of uneven and combined development.

politicalbytes.blog/2025/11/03/f...
Far-right cannibalising the mainstream right-wing; implications for New Zealand
Until recently I used the terms ‘hard right’ and ‘far right’ interchangeably. Certainly, dictionary definitions didn’t substantively differentiate. Broadly speaking they refer to people in politica…
politicalbytes.blog
November 3, 2025 at 5:53 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog discusses where private health insurance fits in with the crisis in New Zealand’s public health system, particularly the rundown of public hospitals.

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/10/30/p...
Private health insurance a symptom, not a cause, of New Zealand’s public health system crisis
There is a common belief that the expansion of private health insurance is a threat to Aotearoa New Zealand’s public health system; the more it expands the more the system is threatened. While I ca…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:06 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses, with a bit of help from Hippocrates, Health Minister Simeon Brown’s accusation that senior doctors taking strike action were crossing an ethical line:

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/10/25/h...
Health minister unethical over medical ethics
On 17 October I received a brief email from a former Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) Vice President: “Can’t wait for your blog covering the reception of Simeon Brown at conferenc…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
October 25, 2025 at 7:36 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the controversy over the awarding of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize:

politicalbytes.blog/2025/10/18/t...
The Ignoble Nobel: from Hitler to Kissinger to Machado
Much to the disappointment of US President Donald Trump, on 10 October the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Maria Corina Machado. In the words of the Committee the award was “…for her tir…
politicalbytes.blog
October 18, 2025 at 7:16 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses how health targets have evolved to the point of shifting from a policy to a legislative requirement:

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/10/15/p...
Politics, Ideology and Health Targets
On 14 October I had the pleasure of being one of two speakers to address the monthly public meeting of the Fabian Society in Wellington. My fellow speaker was Dr Ganesh R Ahirao (aka Nana) who desc…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
October 15, 2025 at 6:04 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
@bsky.app Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the extension of corporate ownership of general practices into Primary Care Organisations in New Zealand’s health system:

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/10/12/c...
Corporate ownership of general practices extends power into Primary Care Organisations
The growing influence of corporate ownership in general practices is an increasing concern among many general practitioners. I discussed this in some detail, including its background, in my last po…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
October 12, 2025 at 6:05 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the decision of, and reaction to, the New Zealand government not to recognise the state of Palestine.

politicalbytes.blog/2025/10/01/a...
A sinking heart over Palestine non-recognition decision
After a period of political ‘game playing’ over making an announcement, insensitive given the tragic circumstances of the genocide in Gaza and increasing Palestinian expulsions on the West Bank, th…
politicalbytes.blog
September 30, 2025 at 3:02 PM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the decision of, and reaction to, the New Zealand government not to recognise the state of Palestine.

politicalbytes.blog/2025/10/01/a...
A sinking heart over Palestine non-recognition decision
After a period of political ‘game playing’ over making an announcement, insensitive given the tragic circumstances of the genocide in Gaza and increasing Palestinian expulsions on the West Bank, th…
politicalbytes.blog
September 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the rhyming blogs of the Herero in south-west Africa in the early 20th centuries and Gaza today.

politicalbytes.blog/2025/09/28/r...
Rhyming holocausts from the Herero in early 20th century to Gaza today
From time to time people assert that history is repeating itself. I don’t necessarily agree, depending on how far one wants to drill down. However, history does rhyme a lot (echo a lot is another w…
politicalbytes.blog
September 28, 2025 at 9:47 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Well said by Gregory Fortuin on disgraceful NZ government decision not to recognise Palestine as a state.

www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360...
He grew up under apartheid, and became our authority on race. Here's his view of NZ's Palestine stance
Foreign affairs minister Winston Peters told the United Nations that New Zealand government would not officially recognise Palestinian statehood at this time.
www.stuff.co.nz
September 28, 2025 at 8:36 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the growing power of corporate ownership of general practices in New Zealand’s health system:

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/09/26/g...
Growing Corporate Power and General Practice
The increasing level of corporate ownership of general practices is a ‘below the radar’ growing concern within Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system, including many general practitioners and their p…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
September 26, 2025 at 9:37 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ critically discusses proposed amendments to New Zealand’s health system legislation that directly affect Maori healthcare, including functions and the Iwi Maori Partnership Boards.

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/09/23/p...
Pae Ora Act amendments and Māori healthcare
It is difficult to characterise the bill in the name of Minister of Health Simeon Brown which is going through the parliamentary process. It seeks to several varying amendments to the Pae Ora (Heal…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
September 23, 2025 at 8:41 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses Luddism as a positive and popular force, including in a historical and contemporary New Zealand context.

politicalbytes.blog/2025/09/19/t...
The Misrepresentation of Luddism
Whenever the terms Luddism and Luddites are used they are invariably used in a negative or derogatory manner. Calling something Luddism and people Luddites is intended as an insult, sometimes force…
politicalbytes.blog
September 19, 2025 at 9:10 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the threat to patient safety by proposed amendments to New Zealand legislation governing health regulatory authorities:

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/09/15/h...
Health alert: Health Minister threatens patient safety
What would I do as a health commentator and health systems blogger without the excellent daily (Monday-Friday) online coverage by NZ Doctor with its focussed and industrious journalists? The short …
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:33 AM
otaihanga.bsky.social
Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ critiques the NZ Medical Journal editorial by the Chair of Health New Zealand on the precarious state of our health system.

otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2025/09/06/f...
‘For the love of god’; why say so much when saying so little?
‘For the love of God’ is a commonly voiced expression. Generally it involves a high level of frustration or exasperation. Often it also includes a call for something corrective to be done. This was…
otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com
September 6, 2025 at 7:06 AM