Senior doctors and dentists are preparing to picket outside MPs’ offices and hospitals over the next two days as they rally for a better pay offer from Health New Zealand.
The strike involves 6000 members and is a complete withdrawal of labour from 12.01am on Tuesday, 23 September until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 24 September.
Key locations will be outside Health Minister Simeon Brown’s office in Pakuranga on Tuesday and outside the offices of Nicola Willis and Chris Bishop on Wednesday in Wellington/Hutt Valley.
ASMS executive director Sarah Dalton will be in Queenstown on Tuesday for a rally outside Lakes District Hospital, then in Wellington on Wednesday.
Some sites will have Buller Declaration petitions available to sign which call for urgent action on the health system crisis. Local foodbank drives are also happening in Nelson, Blenheim, Invercargill and Whakatāne.
ASMS remains ready to return to the bargaining table. Our full response to last week’s bargaining outcome is here.
A full list of picket locations are below.
Striking members know they may be approached by media, but if you have difficulty finding someone to speak to or would like to lock in talent in advance, contact media@asms.org.nz.
Tuesday Sept 23
Auckland
10.30am-11.30am – Simeon Brown’s Electorate Office, 120A Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga
Tauranga
Midday-1pm, Outside Tauranga hospital
Hamilton
10.30am-Midday, Corner Selwyn and Pembroke Streets (near Elizabeth Rothwell Building)
Hastings
11am-Midday, Corner of Omahu and Maraekakaho Roads, Hastings
Palmerston North
11am-Midday, Outside main hospital entrance, Ruahine St
Masterton
11am-12.30pm – Mike Butterick’s Electorate Office, 6 Lincoln Road
Nelson
1pm-3pm, Outside main entrance of Nelson Hospital
Blenheim
1.30pm-3pm, Outside main entrance of Wairau Hospital
Timaru
10.30am-Midday, Walk down Stafford Street to the Piazza
Queenstown
1pm-2pm, Outside Lakes District Hospital
Invercargill
10am-11am, Outside Southland Hospital
Wednesday Sept 24
Rotorua
11am-Midday – Todd McClay’s electorate office, 1301 Amohau Street
New Plymouth
10am-Midday, Corner Tukapa and David Streets
Hutt Valley
1.30pm-3pm – Chris Bishop’s Electorate Office, 66 Bloomfield Terrace, Lower Hutt
Wellington
11am-12.30pm – Nicola Willis’ Electorate Office, Shop 3 Johnsonville Shopping Centre, 34 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville
West Coast
11am-Midday, Outside Te Nikau, Grey Hospital and Health Centre, corner of Morice and High Streets, Greymouth
Christchurch
11am-1pm, Opposite Christchurch Hospital
Dunedin
10am-11am, Outside main entrance of Dunedin Hospital on Great King Street
