Features – Page 7 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Mandatory vaccinations & workers’ rights

By NZNO employment lawyer Christine Hickey

November 1, 2021

In October, the Government announced it would require all workers in the health and disability sector to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by January 1, 2022, as part of its public health response to COVID-19.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Why would nurses resist vaccination?

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

November 1, 2021

Even health professionals are susceptible to COVID-19 misinformation. But why?

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

‘I’m proud to be a nurse’: Mahina Adams on first COVID-19 wave in Paris

By Kai Tiaki editors

November 1, 2021

It was her first week in her final clinical placement in a Paris hospital when Mahina Adams was told COVID-19 was on its way.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Getting it right in end-of-life care

By Kai Tiaki editors

November 1, 2021

This article was written by a palliative care nurse, about the distressing final days of her mother’s life. Identifying details of the people and institutions involved have been removed as the purpose of this viewpoint is not to point the finger but to appeal for skilled palliative care for dying people and their families.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Mandatory vaccination – what about students?

By Roseanne Sadd

November 1, 2021

A nursing lecturer who has noticed vaccine hesitancy among students argues it is their duty of care.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

From puffers to boilers: Health system needs a climate change check-up

By Mikey Brenndorfer

October 1, 2021

What practical measures can the health service and a health union such as NZNO take to tackle climate change?

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Nurses ‘can do more’ in mental health

By co-editor Mary Longmore

September 1, 2021

Nurses can do much more in the mental health space – they just need the confidence and experience to do so, says long-time mental health nurse Anthony O’Brien, who is weaving mental health care throughout a new nursing degree at the University of Waikato.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Use social media ‘wisely’ – NZNO

By NZNO acting manager, nursing and professional services, Kate Weston

September 1, 2021

NZNO and its members are currently in a phase of significant activity.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

‘Everybody has the right to express themselves’

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Internet safety watchdog Netsafe chief executive Martin Cocker says there is recourse for people being harassed online under the Harmful Digital Communications Act (2015).

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Lessons learned from Twitter

By Margaret Hughes

September 1, 2021

I have been teaching nurses professional boundaries,¹ professional conduct and communication² and the code of ethics³ for over 20 years. More recently I have taught nurses about the role and perils of social media using Nursing Council guides.⁴

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Imagine… the nightmares and dreams of an aged care nurse

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

A registered nurse working in aged care explains what an increase in staffing would mean for her.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

NZ’s first nurse hysteroscopist-in-training

By Kai Tiaki editors

August 1, 2021

Waikato nurse practitioner (NP) and colposcopist Lauren Moore says she hopes training nurses in hysteroscopy – examination of the uterus – will benefit women at an “extremely frightening and vulnerable time” in their lives.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Nurses celebrate, lament long fight for cervical cancer self-test

By co-editor Mary Longmore

August 1, 2021

After years of fighting to be heard, a network of passionate nurses, doctors and advocates have won the right for women to easily test themselves for signs of cervical cancer – but are angry it took so long.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Nursing recruitment needs a boost

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

August 1, 2021

It might just be time for the great fees wipeout!

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Nurse continues campaigner’s fight

By co-editor Mary Longmore

August 1, 2021

Cervical screening coordinator for Waikato, specialty clinical nurse Nadine Riwai, (Ngāti Porou, Te Uri o Hau, Ngai Takoto) has been heavily influenced in her approach to caring for women by the Smear Your Mea (SYM) founder Talei Morrison.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Mesothelioma: The deadly legacy of asbestos

By Leonie Metcalfe and Donna Thomas

August 1, 2021

Two long-serving nurses and NZNO delegates describe how their lives led up to a diagnosis of mesothelioma – the cancer caused by swallowing or inhaling asbestos fibres. They want to raise awareness of mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Health and safety law prompted by Pike River tragedy, now helping hospital staff

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

August 1, 2021

Until now the focus in hospitals has been mostly on patient safety – but a law crafted to protect workers after a horrifying tragedy, puts the focus on staff as well.

August 2021 vol 27 no 7

Over-centralising the health system will not help

By Brian Easton

August 1, 2021

In the second of two articles on the Government’s planned health reforms, economist Brian Easton looks at the pros and cons of a more centralised system.

July 2021 vol 27 no 6

Nurses and unionists acknowledged in Queen’s Birthday honours

By co-editor Mary Longmore with research by NZNO librarian Heather Woods

July 1, 2021

Four of our brightest stars celebrated and acknowledged in the Queen’s Birthday honours list.

July 2021 vol 27 no 6

Nursing ‘crisis’ in aged care

By co-editor Mary Longmore

July 1, 2021

Many of us fortunate enough to live to a ripe old age will likely end up in a rest home or aged residential care (ARC) facility and would like to enjoy a high standard of care. So why are ARC nurses fleeing?

