Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Ian Powell
Otaihanga Second Opinion is a regular health systems blog in New Zealand.
Ian Powell is the editor of the health systems blog 'Otaihanga Second Opinion.' He is also a columnist for New Zealand Doctor, occasional columnist for the Sunday Star Times, and contributor to the Victoria University hosted Democracy Project. For over 30 years , until December 2019, he was the Executive Director of Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, the union representing senior doctors and dentists in New Zealand.
Ian Powell - Latest News [Page 1]
Hospital Laboratory Privatisation Unsustainable; Leaving With A “Heavy Heart”
Sunday, 12 July 2026, 7:12 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the unsustainability of privatised laboratories in New Zealand’s public hospitals. More >>
Destroying The Essence Of Palestinian
Wednesday, 8 July 2026, 3:04 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the devastating United Nations commissioned report on Israel’s use of targeting children in occupied Palestine in order to destroy the essence of their childhood and the New Zealand government’s response. More >>
Health Minister ‘Purges’ Regulatory Health Practitioner Authorities For Carrying Out Their Statutory Function
Thursday, 2 July 2026, 12:40 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the attempt to purge our health system’s workforce regulatory authorities by Government and in doing so undermining their public safety prime responsibility. More >>
Health Target Politics Versus Clinical Prioritisation
Tuesday, 23 June 2026, 3:08 pm | Ian Powell
The problem with the targets is not so much the targets themselves. Instead, it was the hyped-up incorrect assertion that they were a measure of productivity improvement. More >>
When Opportunity Knocks For The Opportunity Party?
Saturday, 20 June 2026, 2:51 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses whether the coming general election is a ‘when the opportunity knocks’ moment for the revamped Opportunity Party in light of recent polls and media coverage. More >>
Two Different Tales Of Avoidable Hospital Bed-blocking
Tuesday, 16 June 2026, 1:42 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses, using two different cases, avoidable bed-blocking in New Zealand’s public health system and where social determinates of health fit in. More >>
Hypocrisy Of Free Speech Union Opposing Free Speech In Practice
Saturday, 6 June 2026, 9:06 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the hypocrisy of complaint against Otago University Vice Chancellor Grant Robertson by the Free Speech Union in an email to university students on wellbeing. More >>
The Wider Implications Of Eyecare Privatisation
Wednesday, 3 June 2026, 3:37 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the wider implications and risks of the decision to tender for proposals to privatise eyecare services currently provided in New Zealand’s public health system. More >>
Gleichschaltung And The Far Right Momentum: Lessons For New Zealand
Monday, 1 June 2026, 1:59 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the German historical word Gleichschaltung, the far right political momentum internationally and its lessons for politics in New Zealand. More >>
Un-Funding Rural General Practice
Tuesday, 26 May 2026, 5:41 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the risks to rural general practices threatened by a pending decision by Health New Zealand’s intention to use a blunt instrument to determine eligibility for funding contracts. More >>
When A Falsified ‘Golden Handshake’ Is Neither ‘Golden’ Nor A ‘Handshake’
Monday, 18 May 2026, 7:06 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses a misleading mainstream media article alleging golden handshakes for those who might be unjustifiably dismissed in New Zealand. More >>
Hidden Waiting List Exposed; Unmet Health Need Unreported
Friday, 15 May 2026, 6:19 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the public exposure of unreported unmet need through an ethically challenging hidden waiting list of general practitioner referrals to hospital specialists in New Zealand. More >>
Inhumanity Of US Economic Sanctions Against Cuba – Infant Mortality And Starvation; Time To End New Zealand’s Silence
Saturday, 9 May 2026, 2:36 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the humanitarian crisis in Cuba caused by the escalation of economic warfare by the United States. More >>
The Cruelty Of Health Professional Staffing Shortages
Tuesday, 5 May 2026, 1:58 pm | Ian Powell
While nowhere in the same league as murders, avoidable children’s deaths (and harm) in Aotearoa New Zealand causes similarly considerable distress for our health system’s dedicated health professionals. More >>
Do Wellington Floods, Climate Change And Wealth Accumulation Equal “Suicidal Capitalism”?
Saturday, 2 May 2026, 8:42 pm | Ian Powell
But what sits behind the devastating and damaging floods is what causes most concern, more so because it is somewhere between being sidelined and ignored by the Government. More >>
Failing Kidney Patients Symptomatic Of Health System Crisis; Health System Needs Its Own Mantra
Sunday, 19 April 2026, 4:55 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell 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. More >>
Making Sense Of The Opportunity Party: Ripples Or Wave
Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 6:12 pm | Ian Powell
The question is whether the enthusiasm generated by this political ripple (the Opportunity Party) becomes a political 5%+ wave in November. If it does there will be an intriguing new parliamentary dynamic. More >>
Calling Out Health New Zealand For Intimidation Of Nurses
Saturday, 11 April 2026, 4:47 pm | Ian Powell
It is time for Health New Zealand to listen, learn and act by weaving, not intimidating. It is also time to repair its damaged relationships with the nurses it employs and benefits from. More >>
Understanding Cuba's Health System Benefits New Zealand
Monday, 6 April 2026, 7:05 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the Cuban health system and how New Zealand’s system might learn from it. More >>
Kaitiaki Hauora – Together For Public Health; A Powerful Voice For The Health System
Sunday, 29 March 2026, 7:38 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell 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. More >>
