The People’s Mental Health Report
The People’s Mental Health Report, resulting from a review lead by ActionStation, is yet another nail in the coffin of New Zealand’s mental health system. It is damning evidence of what we Continue Reading →
Category Archives: Politics
Blanket bans hurt our most vulnerable
New Zealand is looking at following in Australia’s footsteps and making all codeine-containing products prescription only. I don’t think this is the right solution.
Self care is a radical act
I’ve been working on an essay about a couple of things that help me and the people around me understand chronic illness more – Spoon Theory, and Sick Woman Theory. Continue Reading →
How to self-advocate
After my post about chronic illness being a fulltime job, and how hard and exhausting it can be, a few people asked me – how do I manage to self-advocate? Continue Reading →
Being sick is a fulltime job
So you’ve got a chronic illness? Shit’s about to get real. Here’s something I can say with completely certainty: the “system” (multiple systems) can, and will, let you down. You Continue Reading →
“Unparliamentary language”
A couple of years ago, upon meeting an MP, I asked her how on earth they manage not to just yell at each other in the House. She frowned at Continue Reading →
So what else is new?
I’m not surprised, Bill, I’m just disappointed. Actually, that’s not true. I am surprised. I shouldn’t be –I damn well shouldn’t be, after the past four years – but I Continue Reading →
What can I do? – Why I write
A new year always gets me thinking about what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. My reasons for starting Writehanded haven’t really changed, but I often question my sanity Continue Reading →
No means fucking NO
Last week, a friend of mine was followed out of the gym and harassed by a man who considered himself entitled to her and her time. This “casual” sexism and predatory Continue Reading →
Fickle feminism better than none at all?
So Paula Bennett is our new Deputy Prime Minister and has five portfolios: State Services, Climate Change Issues, Police, Tourism, and Women. Hmmm. I wonder which of those will fall Continue Reading →