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 2]
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 >>
Why Does The United States Have It In For Cuba So Badly And For So Long?
Wednesday, 25 March 2026, 6:43 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses what is really behind the United States over 60-year economic war against Cuba, including its current rapid and brutal escalation. More >>
Ethics Of Conviction And Ethics Of Responsibility In Health Systems
Sunday, 22 March 2026, 6:48 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell 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. More >>
Iran, US Imperialism And New Zealand Lapdog
Thursday, 19 March 2026, 7:36 pm | Ian Powell
Since the mid-1980s successful New Zealand governments have had an independent foreign policy. However, especially under the current government, we have drifted back towards being aligned with our former position of being a United States lapdog. More >>
Child Poverty, Social Determinants Of Health, And Balance Sheets
Monday, 9 March 2026, 7:25 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell 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. More >>
Class Political Warfare Via Employment Law
Tuesday, 3 March 2026, 9:07 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the retrograde Employment Relations Amendment Act in a historical context in respect of level playing fields and employer-worker relationship imbalance. More >>
What Do They Know Of Balance Sheets Who Only Balance Sheets Know?
Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 3:10 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the problem when governments base decision-making on balance sheet snapshots. More >>
Political Interference In Regulatory Authorities Threatens Health And Safety Of The Public
Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 8:22 pm | Ian Powell
If the government was genuinely concerned about improving health system performance it would focus on two critical measures: address the external social determinants of health including poverty & poor housing, and the widespread workforce shortages. More >>
Mismanaging My (And Our) Health By Private Operational Control
Friday, 6 February 2026, 7:24 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell 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. More >>
Courageous Words From An Unbreakable Spirit
Monday, 2 February 2026, 3:27 pm | Ian Powell
With an eye on the policy of the New Zealand government to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, Ian Powell discusses the courageous unbreakable Nelson Mandela-like spirit of a Palestinian leader. More >>
Newsflash Nicola: Diagnosis Comes Before Treatment, Not After
Tuesday, 27 January 2026, 6:59 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell 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. More >>
Trump Deserves The Nobel Peace Prize
Saturday, 24 January 2026, 3:20 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses with an overdose of cynicism why Donald Trump should have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. More >>
High Court Provides An Opportunity For Political Puberty Blocker Ban Review
Monday, 19 January 2026, 1:08 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the High Court injunction on the puberty blocker ban in New Zealand and the opportunity for Cabinet to reconsider the issue as a clinical rather than political one. More >>
Bondi Beach Murderous Terrorism
Thursday, 15 January 2026, 7:06 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the mass terrorist slaughter at Bondi Beach and the shameful attempt to use it to smear opponents of genocide in Gaza. More >>
Consequences Of Hospital Maternity Systems Failure And Unsafe Staffing Levels
Monday, 12 January 2026, 12:15 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses when systems failure leads to unsafe staffing which in turn causes tragic outcomes in the context of a Health & Disability Commissioner decision contributing to a stillborn baby. More >>
Nicolás Maduro Kidnapping, US Imperialist Expansion And Implications For New Zealand
Friday, 9 January 2026, 8:00 pm | Ian Powell
Ian Powell discusses the implications of the US military attack on and political abductions in Venezuela including fabrications and agendas. More >>
