Decision time for members — new offer on the table from Te Whatu Ora

Members around the motu are being urged to attend NZNO meetings next week, to discuss the new HNZ offer — the first in nearly a year.

It comes after 18 long months’ of bargaining, after the expiry of the last NZNO-HNZ collective agreement in October 2024.

Whangārei emergency nurse Rachel Thorn, a member of the NZNO bargaining team, said it was now up to members to decide.

‘It will now be up to our 36,000 Te Whatu Ora members to decide collectively and democratically whether the offer is good enough or they want to continue campaigning.’

NZNO will be running a series of in-person and online meetings next week from Thursday, April 30, around the country to discuss with members its analysis of the offer and get feedback.

An online ballot will then be held from May 11, closing at 5pm May 15.

NZNO’s bargaining team, from left, Glenda Huston, Allister Dietschin, Nano Tunnicliff (on screen), Noreen McCallan, Lyn Logan, front, Maria Tutahi (on screen), Rachel Thorn, Debbie Handisides and Dawn Barrett.

NZNO chief Executive Paul Goulter said the offer was the first received since June 2025.

“It will now be up to our 36,000 Te Whatu Ora members to decide collectively and democratically whether the offer is good enough or they want to continue campaigning.”

The NZNO bargaining team would spend the next few weeks speaking with members about the details of the offer, he said.

“While this process is underway in the lead up to a membership ballot, it is not appropriate for me to go into any details in the proposed terms of settlement. It is important that members hear the details first.”

Bargaining team member and Christchurch enrolled nurse (EN) Debbie Handisides said it was time for members to collectively decide on what happened next – agreement or further action.

“We’re looking forward to hearing what the decision will be from members . . . this is your turn to have your voice – an informed-decision voice.”

She said emails with details of member meetings would be sent out. Meetings would be in person, in workplaces or nearby hospitals, or online hui.

The offer can be seen in summary here or in detail here.

Timeline of action

Bargaining between NZNO and HNZ began in September 2024 with a focus on safe staffing, pay and conditions in health care.
The ongoing bargaining saw unprecedented levels of industrial action in 2025 — with the most strikes by public hospital nurses in New Zealand’s history.
Action included a 24-hour NZNO strike in August, two days in September and then nationwide strikes on October 23 by nurses, midwives, teachers, principals, doctors, social workers and other public service workers. Then members went on partial strikes in November.
This followed on from rolling strikes in December 2024.

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