Simeon Brown
National energy spokesperson
Topics
- Government plan to ease GP shortagesQuiet since 31 Mar 2025
- Senior doctors' pay dispute and strikesQuiet since 17 Oct 2025
- New Dunedin Hospital plansQuiet since 1 Feb 2025
- Health sector resignations and reviewQuiet since 19 Feb 2025
- Elective surgery outsourcing to private hospitalsQuiet since 24 Jul 2025
- Bowel cancer screening age debateQuiet since 15 Mar 2025
- Nurses' strikes and pay dispute 2025Quiet since 17 Sep 2025
- Wellington City Council Crown observer and Golden MileQuiet since 26 Nov 2024
- Speed limit reversals and local council responsesQuiet since 21 Feb 2025
- Measles cases in New Zealand 2025Quiet since 23 Dec 2025
- Puberty blocker prescription pauseQuiet since 17 Dec 2025
- Taranaki LNG import terminal decisionOngoing
All stories
October 2026
- Child Cancer Foundation calls for staffing plan at Starship Hospital
- High Court overturns government restrictions on puberty blocker prescriptions
+2 - Seven in 10 voters believe health system is in crisis
- BioOra opens new cancer treatment facility in Christchurch
- Starship children's cancer treatments delayed due to nursing shortages+3
- Government selects preferred provider for Taranaki LNG import facility
- Editorial: Aid cuts a rare misstep by Mr Brown?
- National pledges to reduce foreign aid, use money to increase Pharmac's budget and extend free cancer screening
+2 - Government purchases Drury land for potential South Auckland hospital
- National announces nine-point energy plan to lower power costs+1
September 2026
- Two new Acts replace the Resource Management Act
- National Party launches 2026 election campaign in Auckland+3
- ACT and NZ First urge delay on LNG terminal contract
- Health Minister releases results of health targets
- Election 2026: National attack ads against Labour use crime footage from Government’s own term
- Methanex to idle New Zealand methanol production facilities in 2027
- Cervical screening to be free for women aged 25 to 69
- Free flu vaccines now available for children under five
August 2026
- Patients face 24-hour waits at Wellington Hospital emergency department
- New Dunedin Hospital outpatient building officially opens
- Health NZ used strict hiring controls to meet budget goals
- New guidelines to allow GPs to diagnose endometriosis without surgery
+1 - Labour rules out streaming tax following administrative oversight
- Luxon apologises for remarks regarding small business mentality
July 2026
- Christchurch Hospital doctor proposes outdoor tent due to capacity issues
- Government responds to Covid-19 inquiry with new transparency measures
December 2025
November 2025
- City Rail Link opening delayed until second half of 2026
- Wellington hospital frontline roles face long delays for recruitment approval
- Government unveils 10-year plan for unified electronic medical records
- Doctors criticise government pause on new puberty blocker prescriptions
- Government halts new puberty blocker prescriptions for gender dysphoria patients+4
- Over 10,000 MMR vaccinations administered during National Immunisation Week
- Advocates fear plans to move homeless people from Auckland CBD
- Nelson Hospital emergency department expansion officially opened
- Doctors warn of staffing risks as new hospital wards are announced
- Measles cases rise to 17 following new Auckland infection
- Government to add 140 hospital beds through rapid-build wards+2
October 2025
- Aged care sector seeks solutions through new Ministerial Advisory Group
- Investigation ordered after Nelson Hospital backup generators fail during power outage
- Health Minister considers law change amid dispute with striking doctors+2
- Health Minister accuses senior doctors of crossing an ethical line+1
- Age eligibility for free breast screening expands in New Zealand+1
- Government backs bill for three-day postnatal hospital stays
- Free bowel cancer screening age lowered in selected regions+1
September 2025
- Government meets three of five health target milestones
- Third heart procedure lab opens at Christchurch Hospital
- Health NZ to deliver 75,000 extra diagnostic tests under new plan
- Health Minister Simeon Brown says paracetamol is safe
- Six thousand senior doctors and dentists begin 48-hour strike+3
- Emergency doctor warns $20m funding boost could lead to cuts
- Government allocates $100 million for hospital upgrades and maintenance+1
- CPB Contractors selected to build new Dunedin Hospital inpatient building+1
- Former police official seeks blood cancer treatment overseas+1
- Nurses turn backs on Health Minister during Wellington conference
- Christian clergy protest at ministers' offices over Gaza sanctions
- Clergy hold sit-ins at ministers' offices over Gaza
- Expert says doctors' rejection of binding arbitration was not surprising
- Union rejects minister's call for binding arbitration in doctors' dispute
