Ian Powell

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses a revealing opinion piece by a medical specialist on the failure to implement a plan on addressing chronic kidney disease as symptomatic of a wider crisis in New Zealand’s health system. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/04/19/fai…

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the nature of the Opportunity Party in New Zealand politics in the context of increased political interest in it and what all this might mean. Making sense of the Opportunity Party: ripples or wave – Political Bytes

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ calls out Health New Zealand for its intimidation of nurses at Whangarei Hospital. Intimidation has no place in health systems. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/04/11/cal…

Newsroom’ has published my opinion piece on the move by Health New Zealand on behalf of the Government to privatise public hospital ophthalmology. newsroom.co.nz/2026/04/09/pri…

This post of health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the Cuban health system and how New Zealand’s system might learn from it. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/04/06/und…

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the encouraging formation of a new healthcare advocacy organisation formed in part to oppose the drift towards privatising New Zealand’s universal public health system. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/03/29/kai…

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses what is really behind the United States over 60-year economic war against Cuba, including its current rapid and brutal escalation. politicalbytes.blog/2026/03/25/why…

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the relationship between the ethics of convictions and the ethics of responsibilities in the context of health system restructuring in New Zealand’s health system. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/03/22/eth…

My politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses what is behind the United States and Israel war against Iran and the response of New Zealand’s government. politicalbytes.blog/2026/03/19/ira…

Health systems blog discusses the implications of recent child poverty data in New Zealand to its health system including external social determinants of health and narrow balance sheet thinking by decision-makers. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/03/09/chi…

This post of politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the retrograde Employment Relations Amendment Act in a historical context in respect of level playing fields and employer-worker relationship imbalance. politicalbytes.blog/2026/03/03/cla…

@jeremycorbyn Agreed

In 2003, we warned against the catastrophic consequences of US-led regime change in Iraq. We were ignored — and hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives. Political leaders should learn the lessons of history, and stand up for international law, sovereignty and peace.

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the problem when government’s base decision-making on balance sheet snapshots. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/02/25/wha…

‘Newsroom’ has published my column on the implications and risks arising out of the General Practice Owners Association proposal to establish its own primary care organisation (PHO). newsroom.co.nz/2026/02/20/hea…

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion discusses the threat to public safety of planned political interference in the regulatory authorities for New Zealand’s health system. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/02/11/pol…

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses the huge ‘Manage My Health’ security breach of patient health records in the context of private ownership (and operation) and the need to restore Health Ministry IT capacity. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/02/06/mis…

With an eye on the policy of the New Zealand government to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses the courageous unbreakable Nelson Mandela-like spirit of a Palestinian leader. politicalbytes.blog/2026/02/02/cou…

This morning (29 January) I was interviewed live by Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB on the reported significant increase in ambulances taking patients to hospitals. I argued that this mirrored what was happening in acute patient hospital demand. newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-ho…

Health systems blog ‘Otaihanga Second Opinion’ discusses recent comments by Finance Minister Nicola Willis on why Health New Zealand is ‘failing’ and her solution. In doing so she fails to put diagnosis before treatment. otaihangasecondopinion.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/new…

Politics blog ‘Political Bytes’ discusses with an overdose of cynicism why Donald Trump should have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. politicalbytes.blog/2026/01/24/tru…