Letters

‘I felt extremely proud to walk alongside the nurses’

August 6, 2025

I felt extremely privileged and proud to walk alongside the nurses and the three students from Takapuna Girls High who were there supporting the strike.

Joan Oxlee (right) with three students from the local high school outside North Shore Hospital during the recent Te Whatu Ora strike. Photo: Judy Rongo-Greaves.

Dear Editor

I supported the recent nurses’ strike because:

Nurses are the backbone of our health system, and it’s unacceptable that they continue to be overworked, understaffed, and underpaid.
They deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, and respect.
Supporting this strike is about valuing the people who care for us.

I felt extremely privileged and proud to walk alongside the nurses and the three students from Takapuna Girls High who were there supporting the strike. Well done girls 👧👧👧 not forgetting the tooting from the passing vehicles 🙌

After hearing the union members and other speakers talk at Aotea Square, I was even more shocked to hear what goes on behind the scenes.

Then to hear the aggressive MP Chris Bishop and MP Simeon Brown trying to paint the nurses as a greedy bunch while spreading lies about average nurses’ pay, is despicable to say the least.

Shame on the New Zealand coalition Government, they should hang their heads in shame.

Congratulations to all the unions and members involved in the 24-hour nurse strike action. It was well planned and professionally actioned.

#SafeStaffingNow

Warm regards

Joan Oxlee

Resident, North Shore

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