- Auckland Transport to be stripped of most powers+3
- Health minister calls for binding arbitration to end doctors' dispute
- Nurses and midwives strike for second day over pay and staffing
August 2025
July 2025
- New North Shore Hospital service to speed up cancer diagnosis
- Government approves new medical school at University of Waikato+3
- Police investigate cannabis cake brought to Hawke’s Bay Hospital lunch+1
- Construction resumes on new Dunedin Hospital inpatient building+2
- Government to fund 21,000 additional elective surgeries over next year
- New 24/7 digital health service launched for New Zealanders
June 2025
- Construction begins on new mental health centre in Lower Hutt
- General practitioners to receive $175 million funding increase
- General practices to receive largest funding boost in New Zealand history
- Health NZ directed to give private hospitals 10-year outsourcing contracts
- Investment announced to strengthen Auckland City Hospital infrastructure
- Hospices warn critical services are at risk due to funding gaps
May 2025
- No work done on National's nurse bonding and relocation schemes
- Expert questions government claim of record health investment
- Extra funding announced for Taranaki Base Hospital rebuild
- Details revealed for Wellington Regional Hospital emergency department upgrade
- Nelson Hospital redevelopment to cost $500 million over four years+1
- Outsourcing elective surgeries may limit future surgeon training+4
- Health New Zealand reveals bed cuts for new Dunedin Hospital
- Government allocates funding for Nelson Hospital redevelopment
- Budget 2025 to allow 12-month medicine prescriptions+1
- Protesters demand lower eligibility age for free bowel cancer screening+2
- Whakatāne mayor seeks community support for second river crossing
- Government announces $164m for urgent and after-hours healthcare+4
- Minister's office withheld warnings regarding surgery outsourcing risks+2
March 2025
- New Zealand primary healthcare funding lags behind OECD average
- Psychologists oppose government proposal for new associate roles+1
- Prime Minister criticises Health NZ over mistaken identity incident
- Doctors claim outsourcing to private hospitals masks hospital wait times
- Napier residents rally over declining urgent healthcare services
- Government to expand Napier overnight urgent care service
- Doctors warn training plans will increase pressure on general practice
- Government rejected health advice to lower bowel cancer screening age
- Surgeon criticises government response to bowel cancer prevention
- Union says private health plan faces surgeon shortages
- Health minister considering new target for GP wait times
- Health Minister to reinstate Health NZ board+5
- Bowel cancer screening eligibility age lowered to 58+4
- Simeon Brown appointed gas lobbyist to energy board against official advice
- Government announces funding for nurse training and education initiatives+2
- Government increases medical school places to tackle GP shortages+2
- Government announces new telehealth service and funding for general practice
- Government to fund training for overseas-trained doctors
February 2025
- New taskforce to review Health NZ performance
- Three high-level health officials resign amid New Zealand health sector crisis
- Labour blames failing health targets for recent high-level resignations
- Dr Diana Sarfati resigns as director-general of health
- Margie Apa resigns as Health NZ chief executive+3
- Government confirms new Dunedin Hospital build at former Cadbury site
January 2025
- Specialist criticises revised plans for new Dunedin Hospital
- Government confirms scaled-back plan for new Dunedin Hospital+3
- Announcement expected regarding the future of the new Dunedin Hospital
- Northland speed limit increases raise safety and governance concerns
- Crown observer expresses surprise at Wellington City Council resilience
- Tasman communities await speed limit reductions after government rule delay
- Shane Reti loses health portfolio in cabinet reshuffle+2
- Government accused of withholding information regarding new Dunedin hospital
- Advocates question government plan to provide free vaping starter kits
November 2024
- Southland mayor warns of road safety risks due to funding shortfall
- Elevated arsenic levels found in Auckland and Waikato water supplies
- Mayor Wayne Brown proposes changes to Auckland council-controlled organisations
- Crown observer appointed to Wellington City Council to cost ratepayers $1000 daily
- Lindsay McKenzie appointed as Crown Observer for Wellington City Council
- Auckland rail network to face 96 days of full closures
- Taranaki Regional Council suspends bike racks on buses
- Government to introduce Treaty Principles Bill this Thursday
- Government announces preferred plan for two new Wellington tunnels
Photo: New Zealand National Party, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons