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Hospital’s WhatsApp directive: ‘Talking in the local dialect is not allowed’

Published

2 years ago

October 16, 2024

A general manager at Palmerston North Hospital told a thousand people on a WhatsApp channel that Indian nurses must stop using their language in any public space at work.

A patient had complained of being “disrespected”, sparking the clampdown after an investigation last year.

A three-minute WhatsApp audio file from MidCentral Health head of HR Keyur Anjaria told members of the city’s Malayli community that for nurses anywhere in hospital public spaces, “talking in the local dialect is not allowed”.

This follows an incident where Waikato public hospital told nurses not to speak to patients in any language other than English last week, with a similar directive issued at Christchurch’s Intensive Care Unit in April.

Health New Zealand initially defended the Waikato Hospital directive, telling RNZ that exclusive use of English in all clinical settings was safer, before the Health Minister and Health NZ’s chief executive stepped in to reverse the clampdown.

Anjaria undertook two investigations at MidCentral Health in late 2023, the first sparked by a patient who complained of feeling “quite disrespected and excluded from the conversation” by two nurses speaking the Malayalam dialect.

The second investigation, which looked at a complaint from a charge nurse, found “the majority of the communication that is happening between Indian staff [on a ward] is in their local dialect”.

“Now this is starting to raise some issues across Mid-Central and a lot of charge nurses are unsure of how to handle it,” Anjara said in the clip.

This also applied in resthomes.

A Malayli community member told RNZ they did not work for MidCentral Health, but they and their friends who did work there felt profound anxiety and trauma when they heard the clip.

“It is unreasonable to restrict the use of one’s mother tongue even during staff break times,” the person said by email.

“The clip has been circulated widely, and it has left many members of our community, particularly the overseas nurses, feeling undervalued and threatened by the statement made by a high-ranking hospital management official.”

Any directive should have been a matter of internal communication directed at hospital staff, not in a “WhatsApp group [that] has members from all over the world”.

“What is particularly troubling is the perception that this directive may have been specifically aimed at staff from the Malayali community,” as this felt discriminatory, they said.

Saju Cherian – a nurse who is in the Kerela Association – said there was a mixed response, with some supporting the message.

Cherian said he personally thought it was inappropriate, and he felt that all cultures and languages should be respected.

He was worried that this may not have been a one-off incident.

“It’s very concerning that they decided to deal with it in this way, I don’t know how in other issues – if this is the style of dealing with issues like this – what else could have happened… this person or other managers could have done?”

Anjaria asked in the WhatsApp clip if the Palmerston North Malayali Network, associated with the Kerela Association of Palmerston North, could “please pass this voice note to your members”.

“Just remind them that they should only talk in English, preferably, unless they know how to speak sign language or Māori. They should talk only in English when they’re in a public setting.

“This matter has started picking up some speed.”

In a statement, a Te Whatu Ora spokesperson said the organisation was “looking into this situation internally”.

The Waikato Hospital memo – sent on Friday – said nurses needed reminding about using English, to cut down the chance of “missed care”. Health NZ told RNZ on Monday the memo was “to help reduce confusion” and nurses could talk to patients in wards in other languages.

In the case in Christchurch, concerns and complaints had been made about languages being used on the clinical floor in ICU.

A memo asked all staff to speak English, and not their native language in front of patients and their families, or to their colleagues.

Health Minister Shane Reti said yesterday that English was the base language at Health NZ, but there had been no directive from the government.

“Nurses who want to speak their first language to each other and / or to patients where they feel it’s clinically safe and apply their clinical judgement, so they should be able to.”

Health NZ chief executive Margie Apa said she could see how these directives may have caused concern.

She put out another memo, saying where it was clinically safe and appropriate for patients and working in teams, staff should exercise their professional judgement on what language to use.

International nurse numbers rose to make up almost 45 percent of the workforce in June. In the previous three months, almost 3000 from the UK and Ireland flowed into the country, with 700 from the Middle East and a few hundred from India and the Philippines.

Cherian – who works as a mental health nurse in Palmerston North Hospital – said he experienced racism from patients on a weekly basis.

“It’s racial slurs, it’s like saying, go back to your country, go back to where you come from, sometimes calling names, and sometimes saying you don’t belong to this country, you don’t understand things,” he said.

Cherian said he had also felt indirect discrimination from other staff members, about once in a month.

Cherian, who’s on the board of the nurses union, said the systemic discrimination was also reflected in unequal job opportunities, having heard that nurses from ethnic minorities were finding it harder to move up the professional ladder.

Professor of translation and interpreting Ineke Crezee said the language memos were a lurch back in time.

“What does this do for the Right to Effective Communication, which is Right 5 in the Health and Disability Commissioner Code?” she asked.

“My career has been dedicated to training healthcare interpreters, however these are not always available and not always used – it is an additional cost to the ward.

