A STEADY HAND TO STEER THE SHIP
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has been the face of the COVID-19 pandemic for many New Zealanders. The top public health official with the calm demeanour has gained the admiration of the country for his quiet authority, humility, and clea
In the midst of a crisis, we look for people to trust – the ones who can steady the ship and navigate us out of rough waters. For many New Zealanders, Dr Ashley Bloomfield has emerged as that figure, his presence at daily briefings offering a sense of reassurance in uncertain times.
The 54-year-old doctor has dedicated his career to looking after others. After gaining his medical degree in 1990, Dr Bloomfield spent several years in clinical work before moving into public health. Specialising in non-communicable diseases, he has built an impressive career. He’s held a number of senior roles in the Ministry of Health and has also worked at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva.
Dr Bloomfield became the Director-General of Health in 2018, and has since faced several major health crises – including the measles epidemic and the Whakaari / White Island eruption. At his pōwhiri in June 2018, he acknowledged the immense responsibility that came with the role.
“We all have high expectations of ourselves and huge ambition for our health system, our public service and our country. I feel uplifted by the expressions of strong support and keen desire for our collective success.”
Now, facing the biggest health crisis of his career, Dr Bloomfield has come out of the daily briefings as a steady voice of reason, backed by his experience, knowledge and lessons learnt throughout his career. COVID-19 is not a crisis he could have predicted, he says, but one that he was prepared for. “I’ve spent my career in health and I’ve done a whole of different things in my life. You never expect something like this to come along [but] every experience you have in life prepares you for something.”
As a father of three, this is a lesson Dr Bloomfield passes on to his children. “It’s one of the things I encourage my kids, [to] get as many experiences as you can,” he says. “Everything you learn, every conversation you have equips you to deal with whatever comes your way.”
“I’VE GOT GREAT PEOPLE BEHIND AND BESIDE ME.”
DR ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD
Since the lockdown, Kiwis around the country have praised Dr Bloomfield for his competence and straightforward attitude, with fans calling themselves ‘bloomers’, people wearing T-shirts bearing his face, and over 4,000 signing a petition to make him New Zealander of the Year.
While somewhat uncomfortable with this new-found admiration, he says he’s grateful for the outpouring of support he’s received from the public. “I get messages every day ... from Kiwis all around the country who just appreciate the work that we are doing.”
Not one to bask in the spotlight, Dr Bloomfield says it’s his team and the frontline workers who have shown themselves to be the real heroes. “It’s really a testament to the quality of the people in our public service in New Zealand. The fact that I’m there, just fronting it on the camera, I can only do that each day because I’ve got great people behind and beside me.”
His attitude, you could say, sums up the attitudes of all New Zealanders throughout this unprecedented crisis – the way in which everyday Kiwis, from supermarket workers to nurses, have made sacrifices and stepped up to help steady the ship. “I’m lucky to be part of ... a fantastic country of New Zealanders who have accepted that invitation to collective action – this is a joint effort. It’s quite a journey and it’s still going on. And we’re all on it together.”