Daily doses – uncut news

29 May	WellSouth Statement on Budget 2026: a missed opportunity Budget 2026 is a missed opportunity for primary care, and for the communities that depend on it most, in particular our rural people and practices.
29 May	Updated - Nurses on front lines of Ebola outbreak at serious risk In response to the gravely concerning and escalating Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) warns that nurses and other frontline health workers are being put at serious risk and left fearful for their safety.
27 May	Health NZ committed to safeguarding patient information Health New Zealand welcomes the reports released today into the Manage My Health (MMH) cyber incident and is committed to ensuring all possible steps are taken to safeguard patient information.
22 May	More New Zealanders could benefit from funded vaccines from 2027 Pharmac is proposing changes that would give more New Zealanders access to funded vaccines from 2027, including expanded access to the flu vaccine for young children.
21 May	It’s not just the wallet: How the gender pay gap can hurt women’s bodies While many aspects of New Zealand’s enduring gender pay gap have been discussed, its physical impact on workers has been largely overlooked – until now.
21 May	Bupa nurses take pay equity claim over historic wage discrimination NZNO nurses working at Bupa aged residential care homes throughout Aotearoa New Zealand have raised a pay equity claim to address historic gender-based wage discrimination.
20 May	Waikato Hospital adds 10 forensic mental health beds Ten new forensic inpatient beds have been made available at the Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service at Waikato Hospital to expand forensic mental health capacity for adults in prison or on remand in Health New Zealand’s Midland region.
18 May	Strong gains in two-year immunisation target for Tamariki Māori Health New Zealand is welcoming a significant increase in Māori immunisation rates, with full immunisation at 24 months rising from just over 60 per cent in late 2024 to 71.5 per cent at the end of last month.
15 May	New global report shows empowering nurses is key to saving lives and strengthening health systems As the world marks International Nurses Day, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) is calling for urgent investment in nursing, supported by a major new global report, Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives, that presents seven key nursing powers.
14 May	Lakes and Whanganui nurses still waiting for Holiday Pay a decade on Photo by Fin Ocheduszko-Brown at Whanganui Chronicle Nurses at Lakes and Whanganui districts are calling on Te Whatu Ora to explain why after a decade of redress, they still don’t know when they will receive their full Holiday Act remediation payments, NZNO says.
13 May	Recognising the extraordinary contribution of nurses International Nurses Day is an opportunity to recognise the extraordinary role nurses play in caring for New Zealanders at every stage of life, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
12 May	Government’s decision to scrap fees free scheme will lead to further student exodus The Coalition Government’s decision to scrap the fees free policy for third year tertiary students has left nursing tauira outraged
30 Apr	BroPilot grounding digital tools in whānau, culture, and care A passion for his Māori culture and a desire to make AI accessible to everyone inspired Troy Baker, Senior ICT Specialist, Health New Zealand to develop BroPilot – a culturally grounded way of working with Microsoft Copilot that reflects Māori values, whakaaro, and real lived experience.
29 Apr	Heartbreaking tragedies were avoidable - NZNO Analysis by a media outlet, published today, finding health care staff shortages were contributing factors in the deaths of 11 babies is a national and avoidable tragedy, NZNO says.
28 Apr	CTU launches Roving Health and Safety Representatives policy on Workers’ Memorial Day The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today launched our Roving Health and Safety Representatives policy at the Workers’ Memorial Day commemoration in Wellington, with further events held across the motu in Manawatū, Christchurch, and Otago.
24 Apr	“The 80s Calling”: New national campaign challenges outdated HIV stigma Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey today launched Health New Zealand’s “The 80s Calling”; a provocative new campaign designed to reduce stigma, normalise conversations about HIV, and support people living with HIV.
23 Apr	Government’s attack on Māori health raised at the UN Concerns over the Coalition Government’s active reversal of policies designed to improve Māori health outcomes were raised at the United Nations in New York this morning.
16 Apr	Tribute to Professor Lester Levy’s service to healthcare Health New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley is paying tribute to Health NZ Board Chair Professor Lester Levy, who finishes in the role at the end of the month.
10 Apr	Chronic health care assistant short staffing harming vulnerable patients Te Whatu Ora’s attempt to cut costs by requiring health care assistants to carry out cohort patient watches is harming vulnerable patients and staff, NZNO says.
9 Apr	New group education clinics speeding up knee and hip surgery care Health New Zealand is rolling out a new group education approach for people waiting for hip and knee surgery in north and west Auckland, resulting in more patients being seen sooner.
25 Mar	National Diabetes Roadmap launched to improve care, prevention, and quality of life Health New Zealand has launched a new National Diabetes Roadmap (‘the Roadmap’) to improve care, strengthen prevention, and support better health outcomes and quality of life for people living with diabetes.
