I wrote and sent this letter to NZ First's MPs (since edited to improve readability).
Let me know what you think of it in the comments section below.
Dear Members of New Zealand First,
I am writing to you with a concern that impacts every New Zealander: the health and resilience of our population. Specifically, I wish to ask, "Would you rather rely on pharmaceuticals to override the immune system, or invest in nurturing it through proper nutrition and healthy habits?"
This question is more than rhetorical — it speaks to the heart of our nation's approach to healthcare. The increasing reliance on pharmaceuticals to manage preventable conditions raises critical concerns about the sustainability of our healthcare system and the long-term health outcomes for our people. Modern medicine has its place, but more and more evidence shows that keeping a healthy immune system through good food, active lifestyles, and environmental health is better, cheaper, and longer-lasting. I want to draw your attention back to your election policies regarding health and fitness. I think it is time to review, refocus, and identify the opportunities recent developments in the USA are presenting for the party and New Zealand.
Look at my school athletics photo from 1970 below, and ask yourself how we went from that appearance of great health and resilience to how fragile our young people are today.
Recent developments in the United States provide a stark example of contrasting priorities. President Donald Trump recently announced an initiative named Stargate, a collaboration between tech giants OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. This US$500 billion programme aims to revolutionise healthcare by leveraging artificial intelligence to develop customised medical treatments, including personalised mRNA vaccines. According to Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, the scheme promises breakthroughs such as early cancer detection and the design of individualised cancer vaccines within 48 hours.
However, it is important to recognise the motivation behind Stargate. The driving force is the billions, if not trillions, in potential returns for the investors involved, but not the improvement in the nation's health. Stargate's investment model fits perfectly with Big Tech's business goals. However, investing the same amount of money in primary healthcare does not fit this framework. Strengthening foundational public health services — building and staffing local health clinics, promoting nutrition education, and encouraging active lifestyles — would yield enormous returns for society. However as these benefits are not profit-driven, they are unlikely to attract the backing of Big Tech or similar entities.
These reactive technologies are essentially interventions after the horse has bolted. They may detect disease early, but this is not prevention — it is early detection, which is a crucial but fundamentally different concept. True prevention starts before conception. Interventions focused on nutrition and lifestyle from pre-conception onwards provide the greatest opportunity to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses and promote lifelong health.
Leaders like RFK Junior want better ways to improve people's health, by focusing on preventative healthcare and improving their lifestyle and diet. The question is whether these ideas will ever gain traction. He plans to focus on long-term health instead of quick, money-making technologies. However, the system's inertia and the influence of powerful commercial interests pose enormous obstacles to overcome.
The Stargate project in the United States focuses on healthcare technologies that can be used to stop diseases. New Zealand can do something different by investing in preventive health measures.
Imagine the impact such a financial commitment could have on the health of the American people — or indeed New Zealanders — if invested in proactive healthcare measures. Instead of focusing on expensive, reactive technologies, we could prioritise strategies that foster healthier, more resilient communities through prevention and early intervention.
New Zealand is uniquely positioned to take a different path. With our pristine environment, world-class GE-free agricultural produce, and a population that values community and self-reliance, we can lead the way in preventive health. However, our current healthcare model prioritises after-the-fact screening and reactive treatments over proactive health measures. This imbalance has allowed preventable diseases to escalate, placing a growing burden on our health system and taxpayers.
As someone deeply invested in health, I urge you to consider the long-term benefits of preventive healthcare. I urge New Zealand First to champion policies that emphasise prevention through education, accessibility to nutrient-dense whole foods, and public health campaigns promoting active living. These policies should include:
Subsidies for fresh, local, and nutrient-rich foods to make healthy eating affordable for all, particularly low-income families.
Increased funding for preventative healthcare programmes that focus on lifestyle education and the role of nutrition in disease prevention.
Support for New Zealand's farming and natural health industries, including promoting our native and home-grown superfoods like manuka honey, kawakawa, and blackcurrants. These foods are known for their health benefits.
Reducing reliance on pharmaceutical interventions, by empowering citizens to take proactive steps towards better health through accessible lifestyle guidance.
The answer to the question posed is clear: nurturing our immune systems is a better investment in health than investments in drugs and hi-tech. This approach also aligns with our identity as a country that values innovation, self-reliance, and community well-being. By supporting health measures that prevent disease, New Zealand First can help make a country of healthier and more resilient citizens while making our healthcare system work better in the long term.
We can learn from the world's examples today and make decisions that focus on healthcare investments that are sustainable and focused on people. We should not spend money on expensive, quick fixes, driven by profit. We can build a healthier and more resilient New Zealand.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Gary Moller
great article Gary; all around, I see photos from the 60s, or 50s or earlier; fit, healthy, strong, resilient people; I saw pictures of the Maori Battalion in the Western Desert circa 1941; strong, smiling, healthy, vibrant men to a one; we have forgotten what healthy people look like; the whole madness that a demented creature called Ancel Keys invented around 1950; about cholesterol being bad; and avoid fat; has driven the world into insanity and the diabetes and obesity that is all around us; I despair; I seem family piling into all the bad things; pasta, rice, etc ..... all the starchy things that are glucose; that make insulin; and insulin is the fat storage hormone; you cannot brea…