New Zealand Nurse Penalized $18,000 and Suspended for Speaking Out Against Mandates and Lockdowns
Debra Green must inform prospective employers about the tribunal’s findings for the next 12 months.
A tribunal in New Zealand criticized nurse Debra Elizabeth Green for making derogatory comments during an interview at a COVID-19 freedom demonstration in 2021.
At the rally, Green conversed with Chantelle Baker, a self-proclaimed social media journalist and a vocal opponent of government COVID-19 policies.
The rally was attended by individuals against vaccine mandates, lockdowns, and skeptics of vaccine efficacy.
Despite working as a pool staff nurse at Christchurch Hospital at the time, Green wore her uniform to the demonstration and discussed the “segregation” of unvaccinated individuals at the hospital with Baker.
Green also mentioned the admission of “vaccine-damaged” patients and claimed staff were unaware of vaccine side effects.
She stated, “The majority of patients would be vaccinated. Unvaccinated individuals are segregated, placed in a different part of the Emergency Department, and isolated.”
“I had one consultant on my last night who stood in front of everyone, listing all the patients and their symptoms, questioning why there were numerous cardiac cases. It’s all cardiac-related issues—shortness of breath, collapses, falls, and all I can say is, this is an adverse reaction,” Green explained, referencing the known side effect of myocarditis from the vaccine.
She added, “All our wards are filled with people experiencing cardiac problems, cancer flare-ups, you name it. I guarantee that the hospital is full of vaccine-damaged individuals—people are oblivious, they just cannot see it.”
The Nursing Council received seven complaints about Green’s video appearance, with allegations of spreading vaccine misinformation that posed a risk of public harm.
Christchurch Hospital dismissed Green from her job in November 2021 after she refused to be vaccinated, violating the government’s health worker mandate.
The tribunal, which handed down tough penalties, found Green’s comments to be misleading and likely to erode public trust in the COVID-19 response and nursing profession.
Although Green was not present at the hearing, she defended her comments in a letter, admitting to exaggerating them and issuing an apology.
The tribunal concluded that Green’s actions were inappropriate and unnecessary, causing harm to public health and the nursing profession.
As a result, Green was suspended from nursing for three months, fined $18,000, and required to disclose the tribunal’s findings to prospective employers for the next 12 months.
