Weekly SOS: How a Former Psychiatric Nurse Found His Voice

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Trust your gut.

Not always easy to do.

Especially when the noise is so loud it is hard to hear yourself.

As humans, we are inherently wired to know what is right and what does not quite add up. Yet, social conditioning has meant we are overwhelmed with messaging and quickly go with the flow, conforming. This is just the process the government wants to use to pass important bills quickly and fast-track ‘vaccines’ for the supposed greater good of our people.

Not all of us have been duped, though.

Not all of us have been mass-media-washed.

Not all of us blindly believed in the ‘vaccine’ efficacy.

Today, we hear from a retired Registered and Psychiatric Nurse from Whangārei on his journey, listening to his gut.

“I was resigned from Nursing before the Covid nonsense started in 2020 in NZ. As soon as we started to hear about it, I started to search for info. I smelt a rat very early on and just ‘knew’ something wasn’t right with the narrative.

For many people, the covid-19 pandemic brought forth unprecedented challenges, pushing them to examine their beliefs, values, and roles within society. For one retired nurse from Whangārei, it was a defining period—a time to reflect, connect, and ultimately contribute in ways he had never imagined. 

Grant Rowlands story is one of quiet determination, a commitment to autonomy, and a refusal to compromise on personal truths.

With a career spanning years as a Registered and Psychiatric Nurse, he was no stranger to the demands of healthcare. Like many healthcare professionals, administering injectable medications and adhering to established protocols had been second nature. But as news of the pandemic emerged in early 2020, he felt an unease stir within him. “I smelt a rat very early on,” he recalls. “I’d never considered myself a conspiracy theorist, but something about the narrative just didn’t feel right.”

His scepticism wasn’t based on whimsy. Years of working within the medical field had given him a solid understanding of processes like drug approval. “I knew how long medications traditionally take to be approved—usually 10 years or more of clinical trials,” he explains. “When we were suddenly presented with a novel mRNA vaccine developed in a matter of months, I couldn’t in good conscience go along with it. The potential to influence DNA was a risk I wasn’t prepared to take.”

At the time, his personal life was also in flux, navigating a difficult separation. But rather than isolating himself, he sought connection and found it in a community of like-minded individuals, initially gathering under the name ABC123.

“We were people from all walks of life,” he remembers. “What united us was a refusal to be coerced into something we didn’t believe in.”

Among the group were other healthcare professionals—GPs, a dentist, a paramedic, and several nurses. Together, they saw an opportunity to support their community, particularly those who, like them, faced potential marginalisation for their medical choices. “While we never ended up having to provide care, it gave us comfort to know we had a plan and could act if needed,” he says.

I’ve never been a conspiracy theorist. I came through the medical system in my training. I pretty much accepted the medical model for treating illness. In my practice, I administered so many injectable medications. It was second nature to me. As the nonsense spread about how dangerous Covid was I just ‘knew’ it didn’t seem real…”

For this former nurse, these early days were as much about standing firm on principles as they were about fostering ties with what would become a growing network of voices calling for freedom. He joined local protests, handed out pamphlets, and faced public scorn for doing so. “We were insulted and accused of spreading c-19 for not wearing masks, but we knew these small actions were part of something much bigger.”

Despite his involvement, there were limits to how far he could go. Memories of earlier experiences as a police recruit during the 1981 Springbok Tour protests in Wellington held him back from joining the Camp Freedom protest at Parliament in 2022. “I had PTSD from my time outside the Beehive,” he says, “but I was represented there by my eldest son.”

These challenging times were also a period of transformation. “We were living through history,” he says, “seeing families divided and friendships fall apart. But just as we lost some connections, we formed new, deeply meaningful ones.”

Today, his contributions have taken a different shape, rooted in his belief in community and holistic health. He works with his local chapter of the People’s Health Alliance (PHA), participating in free wellness clinics that connect the public with holistic therapists. From mental health support to organising a weekly walking group, his approach focuses on connection and well-being. “Walking has always been a powerful tool, both in my nursing practice and now. It gets people outdoors, moving, and talking. It reconnects them to themselves and to others.”

At the heart of his story is an enduring spiritual foundation. “I believe we all agreed to be here for this time,” he says with a laugh. “Though I often joke that I wish I’d read the fine print on my soul contract before signing up!” His resilience, however, is no joke. It’s a testament to his values of autonomy, freedom, and steady commitment to what he believes is right.

And while he downplays his contributions, dismissing them as “nothing exciting or dramatic,” his actions tell a different story. They reveal a person who, even in his retirement stood up for his community. From championing choice to fostering care, he remains an extraordinary example of how courage and compassion can quietly ripple through the lives of many.

Sincerely,

Anna Petley

On behalf of New Zealand Doctors Speaking Out With Science (NZDSOS)

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