Two of New Zealand’s most powerful health regulators have simultaneously launched action to embed political and racial ideology into the very heart of the medical and nursing professions. Only a few seem to care – but we here at Hobson’s Pledge certainly do.

The Coalition Government promised to stamp this kind of thing out, but here we are, facing the very real possibility that our entire medical workforce will be forced to adhere to a particular view of the Treaty or face professional consequences.

We cannot remain silent. I know how disheartening it feels to repeat our calls to the Government to do something about this, but we do not have the luxury of turning a blind eye.

If together we do not say something, who will? Make a submission now.

The Medical Council and the Nursing Council are currently consulting on new codes of conduct and “cultural competency” standards. If these go through, the clinical independence of our doctors and nurses will be completely compromised, replaced by a requirement to affirm specific political interpretations of the Treaty and race relations.

This is a direct assault on the principle of equal rights that you and I both stand for. We cannot allow our healthcare system to become an indoctrination ground for ideological compliance.

For example, the Medical Council’s draft statement explicitly claims that “historical and ongoing colonisation” prevents Māori from accessing health resources and requires doctors to use their “position and power” to support specific political aspirations. Our doctors are also being told to “recognise that mātauranga Māori is diverse, and be guided by the patient and their whānau in how to apply your knowledge respectfully and appropriately in each situation.”

Similarly, the Nursing Council’s proposal dictates that “Te Tiriti o Waitangi provides a framework for nursing practice” and requires nurses to engage in “sustained critical self-reflection” regarding “the dynamics of power” and “structural conditions”.

The threat to the medical profession must not be underestimated. These proposals represent a fundamental shift in how medicine and nursing are regulated in New Zealand. Instead of focusing solely on clinical excellence and patient safety, the new standards seek to:

• Embed Treaty Ideology: Forcing professionals to adopt an activist, political interpretation of the Treaty of Waitangi as a condition of their registration.
• Prioritise Race Over Need: Shifting the focus from universal patient care to race-based frameworks and modern “critical race theory” concepts.
• Enforce Political Compliance: Creating a system where doctors and nurses could face professional consequences or disciplinary action simply for disagreeing with these ideological mandates.
• Compromise Trust: When a doctor or nurse is forced to view you through the lens of identity politics rather than clinical need, the fundamental trust between patient and professional is broken.

We need to act now. These regulators need to hear that New Zealanders value clinical competence over political ‘correctness’.

Action is required NOW! Make your submission today.

We have two critical deadlines approaching. The Nursing Council code of conduct consultation concludes on March 9^th, and the Medical Council cultural competency consultation on March 24^th.

Please take five minutes to complete both actions below.

1. The Medical Council Consultation

The Medical Council is proposing new “Draft Statements on Cultural Competence and Hauora Māori.” These would require doctors to reflect on their own “biases and privileges” and adhere to a Treaty-based framework that treats New Zealanders differently based on their ancestry.

How to Act:

We have made this easy. Visit our website to send a submission directly to the Medical Council. You can use our template or add your own personal comments.

https://www.hobsonspledge.nz/medical-council-consults-on-cultural-competence

Deadline: Tuesday, 24 March 2026

2. The Nursing Council Consultation

The Nursing Council is rewriting the Code of Conduct for Nurses. This new code seeks to bake “cultural safety”, Treatyism, and separatism into the daily work of every nurse in the country. This isn’t about better care; it’s about better “alignment” with a specific political agenda.

How to Act:

The Nursing Council requires submissions through their official online form. It is vital that they receive a flood of feedback from people who believe in equality.

It is a survey form, meaning that you do not need to write a traditional submission, just answer the questions. Keep in mind that these new guidelines represent a dangerous overreach that infringes on a nurse’s freedom of speech and forces them to choose between their professional career and their personal conscience.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QQDBHCR

Deadline: Monday, 9 March 2026

If we stay silent, these ideological frameworks will become the new normal for every profession in New Zealand. We all know the situation in real estate for people like Janet Dickson; today it is doctors and nurses; tomorrow it will be teachers, lawyers, and engineers. In fact, all of these professions are already under attack. All we can do is fight every battle because those who wish to divide us will not give up.

We must demand a healthcare system that respects the freedom of its professionals, ensuring our doctors and nurses are judged by their medical competence, not their compliance with political and racial agendas.

Please make your voice heard today.

Yours sincerely, 

Don Brash 
Trustee of Hobson’s Pledge

P.S. Regarding our recent Taupo JMA (Joint Management Agreement) appeal: I’ve heard from a reliable source that your emails to the Mayor are having a real impact and have been well received. The message is clear: the more people who speak up, the better. The JMA is a legal tool that mandates what the Taupo council and Iwi must collaborate on, with a particular focus on resource consents. We need to stop this shift towards co-governance and the lack of public consultation. If you haven’t yet, please take a moment to email the Taupo Mayor [jfunnell@taupo.govt.nz] and voice your concerns.