Keeping up with the Coalition

Emily Writes

12 Jan 2026 — 7 min read

Ok, well - I did think because it's Monday, it would be cruel to send out a newsletter about everything garbage going on. So I started writing about why Heated Rivalry is so important, and then I was worried I'd get cancelled for daring to not critique a thing that brings 99.9% of people great joy - and decided I didn't have the bandwidth for it today.

Instead, I'll be dunking on the government. This year, we will be running a series called Keeping up with the Coalition, covering topics that haven't been covered in mainstream media or topics that didn't get much attention despite limited coverage. It's an election year, so it's important we know what's going on.

Share this with friends - just copy and paste the link - and make sure you talk a lot about what's going on. It's incredibly rare for a government in Aotearoa not to get a second term. It's an uphill battle ahead of the election, so let's make sure we all do our bit.

Feel free to skip to the comments if you read this already in your email!

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The Manage My Health Controversy

This one passed me by despite my having a Manage My Health account. Manage My Health is a private for profit service that seemingly every single clinic uses. Many people were automatically set up with Manage My Health accounts by their doctors. I have one because it's the primary way I get scripts and test results.

And here's the thing: I thought it was run by the Ministry of Health. I had no idea it was a private entity backed by the Ministry. I have no idea what backing the Ministry has provided.

There are 1.8 million New Zealanders using Manage My Health. And they've just had a horrific data breach where patient records including emails between doctors and patients and hospital discharge papers have been held ransom and some put onto the dark web. It's estimated at least 125,000 New Zealanders have been impacted.

One reader whose private and confidential medical information was stolen told me that when she logged into Manage My Health, there was no information on what to do.

"I got an email from them to tell me...I changed my password and deleted my whole account... which apparently takes 72 hours to complete. Why does it take so long? Why isn't there an immediate option to take for those of us affected? Why didn't the email to me say what clear steps I can take to sort this out?"

One reader told me she is terrified that details of her suicide attempt would be released and impact her employment. Another told me she feared retaliation from her deeply religious family after having an abortion. This is serious stuff.

One reader whose private and confidential medical information was stolen told me that when she logged into Manage My Health, there was no information on what to do.

My questions:

Health Minister Simeon Brown has ordered a review into the response to the cybersecurity breach - but is that enough?

Why is Health NZ relying on a private firm that can't keep patient data safe?

Was Simeon Brown told by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner that, in January 2025, names, email addresses, and passwords were exposed on the Manage My Health platform? What assurances were given to Brown then?

Our general practitioners are telling us they're overworked and under-resourced - is that why they're having to rely on unsafe private platforms that put our medical records at risk? There's no doubt that Manage My Health is an easier way to get a response than emailing your doctor's office, who are already overwhelmed. With many folks leaving the Manage My Health platform, what support will GPs get to manage the increased administrative burden?

The Public Service Commission lied and used our taxes for an attack campaign against teachers?

Something you might have missed: the Public Service Commission planned to spend up to $10,000 on Facebook ads to attack teachers, nurses, and firefighters. They also consulted the PM and Minister before running the ads and told them when they were live.

And that's not all - Judith Collins demanded edits to the ads not once but twice. Since when does a minister write ads for the Public Service Commission to attack New Zealanders? It's outrageous.

It's complete political interference for the Public Service Commission to work with Judith Collins' office and the PM's office to coordinate an attack campaign - using our money (!).

It's honestly an onion of fuckery. How do you claim to be politically neutral when you're doing this and the PM is saying you're 'fantastic' for running attack ads against public servants?

My questions:

Why did the PSC claim “there was no PM or Ministerial directive on this” when an OIA reveals that's not true?

Judith Collins TWICE insisted the ads be edited - why did they allow the edits?

The campaign was discussed at a 23 October meeting, with Christopher Luxon present, specifically regarding the strike ‘Day of Action’. Why was this hidden? How can the PSC claim neutrality when they're disclosing their attack campaign to the PM and getting the minister to send edits for them?

Can the PSC really claim to be the "guardian of political neutrality" when they're getting directives from ministers and the PM to run smear campaigns against hard-working teachers, firefighters, nurses and health workers?

Are we just going to see more of this as public service CEOs try to suck up to the government to keep their jobs?

Bloodthirsty Brooke and the Miniature Misogynist take on firefighters

Brooke Van Veldon and Simeon Brown spent the weekend telling firefighters they were putting the lives of New Zealanders at risk by striking for...the safety of New Zealanders.

Cool. They didn't do this in person, though. Obviously. Because courage isn't something either of them possesses.

I am assuming, though, that their sudden interest in the safety of New Zealanders will finally allow some traction on an MBIE paper they've steadfastly ignored for over a decade.

If these two really valued New Zealand lives, then wouldn't they be pushing for every building in our country to have Visual Alerting Devices for fires? Over 880,000 Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in Aotearoa are at risk because they cannot hear smoke alarms.

My questions:

Deaf Action Aotearoa have campaigned for this change since 2016. MBIE has completed the work required to set it in motion - but the ministers are ignoring it. Why?

A Government Administration Select Committee reported on a 2016 petition recommending that the building code be amended to include visual alarms as a mandatory part of public buildings. Why has nothing been done?

If Brooke and Simeon are so worried about safety, why won’t they address the safety concerns that have been raised again and again and again by firefighters? Why are they attacking firefighters instead of listening to them?

Further reading:

The Manage My Health Controversy

My questions:

Further reading:

The Public Service Commission lied and used our taxes for an attack campaign against teachers?

My questions:

Further reading:

Bloodthirsty Brooke and the Miniature Misogynist take on firefighters

My questions:

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