In Solidarity With Migrant Nurses.

Aotearoa Alliance Of Progressive Indians strongly condemns Te Whatu Ora Health NZ, Waikato and Palmerston North Hospitals’ communique, demanding that migrant nurses use only English at all times in the hospital.

This directive imposing English is a continuation of the ongoing systemic and individual racism that exists in the colonial institutions of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Prior to the 2023 general elections, the National party leader Christopher Luxon promised New Zealanders ‘ National will deliver more nurses and Midwives’ to address severe shortage ‘contributing to ballooning waitlists, delays accessing treatment or maternity care, and overcrowded emergency departments.’

Instead this government has consciously and deliberately reduced funding in the health sector in the name of austerity. Targeting migrant nurses and health care workers is part of the strategy to ultimately hold them responsible for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ’s alleged ‘budget blowout’.

A week ago, various media outlets reported how Te Whatu Ora Health NZ blamed a forecast of $ 1.7 bn deficit on over recruiting of nursing staff. Te Whatu Ora’s Commissioner Professor Lester Levy told RNZ Morning Report on October 8th 2024 that ‘ Te Whatu Ora was employing 3000 more nurses than it had budgeted for’ and ‘that was part of the financial problem’. He attributed the number of nurses on ‘fruitful international recruitment and a previous lack of internal oversight’.

NZ Herald reported on October 8th 2024 of a briefing from Te Whatu Ora Chief Executive Margie Apa to Health Minister Dr Shane Reti on June 7th which warned 'substantial increases in nurses employed by Health New Zealand' in 2023/24 financial year meant  ‘little to no growth is affordable for 2024/25 and in some areas reductions will be needed’. RNZ reported Margie Apa saying low staff turnover as one reason for over-expenditure.  

It seems the reproaching these fruitfully recruited international nurses who will not leave their job is an easier way to distract from an incompetent government, minister of health, commissioner and chief executive.

The health staff at Thames hospital and Waikato hospital conducted protests in July and August 2024 respectively due to concerns of dire shortage of nurses and other frontline health workers. However instead of listening to their fears about unsafe staffing  the leadership of Te Whatu Ora prefers to vilify migrant nurses for its financial woes.

The nefarious attempts to divide a work force based on identity and language is a classic colonial tactic of ‘divide and rule’ imperialism. By creating an ‘us and them’ among nurses Te Whatu Ora Health NZ wants to break the morale and unity of nurses.

Instead of these diversion tactics, the coalition government should fulfill the pre-election promise of more staff, better safety and not-so-crowded emergency rooms by increasing funding to our health sector not bleeding it.

AAPI stands in complete solidarity with the nursing workforce and urges Te Whatu Ora Health NZ to give an unconditional apology to our migrant nurses.