Anonymous threat sent to nurse’s home after request for HR file
11 February 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Anonymous threat sent to nurse’s home after request for HR file
The Free Speech Union is demanding urgent answers after a New Zealand nurse received an anonymous, threatening message at her private home shortly after making a lawful request to access her HR file.
Cath Simpson, a registered nurse of more than 25 years, is currently facing disciplinary proceedings before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal over lawful political opinions she posted on her personal X account, in her own time. The Free Speech Union is supporting Cath in these proceedings.
After requesting a copy of her HR file from Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ), Cath received an anonymous card posted to her home address stating:
“Cath, HR are asking some very specific questions about you. What the f*** are you up to? For everyone’s sake, please stop immediately!”
Cath has contacted Police. The Free Speech Union has written to Health NZ and the Minister of Health demanding an immediate investigation into how this intimidation occurred and whether Cath’s personal information and private address have been mishandled.
“This is sinister,” says Free Speech Union Chief Executive Jillaine Heather. “A frontline nurse makes a routine, lawful request - and a threatening message turns up at her home telling her to stop. That is not normal. That is intimidation.”
“This is what a chilling effect looks like in real life,” Ms Heather says. “If nurses see that speaking lawfully can lead to professional prosecution - and then threats at home - the lesson is obvious: keep your head down, say nothing, and don’t ask questions. That is bad for nurses, and it is bad for patients.”
The Free Speech Union is calling on Health NZ to urgently investigate who had access to information about Cath’s HR request and who accessed or disclosed her personal details.
ENDS
Notes to editor:
The Free Speech Union has written to Health NZ and the Minister of Health, the letter is available here.
For more context on Cath’s case, you can read this summary.
FSU Media Contact: Jillaine Heather | [email protected] | 022 514 6075
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