Labour health spokesperson Annette King said election year gimmicks are flying thick and fast with the Government announcing over $200 million of new health funding in the last week alone.

"This morning National suddenly comes up with $175 million of health funding, which comes on top of last week's announcement of $35 million for Nelson Hospital. With National desperate, the wolf is donning sheep's clothing.

"The new funding would be welcomed if it was not so cynical. Thousands of New Zealanders have been booted off waiting lists over the last year because the money was not there to provide them with an operation. Six weeks out from polling day and suddenly money is everywhere.

"A simplistic 10 point plan will not make up for nine years of cuts and failed policies. Throwing money at child health - this funding has already been previously announced - is almost meaningless unless one is willing to tackle the single greatest cause of many diseases - inadequate housing. National refuses to do this.

"Mr Creech tells us that a National government will get serious about setting health goals and improving the nation's health. This is the same government that axed the Public Health Commission and let health promotion fall into abeyance.

"Despite the fact that there is no pattern of major health funding announcements at this time of year, Health minister Wyatt Creech expects New Zealanders to believe that he is not trying to bribe the electorate with these announcements. It is stretching credulity too far."

Annette King said Labour would soon be unveiling its health policy, which would provide an integrated strategy to tackle the causes of ill health as well as improving the delivery of health services.

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>