Nurses turn backs on Health Minister during Wellington conference

Wednesday 17 September 2025 · 4 outlets · 5 reports · updated Wed 17 Sep 2025, 6:21pm

In this story Simeon Brown, New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Infometrics

Dozens of New Zealand Nurses Organisation delegates turned their backs on Health Minister Simeon Brown during his speech in Wellington. The protest followed Brown's criticism of recent strike action. A union report also stated that hospitals were short an average of nearly 600 nurses per shift over the last year.

How they headlined it

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10:47am12:56pm6:21pm

1. RNZWed 17 Sep 2025, 10:47am

   Nurses turn their backs on Health Minister during speech (opens in new tab)

   • Health Minister Simeon Brown shrugs off frosty reception at NZ Nurses Organisation conference (opens in new tab) Wed 17 Sep 2025, 6:21pm
2. The Press via The PostWed 17 Sep 2025, 11:47am

   Nurses turn their backs as Health Minister Simeon Brown slams strikes (opens in new tab)

3. StuffWed 17 Sep 2025, 12:56pm

   As Simeon Brown spoke, nurses turned away (opens in new tab)

4. 1NewsWed 17 Sep 2025, 1:07pm

   'Don't guilt trip us': Nurses turn backs on Health Minister (opens in new tab)