With love from the Sunny Bay
America prides itself on being the greatest nation on Earth. In some ways, perhaps it is. It has global influence, technological advancements, and immense resources. But true greatness is not measured by military strength or economic power—it is measured by how a nation treats its most vulnerable.
The rest of us can teach America a lesson in true greatness. A nation is only as strong as its weakest members, and no country can claim greatness while its people lack access to basic healthcare, shelter, and food.
New Zealand has evolved beyond America, India, and other nations that still treat healthcare as a privilege rather than a right. Our publicly funded system ensures that medical care is accessible to all, not just those who can afford it. But that is not enough. Now is the time to take the next step—to evolve further and make dignity and respect a cornerstone of healthcare.
Healthcare Must Include Dignity and Listening
Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right—but access alone is not enough. What good are hospitals and clinics if patients feel unheard, dismissed, or treated as mere numbers in a system? True healthcare reform goes beyond infrastructure; it requires a culture where medical professionals genuinely listen, understand, and respect the people they serve. Healthcare must be more than a service—it must be a partnership built on trust, empathy, and dignity.
But how can we build a healthcare system that truly meets the needs of its people when we don’t have enough professionals to sustain it? Our system is stretched to breaking point—not because the need is new, but because for years, warnings have been ignored. There simply aren’t enough doctors, midwives, and nurses to support a growing population. The dean of Otago Medical School reiterated this concern in 2025, echoing what many of us have been saying for years. How much longer must we wait for real action?
One clear solution is investment in education—but with accountability. If we are funding medical, paramedical, and secondary medical education at a reasonable or low cost, then we must also ensure that graduates give back. A structured system, where those who receive subsidised education commit to at least three years of service in New Zealand or repay the full cost of their training, could help us retain talent rather than watch it disappear overseas.
Furthermore, medical education must rise above race-based biases. While service delivery should always be culturally and person-centered, the quality of education—and the expected standard of care—must be universal and exceptional. Healthcare must serve all people with the highest standard of excellence, ensuring that dignity, respect, and competence remain at its core.
We Warned Them—But They Refused to Listen
Years ago, I wrote about the looming maternity crisis, sounding the alarm long before it became the dire reality we face today. More recently I shared my own story—how my son’s life was saved because there was an obstetrician in Whakatāne at the right moment. I spoke not just from personal experience but from a place of deep concern, urging leaders to act before it was too late.
But I was not the only one. Many more smarter minds than mine—professionals, experts, frontline workers—raised their voices, not in hysteria but with logic, data, and firsthand experience. We spoke with conviction, backed by the undeniable truth of what was unfolding before our eyes. We weren’t crying wolf; we were warning of a storm that was already forming on the horizon.
Yet we were dismissed. Labeled as “ troublemakers,” ignored, patronised, and pushed aside. Not because we were wrong, but because it was easier for those in power to silence us than to confront the uncomfortable truth: the system was failing, and it would only get worse.
And now, here we are. The collapse of Whakatāne’s maternity services was not an accident. It was not unforeseen. It was not inevitable. It is the direct result of years of neglect, of leaders refusing to listen, of prioritizing budgets over babies and politics over people. The cost of their inaction is being paid in the most devastating currency—lives put at risk, families left to suffer, and a community abandoned when it needed care the most.
The Time to Evolve Is Now
We cannot afford more delays. The time for half-hearted promises and political spin is over. We must evolve beyond merely "providing healthcare" and move toward a system that values dignity, respect, and accessibility for all.
That means:
- Listening to local communities when they raise concerns about services.
- Investing in healthcare workers so we have enough professionals to meet demand.
- Ensuring dignity in care so no patient is dismissed, ignored, or treated as just another number.
This is not just about maternity care. This is about the kind of society we want to build. A nation that takes care of its people is a nation that thrives.
If we truly value life—not just in words, but in action—we must act now. We cannot wait for more lives to be lost, more communities to be abandoned, or for healthcare to become yet another broken promise.
Because if we don’t, the void left by our inaction will be filled by those who see opportunity in our failure. One day, we may find ourselves at the mercy of foreign leaders making grand promises of free healthcare and a possibility of becoming another state in their free kingdom—promises that come with a price far greater than we ever imagined. Let’s not wait for that day. Let’s take responsibility for our own future, for our people, and for a healthcare system that upholds dignity, access, and care for all. The time to act is now.
Nga mihi
Dr Jessica Sneha Gray
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