Kia ora koutou,
Hard to believe we're half way through February already! Lots has been happening here at national office as we map out the year ahead.
But first up is Te Tiriti-based Futures, the conference with a difference. It's an online conference on racism and decolonisation that kicks off on 21 March and runs until 30 March. You've still got time to register for one of the many great webinars - all free! (see below).
This week we sent off our submission on the Urban Development Bill which follows on the heels of our submission on the Sexual Violence Bill. Read the Consultations & Submissions section below to see what else is coming up.
We've started a short feature this week on the coronavirus epidemic. There's a lot of incoming information so we thought it might be helpful to collate it for you. See below.
Hei konā mai,
your PHA policy team
Keep in touch by emailing libby@pha.org.nz.
You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @phanewzealand.
To receive our free PolicySpot you need to subscribe online - your friends might like to sign up too!
In this week's PolicySpot:
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Te Tiriti-based futures online conference
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Te Tiriti-based futures & Anti-racism 2020 (TBF2020) is a Tiriti-based, anti-racism and decolonisation online conference from 21 - 30 March 2020.
The conference starts with a one-day hui on March 21, Race Relations Day 2020, hosted by Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whātua in Tāmaki Makaurau, and then runs virtually for 10 days. Webinar topics include institutional racism and anti-racism, decolonisation, building Tiriti-based futures and transforming our constitution. International presenters will also discuss lessons for Aotearoa from their experiences with these broader issues.
TBF2020 also includes face-to-face events in multiple locations, these will include train-the-Tiriti-trainer hui, public face to face workshops, webinar viewing and discussions and community potluck dinners. New anti-racism and Tiriti resources, both printed and online, will gradually be added to the site.
The organisers are a group of Pākehā and Māori with experience in activism, research and community development. They hope this event will become an annual calendar fixture.
Our Co-President Dr Heather Came-Friar is one of the organisers and will be presenting a webinar on Institutional Racism in Health and Education with Liana McDonald on Sunday 22 March at 4:30pm. Make sure you register, it's FREE.
We will be supporting all our branches to host watching parties for this webinar, then national office will host a zoom-in forum event and morning tea the following week. This way we can discuss together what we learned at the webinar. We will keep you posted as we finalise plans for this exciting event.
Check out the programme and enrol for one of the more than 40 great FREE webinars.
Keep track of what's happening with the event on the facebook page.
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Update on the Emerging Coronavirus Epidemic
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) - what is it?
Coronaviruses are a large and diverse family of viruses which includes the common cold and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
In January 2020, officials identified a new coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, formerly known as 2019-nCoV). The disease caused by this new virus has been named COVID-19.
So far there have been no confirmed cases in NZ. The Ministry of Health (MoH) says the likelihood of importing a case is high but the risk of an ongoing outbreak in New Zealand is low to moderate. See the MoH website for detailed information on the virus. MoH also has a Facebook page to keep you up to date on the situation.
The best way to stay healthy and avoid getting sick is to employ the usual basic public health measures: wash your hands, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, and stay home when sick.
See the links below to read what our public health experts are saying about the epidemic.
University of Otago Public Health Expert blog:
Getting Through Together: Ethical Values for a Pandemic
NZ Should Prepare for a Potentially Severe Global Coronavirus Pandemic
What does the novel coronavirus epidemic mean for New Zealand?
Other stories on COVID-19
New Zealanders in coronavirus self-isolation urged to register
Closing NZ's border against extreme pandemics stacks up, study finds
We'll continue to keep you posted on any new developments here in NZ.
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Tuesday 18 February is a National Day of Action in support of the Abortion Legalisation Bill. The Bill is being reintroduced to Parliament on Thursday 14 February for its second reading after going through the Select Committee process. Read Jessie Anne Dennis from Fem Force – Feminist Action Aotearoa on why we should all turn out in force to support this Bill which will decriminalise abortion and treat it as a health issue. The PHA wrote a submission to the Abortion Legalisation Committee in support of the Bill.
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Update on 2020 cannabis law reform and referendum
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The Government has released a draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill which describes the key aspects of proposed rules about growing, selling and purchasing cannabis for recreational purposes. The Government is publishing a draft Bill now to ensure that New Zealanders are informed about the direction being taken and the decisions that have been made to date. The final draft Bill, to be released in early 2020, will contain more detail and take into account feedback on the current draft.
For more information on the Bill and on the cannabis referendum to be held at next year's general election keep an eye on the Government webpage. The referendum will give the public the chance to vote on whether the recreational use of cannabis should become legal. The proposed referendum question is: Do you support the proposed Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill? (yes or no).
The PHA wants to see the adoption of a public health approach in NZ's drug policy to take a harm minimisation and equity approach based on evidence. Therefore the PHA is part of the Health not Handcuffs campaign, 'a group of health and social justice organisations united by a desire to see compassionate and evidenced-informed approaches to drug and alcohol use.'
The PHA will be writing a submission on the proposed Bill.
We'll keep you posted on developments and in the meantime we've provided a reading list for you.
Reading List
50 Māori leaders published a call to action to ensure that Māori outcomes are improved if cannabis is legalised after the 2020 referendum Transforming Māori outcomes through regulating cannabis.
