In August, she will appear before the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal - not for anything she did caring for a patient, but for a handful of posts she wrote on her own personal account, in her own time.
Those posts were her lawful opinions on matters of public debate - Covid, abortion, gender and politics - the kind of views thousands of New Zealanders hold and share every day.
One member of the public complained, then declined to take the matter any further. That should have been the end of it.
Instead the Nursing Council pressed on, engaging a King's Counsel to argue that a nurse's private political views make her a "risk to public safety."
There is no allegation she harmed anyone. A quarter-century of care now hangs on what she posted online.
This is not what professional regulators were built to do.
Their job is to protect the public from incompetent or dishonest practice - not to police the private opinions of the people they license. Once they cross that line, no professional's voice is safe: not a nurse's, not a teacher's, not yours.
The Free Speech Union is working to end this for good.
We are backing a Regulated Professions Neutrality Bill, led by our Chair Stephen Franks, to draw a hard line these regulators cannot cross - part of our wider work defending professionals across health, law and education.
But laws take time, and Cath's hearing is in August. She cannot wait.
The most urgent thing we can do right now is defend her - and we are supporting her defence in full.
You need not agree with a word Cath wrote to see what is at stake.
The principle on trial is the one that protects your voice too.
Please give what you can today. Stand with Cath - so that no one is left to stand alone.
Donations can be made by credit card on this page, or by direct bank transfer (no fees deducted):
Free Speech Union (NZ) Incorporated ANZ 06-0323-0706649-00 Please use your mobile number or email address as reference.
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