NZ doctors push back against Minister's criticism of public health advocacy

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-04-11 00:01

New Zealand

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Editors of the New Zealand Medical Journal have hit back at comments from Health Minister Simeon Brown suggesting that public health officials are spending too much time on health advocacy. Then Acting Prime Minister David Seymour supported the Minister's comments, saying he's “cheering on Simeon [Brown] putting those muppets back in their box." The authors say Seymour's comments show a lack of respect for the medical profession and contradict his own Party's stance on free speech.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

Let the muppets out

The present Minister of Health, Mr Simeon Brown expressed concern that public health officials were spending time on health advocacy when they should be responding to the concerns of the minister and ministry officials. This opinion was supported by the then Acting Prime Minister David Seymour, who hit back at concerns about Mr Brown’s comments, saying he’s “cheering on Simeon [Brown] putting those muppets back in their box.” Mr Seymour’s comments show a lack of respect that borders on bullying for the medical profession as well as inferring that the opinion of the “muppets” was not valued.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: New Zealand Medical Journal; University of Otago

Funder: N/A

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