Briefing Papers & Position Statements

Letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs ahead of COP28

The 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is due to take place in Dubai from 30 November until 12 December 2023. The New Zealand Government delegation to this COP28 Conference will be led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

COP28 this year will host the first ever Health Day, highlighting the fact that climate change is, in the words of the WHO, the “single biggest health threat facing humanity." OraTaiao has written to the Minister, strongly recommending that the COP28 delegation include dedicated expertise from members who have experience in public and planetary health and the presence of one of our health ministers. 

Grant Brookes

Written by
August 12, 2023

  • Letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs ahead of COP28

    The 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is due to take place in Dubai from 30 November until 12 December 2023. The New Zealand Government delegation to this COP28 Conference will be led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

    COP28 this year will host the first ever Health Day, highlighting the fact that climate change is, in the words of the WHO, the “single biggest health threat facing humanity." OraTaiao has written to the Minister, strongly recommending that the COP28 delegation include dedicated expertise from members who have experience in public and planetary health and the presence of one of our health ministers. 

    Grant Brookes

    Written by
    August 12, 2023

  • OraTaiao Active Transportation Policy Statement

    OraTaiao's stance on climate action and public health supports the facilitation of active transportation in New Zealand. Currently, New Zealand's infrastructure does not support active transportation, with poor walkways and cycleways not allowing for complete trips to where people need and want to go. Nor do they support trips which are safe from traffic injury or crime. It is time for New Zealand to implement the infrastructure and policy needed for active transportation, which will have vast co-health benefits to the overstressed health system and reduce emissions leading to climate change. Read our full statement at the link below. 

    Active Transportation Policy Statement

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    July 14, 2022

  • Joint letter to the Minister of Health on World Health Day 2022

    Today is World Health Day and eleven health organisations (OraTaiao NZ Climate & Health Council; the New Zealand Medical Association; the New Zealand Nursing Organisation; the College of Nurses; the NZ Society of Anaesthetists; the NZ College of Midwives; Hāpai Te Hauora; the Royal Australian and NZ College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; the Royal Australasian College of Physicians; The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners) have written a joint letter to the Minister of Health asking for NZ's health system to be made climate ready and climate friendly. 

    Letter to the Minister of Health Andrew Little - 7 April 2022

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    April 07, 2022

  • Budget 2022 - letter to the Finance and Expenditure Committee

    OraTaiao has written to the Finance and Expenditure Committee about NZ's Budget Policy Statement 2022 recommending that the focus of the budget (and subsequent budgets) have Aotearoa’s response to climate change as the main point. 

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    January 28, 2022

  • Letter to PM ahead of COP26

    Seven health professional organisations (OraTaiao, the College of Nurses Aotearoa, New Zealand Nurses Organisation, New Zealand Medical Association, Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and New Zealand Society of Anaesthetists) have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Ardern and the Climate Change Minister ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP26, calling for a huge increase in Aotearoa’s international climate contribution, and asking to keep the capacity to limit global warming within a humanly adaptable 1.5 degrees.  

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    October 27, 2021

  • Building resilience in Aotearoa’s food systems

    OraTaiao's policy statement urges the government to accelerate progress towards a carbon-neutral public sector and build longer term resilience in our food systems through procurement of healthy and sustainable food by government-funded institutions. This statement was prepared by Penny Field, Louise Mainvil, and Anna De Mello from OraTaiao's food systems working group. 

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    May 27, 2021

  • Letter to Climate Change Minister March 2021

    Twelve health professional organisations have written to Climate Change Minister James Shaw asking for public health representation on the Climate Change Commission.

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    March 24, 2021

  • Briefing to Incoming Ministers Dec 2020

    The following briefing was sent to Ministers and Associate Ministers with portfolios in health, housing, transport, energy, building & construction, environment, agriculture, and climate change. Tackling climate change requires an all of government response.

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    December 15, 2020

  • Letter to Finance Ministers May 2020

    Fifteen health professional organisations wrote to Hon Grant Robertson (Minister of Finance), Hon James Shaw (Associate Minister of Finance), and Hon Shane Jones (Associate Minister of Finance) urging prioritisation of funding for a just transition to a climate-resilient, sustainable and low-emissions economy in the 2020 Budget.

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    May 03, 2020

  • Briefings to Incoming Ministers Jan 2018

    See links below for OraTaiao: NZ Climate and Health Council's briefings from January 2018:

     

    Romelli Rodriguez-Jolly

    Written by
    March 25, 2018