“In the absence of interpreters, is it not wonderful that patients can communicate their healthcare needs to the nurses looking after them in their own language and fully understand instructions?”

rnz

Latest News

Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large

Published

3 days ago

November 12, 2026

News Staff

Police say a person who fired a gun at officers in Napier is still at large.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Joel Lamb said Police tried to stop a vehicle in the Pirimai Area at about 10pm on Tuesday.

He said someone in the back seat pointed what was presumed to be a firearm at officers pursuing the vehicle.

“Staff have then heard two distinct gunshots as the firearm was discharged.

“Fortunately, neither of our officers were injured, and the patrol vehicle did not sustain any damage.”

He said hours later, the vehicle was seen travelling north on the Waikato Expressway towards Auckland.

Police seized the vehicle at an address in Manurewa, but they had not found the alleged offender.

Lamb said people who lived at the Manurewa address were engaging with Police.

He said Eastern District and Counties Manukau Police were making enquiries.

“Presenting a firearm at a Police officer is a serious escalation that puts our staff and the wider community at risk. This behaviour is entirely unacceptable.

“We are taking this incident extremely seriously and will be pursuing all lines of enquiry to locate the offender and hold them accountable.”

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Police on 105 or online using the reference number 261111/3764.

Information could also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

rnz

Latest News

New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The players tasked with ending Australia’s Rugby League World Cup dominance have been named.

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns have announced their squads for this Sunday’s World Cup finals in Brisbane.

Both sides are chasing their first titles since 2008, and both are looking to end their opponents run of three crowns in a row.

“Our Kiwi Ferns have been so dominant in years gone by, and we want to bring dominance back to this jersey, so I think it will be a case of who wants it more,” said co-captain Georgia Hale of the impending clash.

The Kiwis get a major boost for the final as they welcome back Ronaldo Mulitalo after he served a one-match ban for a high tackle against Fiji Bati.

Mulitalo replaces Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who moves to the six-man bench, which again includes utility Te Maire Martin, middle forwards Naufahu Whyte, Erin Clark and Xavier Willison plus fullback Keano Kini.

Loose forward Joseph Tapine will make his 30th Test appearance in a familiar pack again, including second-rowers Isaiah Papali’i and Briton Nikora, and props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is on the cusp of claiming the New Zealand record for most Test points.

His five goals against Tonga lifted his career points tally to 225 – level with Shaun Johnson – while centre Casey McLean goes into the final with 16 tries in just eight Tests.

Fisher-Harris will again captain the team.

Fullback Ponga said the goal of the group was clear.

“We have high expectations around what we want to achieve, and obviously winning a world Cup is one of them.”

Meanwhile, Ricky Henry has selected a settled side to take on the Jillaroos, led by their lethal centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga.

Veteran Apii Nicholls takes the number one jersey, Leianne Tufuga and Mackenzie Wiki on the wings.

Henry has stuck with his halves pairing of Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Raecene McGregor with Alexis Tauaneai, Georgia Hale and Otesa Pule up front.

Rounding out the starting pack is Shaniece Monschau, Kaiyah Atai, and Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

“We have been building well throughout the tournament; we understand the Jillaroos side, and will give it our all to make New Zealand proud this weekend,” said Henry.

RLWC Finals:

Kiwi Ferns vs Jillaroos- 6.10pm

Kiwis vs Kangaroos – 9.35pm

Sunday November 15

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Live blog updates on RNZ

Kiwi Ferns:

1. Apii Nicholls 2. Leianne Tufuga 3. Mele Hufanga 4. Stacey Waaka 5. Mackenzie Wiki 6. Chantay Kiria-Ratu 7. Raecene McGregor 8. Alexis Tauaneai 9. Georgia Hale 10. Otesa Pule 11. Shaniece Monschau 12. Kaiyah Atai 13. Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa.

Interchange: 14. Ashleigh Quinlan 15. Annessa Biddle 16. Shannon Mato 17. Ivana Lauitiiti.

Reserves: 18. Brooke Anderson 19. Zahara Temara 20. Brianna Clark 21. Abigail Roache 22. Tenika Willison.

Kiwis:

1. Kalyn Ponga, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Dane Gagai, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Jahrome Hughes, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Isaiah Papali’i, 12. Briton Nikora, 13. Joseph Tapine (v/c).

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison.

Reserves: 18. Keano Kini, 19. Phoenix Crossland, 20. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 21. Scott Sorensen, 22. Leo Thompson.

rnz

Latest News

Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2026

News Staff

The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.

On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.

Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.

In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.

“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.

“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”

Chief Executive of the Parliamentary Service Rafael Gonzalez-Montero appears before select committee. — Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero.

VNP / Phil Smith

Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.

That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.

“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.

Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.

Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.

The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.

Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.

Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.

“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”

Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.

rnz