Earlier in the week, a directive from National Public Health Service director Dr Nick Chamberlain to health officials required them to seek "national level" approval to speak publicly on public matters. It was backed by health minister Simeon Brown.
Associate health minister David Seymour told the Otago Daily Times yesterday a submission from the National Public Health Service (NPHS) and Health New Zealand to stop Wānaka McDonald’s being built was the reason a directive was made to vet comments from senior public health officials.
"Sometimes something goes on for a long time, but then one example really just crystalises the problem in the mind of the public," he said.
"It is none of their business and the existence of the Maccas is not the problem. It is the behaviour of some people eating excessively that is the problem and once more it isn’t actually a public health issue."
Mr Seymour backed the directive, adding he was "cheering on Simeon [Brown] putting those muppets back in their box".
University of Otago public health expert Professor Michael Baker said Mr Seymour’s comments were not decent for a politician, and that it was the duty of health officials to comment on public fast-food outlets, such as McDonald’s.
"I don't think calling doctors muppets is modelling good behaviour," Prof Baker said.
Last year, Health NZ submitted against McDonald's being built in Wānaka, as it was concerned about the impact of a fast-food outlet on "planetary health and the health of current and future generations".
McDonald's proposal for a restaurant and drive-in at the entrance to Wānaka was declined last month.
Mr Seymour said the result was the wrong one and the interference from public health officials showed they had too much of an overreach.
"Frankly, their box is to work on genuine public health issues where one person effects another, such as a pandemic and infectious disease."
Mr Seymour labeled the officials "muppets, because frankly we are all a little tired of them believing it is their role [to tell us how] to live our lives".
Mr Seymour spread his muppet insult further, to those who ate too much McDonald's.
"I have a right to drink and eat. These guys don’t like me buying it, just because some other muppet can't use a bit of self-control."
He said the Wānaka McDonald's proposed build was not a matter of public health interest.
Prof Baker said it was a health expert’s duty to educate public on living better, including the easy access to the likes of fast food, pubs or liquors stores — all elements effecting the health of New Zealanders and draining he public health system, he said.
It was also important to make public submissions on ways of preventing health issues such as obesity and diabetes.
"Medical officials of health and local public health officials who work for the National Public Health Service need to have some latitude to speak out and make submissions on local public health issues."
"We've got this massive rise in diabetes, which is going to cripple our health system. We've got a limited pool of people with the expertise to speak out and they need to be speaking loudly on these."
Association of Salaried Medical Specialists executive director Sarah Dalton said censorship would be unwise, and anything doctors and health experts had to say was in the interest of the public.
"They are public health specialists, so they have duties to carry out their role. Making submissions and giving technical advice about likely health benefits and health harms is one of those roles."
