Time to Take Back Control: 10 Reasons Why New Zealand Must Leave the WHO

Here's a 10-bullet point summary of the article:

Health Sovereignty: The WHO’s global policies override New Zealand’s ability to make independent health decisions, risking our national autonomy.
Private Influence: 88% of the WHO’s funding now comes from private donors, allowing wealthy entities to shape global health priorities.
Corporate Control: Major pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Merck fund the WHO, raising serious concerns about conflicts of interest.
Lack of Transparency: The WHO has bypassed its own rules, secretly amending key health regulations without proper member state consultation.
Unknown Costs: No clear record exists of how much New Zealand has paid to the WHO; future treaty obligations could cost billions.
Proven Failures: The WHO mishandled the Swine Flu, Ebola, and COVID-19 crises, costing NZ billions and causing unnecessary harm.
Scandals and Misconduct: The WHO has been involved in sexual abuse scandals and financial mismanagement, undermining its credibility.
Better Use of Funds: Leaving the WHO would free up money for pressing local needs like hospital wait times, cancer care, and mental health.
Geopolitical Concerns: Growing influence from the Chinese Communist Party compromises the WHO’s impartiality and global trust.
Support the Referendum: 400,000 handwritten signatures are needed to give Kiwis a vote on whether NZ should stay in or leave the WHO.

At Rock The Vote, we believe New Zealanders deserve to have full control over our nation's health policies, financial decisions, and democratic sovereignty. That’s why we are proudly supporting Kirsten Murfitt’s Citizens Initiated Referendum to terminate New Zealand’s relationship with the World Health Organisation (WHO). This initiative is not just a political stance—it’s a call for independence, transparency, and accountability in how our country responds to global health crises.

To trigger a nationwide referendum, we need 400,000 handwritten (wet ink) signatures from voters across the country. This is a historic opportunity for Kiwis to decide for themselves whether we should continue down the path dictated by an unelected, unaccountable global organisation—or reclaim our right to self-governance.

Here are the top 10 reasons—as outlined in the official petition pamphlet—why we believe it's time for New Zealand to exit the WHO:

1. Health Independence At Risk

The WHO’s approach to public health is a one-size-fits-all model. It doesn’t consider the unique needs of individual countries or communities. Proposed agreements like the Pandemic Treaty would limit New Zealand’s ability to make its own decisions during future health emergencies, potentially overriding our Parliament and experts. Worse still, these international mandates would be funded by the New Zealand taxpayer—placing additional pressure on an already overstretched health system.

2. Shifting Funding Priorities

The WHO was once primarily state-funded, but today, 88% of its funding comes from private donors, with 10% from a single contributor. These donors are not elected or accountable to the public, yet they’re shaping the WHO’s priorities. In its 2024 investment round, the WHO sought $7.1 billion, promising investors a return of $35 for every $1 invested—an indication that ideological vanity projects and profit motives now supersede genuine health outcomes. Climate change and gender equity healthcare may be worthy causes, but when they replace critical core services, something is deeply wrong.

3. Private Donors Hold Influence

Large private donors don't just donate—they earmark funds for specific purposes, giving them undue control over the WHO's activities. This results in health initiatives that serve external commercial or political interests, rather than the people. Meanwhile, member governments like New Zealand lose their decision-making voice. Even though the WHO only directly controls 25% of its budget, it continues to heavily influence our national health policies. That’s unacceptable.

4. WHO Foundation and Corporate Ties

In 2020, the WHO launched the WHO Foundation, without consultation with member nations. This arm of the organisation is actively partnered with venture capitalists like Our Crowd, offering health as an investment opportunity for profit-seekers. Among its donors are pharmaceutical giants like Pfizer and Merck—raising serious concerns about how public health policies are being shaped and who benefits. The potential for profit-driven healthcare at the global level is real and present.

5. Lack of Transparency and Rule-Breaking

The WHO has increasingly operated behind closed doors. It has bypassed its own rules, including how it handled amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHRs). These changes were drafted in secret, member states were given little time to review them, and then pressured to vote quickly—in breach of the WHO’s constitution. That’s not transparency. That’s a power grab.

6. Unclear Costs To Taxpayers

Despite paying into the WHO for decades, New Zealanders have no clear record of how much it has cost us. Government departments themselves have admitted they cannot track total contributions made over the past 25 years. Implementing the new IHRs and the Pandemic Treaty could add significant financial burdens. A global study estimated IHR compliance would cost $124 billion over five years—a major concern given our own $1.4 billion health sector deficit.

7. Questionable Track Record

The WHO has made critical missteps in past health crises:

During the 2009 Swine Flu, it overreacted, causing panic and leading New Zealand to spend $31 million on vaccinations—for a total of 69 deaths.
In the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, it delayed action, worsening the crisis.
With COVID-19, the WHO’s rigid, one-size-fits-all approach ignored localised alternatives. New Zealand followed WHO guidelines, resulting in social, mental health, and economic fallout—including $58.4 billion allocated to the COVID Response and Recovery Fund.

Let’s not forget the sexual abuse scandals and misuse of funds that have further tainted the organisation’s credibility.

8. Regaining Control

Exiting the WHO would allow New Zealand to reallocate funding to where it’s urgently needed—shorter hospital waitlists, improved mental health services, and enhanced cancer care. These are real, tangible outcomes that matter to Kiwis. When the United States exited the WHO in 2020, it did so without adverse effects. In 2025, they’ve done it again. Argentina, Israel, and Hungary are also considering their exit. It's time we followed suit.

9. Conflicts of Interest

When the WHO partners with pharmaceutical corporations, the risk of biased medical advice becomes alarmingly real. The very companies that profit from global health crises are the ones funding the body making global health policy. That’s a textbook conflict of interest. It’s impossible to separate the science from the sales pitch when the same entities are writing both.

10. Influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)

There are increasing concerns about growing CCP influence within the WHO. This is not a conspiracy theory—it’s a geopolitical reality. The CCP’s ability to shape WHO decisions and narratives is a threat to national sovereignty, freedom of information, and the democratic process.

What You Can Do

This is a rare and powerful moment in our nation’s history. For the first time, Kiwis have the opportunity to demand a say in who governs our health systems—global bureaucrats or the people we elect. But to get there, we need to collect 400,000 wet ink signatures on Kirsten Murfitt’s Citizens Initiated Referendum petition.

This won’t be easy—but nothing worth doing ever is. We need volunteers, supporters, and every New Zealander who believes in freedom, independence, and transparent governance to help us spread the word.

Download the petition, print it, sign it, share it with your neighbours, your colleagues, your local community groups. Let’s flood Wellington with the voices of people who are no longer willing to be ignored.

New Zealand’s health future should be determined by New Zealanders—not foreign donors, multinational corporations, or political regimes.

It’s time to Rock The Vote.

It’s time to leave the WHO.