New Zealand: concern over draft nursing code and free expression
A spokesperson for ACT New Zealand has criticised the Nursing Council of New Zealand’s draft Code of Conduct 2026, saying the proposal risks “policing nurses’ opinions” rather than focusing on patient safety and professional competence. In a letter to the Nursing Council, ACT Health argued that vague terms in the draft — such as “offensive,” “inflammatory” or “ill-informed” — could chill lawful free expression by nurses outside the workplace because they lack clear definitions and may be difficult to apply. The party also expressed concern that expanded references to Treaty and equity obligations could shift regulatory emphasis away from competence toward enforcing particular worldviews, with potential consequences for nurses who question certain practices. ACT urged the Council to revise the draft to clarify its language, narrow its scope and realign it with core regulatory functions of protecting patient safety and competence.