Be water wise and drive safely – but where’s the guidance on which swimming spots are best avoided?
If we all heed the advice given by earnest ministers of the Crown in the two most recent statements posted on the government’s website, the pressure will be eased – just a tad – for beleaguered Health Minister Shane Reti. In the only other statement we found in our latest monitoring of what ministers have been announcing, Reti brought us up to speed on what is being done to recruit more doctors.
The first bit of advice (from Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey) was to …
Be wise around water this summer
While Instagram feeds fill up with snaps of happy Kiwis frolicking in and on the waves, sadly we know that, statistically speaking, an average of 36 families will experience the devastation of a loved one’s preventable drowning this summer, Bishop said.
We are reminded that New Zealand’s water safety code was updated this year, and following the ‘five ways to survive’ can prevent tragedy.
We are further reminded that earlier this year the Government announced “an investment” of $63.6 million to Surf Life Saving New Zealand and Coastguard New Zealand so they can continue their important work of keeping people safe in, on, and around the water.
- Water Safety New Zealand’s water safety resources
- Coastguard NZ’s boating safety essentials
- Surf Lifesaving NZ’s beach safety tips.
The second bit of advice came from the widely admired Transport Minister Simeon Brown. He urged us to…
Drive safely this summer
And if we don’t?
Well, the cops will be out in force to enforce the road rules.
“You can expect to see Police anywhere, anytime, on the road. They will be out to deter any dangerous behaviour that impacts the safety of road users including speeding and driver impairment, and ensuring road users are wearing their seatbelts.”
Drunk and drugged drivers are the highest contributors to deaths on our roads, and the Government is focussed on increased enforcement and providing new tools to police to reduce alcohol and drug related deaths on our roads., Brown said.
Over 850,000 more alcohol breath tests were undertaken on our roads in 2023/24 compared to the previous year with a new increased target set of 3.3 million alcohol breath tests and screenings per year.
The Government is also progressing legislation to enable roadside oral fluid drug testing to be rolled out in 2025. The oral fluid testing will give the Police the power to screen drivers for drugs at the roadside using oral fluid testing devices, similar to drink-driving enforcement.
The official 2024 Christmas New Year holiday period begins 4pm on Tuesday 24 December 2024 and ends 6am on Friday 3 January 2025.
Shane Reti didn’t provide advice.
Rather, he is comforting us with news that Health New Zealand (the subject of much-publicised cost-cutting) “will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places.”
He then said the Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute to New Zealand, by significantly increasing capacity in the all-important New Zealand registration exams (NZREX)”.
This is expected to result in exam spots for up to 180 international candidates in 2025, an increase from 60 initially planned.
Once the candidates complete those exams, Reti has instructed Health New Zealand to move to secure the clinical placements needed as an additional step to potential employment, particularly in general practice.
“Over the past 18 months, I’ve received many letters from hardworking, well-qualified international candidates who were effectively shut out because they couldn’t get into the exams they needed, or secure placements.
“This group has come to be colloquially titled ‘Uber doctors,’ because they’ve sometimes ended up driving passengers for a living, instead of helping patients. Their stories have made for sad reading, when I’ve known our health system could benefit from their expertise, and they are already in New Zealand.
“Matters came to a head recently when I became aware that some doctors were being shut out of the online exam registration process by mere seconds, as the limited places were snapped up.
“These medical professionals shouldn’t have been fighting for places as if they were lining up for a pop concert. I raised this with the Medical Council directly and am very pleased they have been able to respond so swiftly with extra exams. I thank the Council for its collaboration.”
Another ongoing roadblock has been a lack of PGY1 positions – or first year house officer roles – for those who pass.
“The Commissioner of Health New Zealand has assured me that he’s ready to organise these placements, so the skills of these doctors can be utilised on the frontline. This is especially so for the NZREX GP pilot which has been so successful.
“The skills of these international doctors who are already resident in New Zealand, would sit alongside our outstanding New Zealand-trained doctors who are already delivering great care to Kiwis,” Dr Reti says.
The Medical Council will now have three exam dates in March, June and September 2025, up from two in 2024.
Further details will be available online. www.mcnz.org.nz/about-us/news-and-updates/nzrex-clinical-examinations-in-2025/
Latest from the Beehive
23 December 2024
Kiwis planning a swim or heading out on a boat this summer should remember to stop and think about water safety, Sport & Recreation Minister Chris Bishop and ACC and Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey
The Government is urging Kiwis to drive safely this summer and reminding motorists that Police will be out in force to enforce the road rules, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
22 December 2024
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here…
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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