Selah Hart, CEO of Hāpai Te Hauora, wrote an op-ed in response to recent criticism of Hāpai's stance on cannabis law reform.
The report of the Helen Clark Foundation The case for YES in the 2020 referendum on cannabis
The latest report of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, Classification of Drugs: when science was left behind (their other reports are also worth reading)
The NZ Drug Foundation's report (which we contributed to) Taking control of cannabis
The NZ Drug Foundation's media release in response to the release of the first draft of the Cannabis Legislation & Control Bill
The Royal Society of NZ report: Cannabis - How it affects our health
US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine: The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The Current State of Evidence and Recommendations
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Consultations and Submissions
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Draft Disability Employment Action Plan
The Government has developed a draft action plan specifically for disabled people and people with health conditions because they often face barriers to getting and staying in work.
Read the Minister Sepuloni's media release
To read more about the strategy and to have your say visit the Ministry of Social Development website.
You can download an Easy Read summary of the action plan - Word Doc
Take the online survey here.
For more information see the Office for Disability Issues webpage.
The deadline for submissions is 21 February 2020.
Reforming the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme: Proposed settings
The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS) is the Government’s main tool for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The government plans to improve the current scheme by introducing a ‘cap’ on emissions covered by the scheme. The cap will reduce over time and help set Aotearoa New Zealand on a trajectory towards meeting our emissions reduction targets.
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) is calling for feedback on the specific NZ ETS settings that are being proposed, including unit supply and price controls, that will be set through regulations in mid-2020.
See the MfE webpage for more details.
The deadline for submissions is 28 February 2020 at 5pm.
Inquiry into the 2019 Local Elections and Liquor Licensing Trust Elections, and Recent Energy Trust Elections
Public submissions are now being called for Inquiry into the 2019 Local Elections and Liquor Licensing Trust Elections, and Recent Energy Trust Elections.
See the Parliamentary webpage for more details. The PHA will be writing a brief submission.
The closing date for submissions is Saturday, 29 February 2020
The Justice Committee have opened for submissions on the Inquiry into the 2019 Local Elections and the Liquor Licensing Trust elections, and Recent Energy Trust Elections
Taumata Arowai—the Water Services Regulator Bill
The Health Committee is calling for submissions on the Taumata Arowai-the Water Services Regulator Bill.
If passed, this Bill would implement the Government’s decision to create a new regulatory body to oversee, administer, and enforce the drinking water regulatory system. The Bill would establish Taumata Arowai–the Water Services Regulator (Taumata Arowai) as a new Crown agent and provide for its objectives, functions, and operating principles. It would also provide for its governance arrangements, including the establishment of a board and Māori Advisory Group.
See the Parliamentary webpage for more information.
The closing date for submissions is Wednesday, 4 March 2020
Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill
The Government is asking for informal feedback on its first draft of the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill.
The drafting team is currently engaging with key stakeholders and experts such as academics and organisations.
The Bill is not yet at the stage where it is open for formal submissions. It is a first draft which the Government has published at this point to ensure that New Zealanders are informed about the direction being taken and the decisions that have been made to date.
A final draft of the Bill will be available later this year, and this is the version that will be voted on in the referendum. If more than 50% of the vote is 'Yes', after the election the incoming Government may introduce a Bill to Parliament that would make recreational use of cannabis legal. This will involve a formal submission and consultation process.
There is no current cut-off date for receiving informal feedback.
Check these links to see what consultations and submissions are coming up: NZ Parliament submission website and NZ Government Consultations website
Please get in touch if there's something we need to know about, by emailing libby@pha.org.nz
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Ngā take o te wā | Events
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Have an event to share? Send the details through to libby@pha.org.nz and we'll feature it here.
Symposium: Youth mental health from a population perspective Monday 10 February 2020. University of Otago Wellington (Public Health Summer School 2020)
Public Health Summer School 2020 10 - 28 February 2020. University of Otago, Newtown, Wellington.
Draft Disability Employment Action Plan consultation hui Friday 14th Feb, 10am-1-pm at the Senior Citizen’s Room, Fickling Centre- 546 Mount Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland 1042. RSVP to: gina.giordani@mentalhealth.org.nz or call 096234810 extn 818
Auckland Housing Hui Friday 28 February 2020, 1-3 pm. Otahuhu Town Hall, Main Street, Otahuhu, Auckland
2020 New Zealand Dementia Research, Education & Care Summit Friday 28th February. Sudima Hotel, Rotorua.
Te Tiriti-based futures & Anti-racism 2020 21 - 30 March 2020. Webinars and events.
World Public Health Nutrition Congress 31 March - 2 April. Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
Preventive Health Conference Wednesday 13 - Friday 15 May 2020. Pan Pacific Perth, WA.
The Public Health Leadership Programme (PHLP) 2020 Programme 1 (Wellington):17 - 18 June, 19- 20 August, 21 - 22 Oct 2020 Programme 2 (Auckland): 24 - 25 July, 26 - 27 August, 28 - 29 October 2020
17th National Immunisation Conference Tuesday 23 - Thursday 25 June 2020. Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, WA.
Australian Public Health Conference 2020 Tuesday 22 - Thursday 24 September 2020. SMC Conference & Function Centre, Sydney NSW.
14th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion 8-11 November 2020. Adelaide, Australia
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