Finance Minister Grant Robertson speaks to media after his pre-Budget speech in Auckland on Monday. Becoming a qualified doctor in 1988, Vyas said he now treats children from all over the country with rare, complex and severe lung diseases. He sees the effects of child poverty and said kids get a “very, very bad deal” because of it. “I look after kids with a condition called bronchiectasis. It is a disease that is absolutely affected, influenced, driven, aggravated by all the various markers of poverty – food, security, smoke exposure, and cold, damp housing.” Vyas described the state of mental health services in New Zealand as a “crisis”.
New Zealand Labour-led government imposes public sector wage freeze
New Zealand’s Labour-led government, which includes the Greens, last week declared a pay freeze across the public service for the next three years. The move, which extends a measure introduced last year during the COVID-19 pandemic, will inevitably be used to suppress wages in the private sector as well.
Green Party co-leaders James Shaw and Marama Davidson with PM Jacinda Ardern and Labour Party deputy leader Kelvin Davis [Source: NZ Labour Party Facebook page]
Public Service Minister Chris Hipkins announced that workers earning more than $NZ60,000 will only be offered pay increases under “exceptional” circumstances, while increases for those on salaries over $100,000 are ruled out. Only about a quarter of public servants earns less than $60,000 and will theoretically qualify for pay increases, which still have to be negotiated.
Auckland Hospital surgeons pay tops $1m, more staff earn over $500k
15 May, 2021 05:00 PM
5 minutes to read
Director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said stronger public measures - like level 2.5 - might have to be new norm once the borders open. Video / Mark Mitchell
Director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said stronger public measures - like level 2.5 - might have to be new norm once the borders open. Video / Mark Mitchell
Nicholas Jones is an investigative reporter at the New Zealand Herald nicholas.jones@nzherald.co.nz@nickjonesnzer
The number of employees at the country s largest hospital earning more than $500,000 has jumped, after surgeons worked extra hours to help clear backlogs caused by Covid-19.
Nurses strike: Tens of thousands to walk off the job for 8 hours
14 May, 2021 01:00 AM
2 minutes to read
PM Jacinda Ardern describes the government s meeting with the Public Service Association as constructive, referring to last week s wage freeze announcement as a pay guidance. Video / Mark Mitchell
PM Jacinda Ardern describes the government s meeting with the Public Service Association as constructive, referring to last week s wage freeze announcement as a pay guidance. Video / Mark Mitchell
Emma Russell is a health reporter for the New Zealand Heraldemma.russell@nzherald.co.nz
Tens of thousands of nurses from across the country are set to walk off the job for eight hours next month - absolutely furious at the Government s three year pay rise freeze.