Submissions
A crucial part of the work we do at Auckland Women’s Health Council involves participating in consultations on various health issues that impact women and their families. This participation includes providing written responses to/submissions on a wide range of consultation papers issued by the Government and Government agencies and other entities in the health and disability sector.
We complete this work under circumstances that are often challenging. This is because many consultations have unrealistic time-frames for producing meaningful and well-researched submissions.
In addition to participating in and responding to consultations, we are also involved in policy advocacy work. This includes writing letters to health authorities and the Minister of Health as well as making representations to elected representatives and other stakeholders.
Written submission on the Women's Health Strategy March 2023
Early input into the Review of the HDC Act 1994 and the Code of Consumer Rights March 2023
Oral Submission on the Therapeutic Products Bill - 22 March 2023
Written Submission Therapeutic Products Bill 2023
Revised Midwifery Scope of Practice Submission
Written submission on the Midwifery Council’s revised Scope of Midwifery Practice
Accident Compensation (Maternal Birth Injury and Other Matters) Amendment Bill Oral Submission
Written Submission on the Accident Compensation (Maternal Birth Injury and Other Matters) Amendment Bill
AWHC's written submission on the Bill to extend ACC cover to include some birth injuries. AWHC welcomes and approves the move to extend ACC coverage to include birth injuries, but holds substantial concerns that the Bill as written does not go far enough. In particular, we are concerned that only a limited numbee or birth injuries will be covered by the ACC, while omitting other equally as disabling injuries.
Pae Ora (Healthy Futures Bill) 2021 Oral Submission
Pae Ora (Healthy Futures Bill) 2021 Written Submission
On the 9th of November, the Government published the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Bill, the draft legislation that will provide the legislative structure for the new health system. When enacted, this legislation will replace the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act 2000 in its entirety. AWHC lodged a substantial submission on this critical piece of legislation in December 2021.
Submissions on the Right to Appeal Decisions made by the Health & Disability Commissioner
Over a period of about 18 months, AWHC was involved with supporting Renate Schütte’s Parliamentary petition requesting that the “House of Representatives amend the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994 to give complainants, and those that are the subject of complaints, the right to appeal decisions made by the Health and Disability Commissioner.”
Te Kōpū Whāngai: He Arotake Review of Surrogacy 2021
AWHC’s submission on the Law Commission “Issues Paper” on surrogacy law reform, September 2021.
Adoption Law Reform 2021
AWHC’s written submission on the Ministry of Justice’s consultation on Adoption Law Reform, August 2021.
Smokefree Aotearoa 2025
This submission on vaping is prepared by ASH. It takes a public health perspective by recognising the still high levels of smoking in the adult population. ASH identifies vaping as a strategy to reach the public health goal of achieving the Smokefree 2025 goal and to reduce the inequitable burden of disease that is experienced by Maori as a result of cigarette smoking.
National Cervical Screening Programme 2021
Submission of the Auckland Women’s Health Council on the consultation on the HPV Clincial Pathway.
Abortion Safe Areas- Amendment Bill 2021
Oral Submission on the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill- May 2021.
Abortion Safe Areas- Amendment Bill 2021
Written Submission on the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill- May 2021.
Definition of FGM Amendment Bill
Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill- 2021.
Abortion Law Reform- 2019
Abortion Law Reform Submission- September 2019.
Therapeutic Products Bill Consultation
We responded to the following questions in the consultation document:
B13, B14, B16, B27, B35, C1, C4, C5, C11, C12, C13, C16, C52, C53
Our responses – in blue text – start at Question B13 on page 52 of 198 of the document.
National Ethics Standards for Health and Disability Research
AWHC Submission on NEAC Draft National Ethics Standards for Health and Disability Research.
Proposed changes to the NHI system
AWHC Submission on Proposed Changes to the National Health Index (NHI) system.
Abortion Law Reform- 2018
Abortion Law Reform Submission from the Auckland Women’s Health Council to the Law Commission.
National Cervical Screening Programme- May 2018
Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill Submission from the Auckland Women’s Health Council.
Adult Participants Unable to Provide Informed Consent
Health and disability research involving adult participants who are unable to provide informed consent Auckland Women’s Health Council Submission – April 2017.
Health Research Strategy
New Zealand Health Research Strategy Discussion Document
Submission.
Omics-based technologies- April 2016
Introduction of Fit for Purpose Omics-based Technologies – Think Piece.
Code of Rights- February 2014
Submission on the review of the Health & Disability Commissioner Act 1994 & Code of Rights – 2014.
Medicines Amendment Bill
Auckland Women’s Health Council submission on Medicines Amendment Bill.
SOPs for Health and Disability Ethics Committees
AWHC Submission on Draft SOPs for Health & Disability Ethics Committees – February 2012.
Code of Rights- February 2009
Submission on the review of the Health & Disability Commissioner Act 1994 & Code of Rights – 2009.