One commentator on the links with the disengaged:
I wrote last week about one of the indicators of those who have been often rejected by society are the non-covid vaccinated. During the week there were two additional articles which backed up my thoughts. The first was by Glenda Hughes a former police officer and a criminologist. Here’s some of what she wrote in Stuff recently:
Covid commentator Des Gorman said recently we need to depoliticise health in order to make the most effective decisions.
The same is true for law and order. Our legislators need to start engaging with people who have worked alongside our vulnerable community members and have an empathy with how they feel and think. They need to understand the underlying causes of criminal activity and what has led to the increasing levels of gang membership and methamphetamine use in New Zealand.
They should be listening to, and taking heed of, the submissions to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-Based institutions. When somebody like (Mongrel Mob spokesman) Harry Tam steps forward to offer his help, to address the burgeoning drug abuse in gangs, they should engage and listen, as they will certainly learn something.
But with the growing invasion of Parliament by long-term careerists, both advisors and MPs, the effect on sensible decision-making has become progressively more concerning. No longer are many crucial decisions made in the interests of the greater good of our community, nor are they being opposed for those reasons either.
And, disappointingly, when such MPs are offered the chance to speak to those who do know the best solutions, they often decline to engage.
When community agencies volunteer to use their knowledge of those who are disengaged and are spurned, where have we got to?
Then in an outstanding demonstration of a government department acting as a society know-all the MOH declined to supply data to community and iwi agencies despite being instructed to by the Court. On Thursday two Cabinet Ministers joined John Tamihere in condemning the MOH for resisting the direction of the court.
We should ask does this not demonstrate a deliberate disregard for the law. Is this not the breaking down of civil society? If a government department resists the courts and cabinet ministers, is this not an indication of deeper malaise in our society. If the director general of health will not abide by a court direction, where does he differ from the unruly mob which knocked so violently on parliament’s doors last week?
The Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency wants Māori NHI information so vaccine providers can directly contact unvaccinated Māori. It took the ministry to court last month for refusing to hand over the data.
However, in a Friday letter to its CEO, John Tamihere, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said: “In seeking to ascertain the Māori rights and interests that could be impacted by the disclosure of information for the entirety of Te Ika a Maui, and in light of the evidence of vaccine uptake and coverage, we have concluded that it would not be appropriate to adopt a blanket approach to the sharing of Māori health information you have requested on a North Island-wide basis.”
Bloomfield said the ministry would work with the agency to identify rohe where vaccination outreach to Māori is most needed and then “identify the necessary and appropriate scope of data sharing in each case”.
This decision comes despite High Court Judge Cheryl Gwyn instructing the ministry on Monday to reconsider its initial refusal.
She said the ministry’s reasoning lacked rigour and it had failed to take into account its partnership obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Here’s the MOH proving the case written in the above article https://www.1news.co.nz/2021/11/05/moh-again-refuses-to-release-maori-vax-data-despite-court-ruling/
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