Category: Submissions
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Therapeutic Products Bill
The New Zealand Skeptics Society is a non-profit body that exists to promote critical thinking. We are frequently contacted by the media to provide informed comments on science and pseudoscience, and support evidence-based policymaking. We offer public education on rational thinking, helping people to understand the gap between proven ideas and nonsense. We think that…
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Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill Oral Submission
The submission below was given via a Zoom call to Members of the Justice Committee on Wednesday the 15th of September 2021, as a follow-up to the Society’s written submission. The submission was presented by committee members Bronwyn Rideout and Mark Honeychurch, and MPs asked questions after the submission was read out. The Evidence We…
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Submission on the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill
The NZ Skeptics’ Submission on the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill About us The NZ Skeptics are a New Zealand/Aotearoa charity dedicated to education and the promotion of evidence-based practices, both in government policy and elsewhere in New Zealand public life. Healthcare decisions are an important part of this ideal, and we strongly support any…
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Submission on Hate Speech Proposals
NZ Skeptics submission on the Ministry of Justice Proposals against incitement of hatred and discrimination The NZ Skeptics We are a New Zealand/Aoteaoroa charity dedicated to education and the promotion of evidence based practices, both in government policy and elsewhere in New Zealand public life. We believe that all government policy decisions should be informed…
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Pharmacy Council Code of Ethics Review Consultation
The NZ Skeptics are a voice of reason in New Zealand, and aim to promote the scientific method and evidence-based decision making throughout the public sphere. Healthcare decisions are an important part of this ideal, and we strongly support any measures that seek to follow best evidence and help protect consumers from harm. Thank you…
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Submission on the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill
Fluoridation The NZ Skeptics believe that the available scientific evidence shows community water fluoridation to be both a safe and effective measure for reducing incidence of tooth decay. What we see in the behaviour and tactics of the anti-fluoridation movement in New Zealand echoes similar behaviour we see from other ideologically anti-science groups, such as…
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Consultation on amendment to the Medical Council’s statement on advertising
The Medical Council asked for submissions on a proposed amendment to their statement on advertising in relation to the use of testimonials, with the amendment prohibiting the use of testimonials by doctors in advertising. The consultation asked three questions, and here are the answers that the NZ Skeptics gave: 1. Do you agree with…
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Submission on The Regulation of Natural Health Products consultation
Below is the NZ Skeptics’ submission on the recent Regulation of Natural Health Products consultation, run by the Ministry of Health. The consultation is related to the Natural Health and Supplementary Products bill, which is likely to become a new piece of New Zealand legislation in the near future. Our submission is a point by point response…
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Edward Linney – Pharmacy Council Code of Ethics Consultation Response
Submission relating to proposals by the Pharmacy Council to alter Clause 6.9 of the code of Ethics I am Edward Linney a consumer with an active interest in evidence based medicine. I do not support the intent of clause 6.9b to avoid a requirement of credible evidence of efficacy for complementary therapy or other healthcare…
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Pharmacy Council Code of Ethics Consultation
Submission to the Pharmacy Council’s 2015 Code of Ethics Consultation The Pharmacy Council’s Code of Ethics 2011 appears to be a well written document which puts the wellbeing of the patient front and centre. This can be seen throughout the code, and is embodied in the very first clause: 1.1 Take appropriate steps to optimise…
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Pharmacies Promoting Homeopathy
This report is part of the NZ Skeptics’ Submission to the Pharmacy Council‘s consultation of their Code of Ethics. The pharmacies below are were found by a quick google search to be promoting the sale of homeopathy in New Zealand. This list is by no means exhaustive. The text shown under each pharmacy’s name was copied…
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Pharmacy Homeopathy Reports
This report is part of the NZ Skeptics’ Submission to the Pharmacy Council‘s consultation of their Code of Ethics. The following are reports gathered in response to a request the NZ Skeptics sent out to its Alert newsletter subscribers. All identifying information about the sender of each report has been removed from the document. I visited…