A protest march against clinical cuts to the new Dunedin Hospital will be held this Saturday, October 28th, from the Dental School at 12pm. The march is spearheaded by the Dunedin City Council (DCC) who are calling it “one of the largest public protest movements in recent times.”
Mayor Jules Radich calls the march a “rallying cry” for the community – including students. “This [hospital] will be a critical health facility for the South and also a key teaching resource for health science students from the University of Otago, Otago Polytechnic, and our Medical and Dental schools. [Students] are the future of our health service, providing the next generation of doctors, nurses and health professionals across the country. It’s vital this hospital is fit-for-purpose for everyone, including students,” Radich told Critic Te Ārohi.
The protest comes in light of recent comments made by Parliamentarians such as Shane Reti, who proposed that the hospital was likely to be an example of “waterfall design methodology.” This basically means the hospital would be built in phases instead of just giving us the damn thing. Local National MP Michael Woodhouse originally campaigned for “a hospital that will be fit for purpose for generations, not a patch up job.” So why does it look like National is lowkey trying to AfterPay the hospital?
Keegan Wells (OUSA President) explained to Critic Te Ārohi, “This is a good example of a cross union movement: medicine, nurses, hospital, students. All of these groups have an interest to work together, as well as the DCC and ORC [and] the broader Southern districts. There is a direct connection between a strong medical school and a strong hospital. A good hospital is great for your placements now, and for your jobs in the future. Not to mention the services for the wider community.”
City Councillor Steve Walker said that students should absolutely turn up on Saturday to protest the hospital cuts. “Along with the rest of us, many students will have voted in the general election in which the current government made a promise, a promise which now looks like [it’s] being broken. [March] to protest a broken promise that not only affects you, but it affects your family, friends and loved ones. I'm sure EVERY student in Dunedin agrees that NOBODY likes a broken promise!" Especially if they pinky swore.
The protest will travel down George Street to the Octagon by 1pm, where Mayor Radich and other speakers will then address the crowd. The protest will see surrounding roads closed, with marshals and chants ready to go. “This is going to be big, and it needs to be to make sure our voices are heard in Wellington,” said Radich. “[We need to] make sure we deliver this message, firmly, fairly and with one very loud voice.” Smells like community activism.