MEDIA RELEASE
DHB workers urged to continue acting as whistle blowers

8 SEPTEMBER 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Auckland DHB workers should disregard a patronising memo from bosses warning them against speaking to media, says the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union.

Union spokesman Louis Houlbrooke says, “The suggestion that DHB staff speak to media to find ’15 minutes of fame’ is patronising and insulting. New Zealand’s pandemic response has been immeasurably improved thanks to whistle blowers within the health sector who have risked their jobs alerting media to pressures on staffing, PPE, and ventilators.”

“DHB spin doctors are not and should not be considered the ‘single source of truth’. In many cases, frontline workers have will have more honest insights for media. One only has to look at Michael Morrah’s Newshub reporting to see how anonymous whistle blowers make the health sector more accountable.”

The Taxpayers’ Union operates a confidential tip line for anonymous whistle blowers to report wasteful spending in the health sector and beyond at www.taxpayers.org.nz/tip_line  

ENDS

ENQUIRIES:
Louis Houlbrooke
021 950191