24 Mar	ACT should leave nursing to professionals and medical evidence Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says ACT MP Todd Stephenson has dismissed the Nursing Council’s draft code of conduct - which proposes strengthening cultural safety, whānau-centred care and te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations - as political ideology.
23 Mar	UK report reflects ICN warnings on international recruitment ripoff — now countries must act together The International Council of Nurses (ICN) warmly welcomes a new report from the UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Health and Security that recognizes the huge sums saved by high-income countries who recruit abroad and acknowledges the severe harms caused by unethical recruitment from fragile source countries left without nurses.
20 Mar	HPV self-test boosts cervical cancer screening ‘across the board’, new study confirms Making human papillomavirus (HPV) self-testing available to all women increases the number of people screened for cervical cancer, a new study led by researchers from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has confirmed.
19 Mar	ICN at CSW70: Violence against nurses is a gendered crisis threatening global health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has warned that violence against nurses is a global gendered crisis that threatens health systems, patient safety and workforce sustainability
17 Mar	Additional winter health care workers a drop in the ocean of need The Government’s announcement today of 378 extra staff to help hospitals cope with winter demand is a drop in the ocean of what patients need, NZNO says.
12 Mar	Funding change will ensure more consistent emergency care for New Zealanders A simple change in how ambulance medicines are funded is set to create more consistent emergency care.
9 Mar	Questions over dilapidated and cramped renal unit forced to ration dialysis The Health Minister must explain why after years of concerns from nurses about Christchurch Hospital’s barely functioning dialysis unit, he only stepped in late yesterday when life-saving treatment had to be rationed, NZNO says.
3 Mar	Hospitals and health workers should never be targets The right of health care workers to provide care during international conflicts must be protected, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO says.
2 Mar	Public and Mental Health Nurses settle collective agreement Health New Zealand welcomes the ratification of the two Public Service Association (PSA) Public and Mental Health Nurses collective employment agreements for Auckland and the Rest of New Zealand.
27 Feb	Whakatāne Hospital to resume secondary obstetrics and gynaecology services Whakatāne Hospital will resume secondary obstetrics and gynaecology services from 8am on 13 April 2026.
26 Feb	Counsellors warn NZ is normalising crisis levels of youth distress Youth mental distress has become entrenched, suicide remains a national tragedy, and our systems are failing to intervene early enough, says the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC).
26 Feb	Record uptake nearly doubles advanced nurse education scholarships A record 235 primary care registered nurses will begin advanced education this year – nearly doubling the number originally planned – following strong demand for the Government’s new Registered Nurse Primary Care Scholarships, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
19 Feb	‘Top Up’ to deliver faster access to support Seven grassroots mental health initiatives supporting small and hard-to-reach communities have received funding to deliver faster access to support, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced today.
18 Feb	Pharmac proposes funding new treatments that could transform early care for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer People in New Zealand living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) could soon benefit from funded access to targeted treatments under a new proposal from Pharmac.
13 Feb	Te Whatu Ora’s embarrassing U-turn over proposed car park plan Te Whatu Ora needs to go back to the drawing board and prioritise worker safety after reversing plans to charge hospital workers market rates for car parks, NZNO says.
11 Feb	Stark differences in COVID-19 vaccination rates between Māori and non-Māori, research finds A new study analysing COVID-19 vaccine uptake has found markedly lower vaccination rates among Māori, which researchers link to existing inequities in healthcare access.
9 Feb	ICN’s call for International Nurses Day 2026: empower nurses to save lives ICN has announced the theme for International Nurses Day (IND) 2026: Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives. This focus sends a clear message that to maximize the full life-saving impact of the nursing workforce, we must empower nurses with safe, fair work environments and full nursing practice, influence, and leadership.
5 Feb	Global nurse leaders gather in Japan to address urgent workforce crisis Nursing leaders from Japan and around the world are gathering in Yokohama this week for two major nursing events that are advancing the global conversation on how countries can protect, retain and invest in their nursing workforce as pressures mount across health systems worldwide.
4 Feb	Midwives to deliver more vaccinations to help protect families Midwives are now able to offer a wider range of funded immunisations, supporting families from pregnancy through the early months of a child’s life, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
30 Jan	Opening of E Tū Wairua Hinengaro – Mason Clinic Health New Zealand has marked the opening of E Tū Wairua Hinengaro, a new purpose-built facility at Auckland’s Mason Clinic designed to strengthen and modernise forensic mental healthcare in Aotearoa.
29 Jan	NZNO disgusted by nurse’s killing in the US Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO has expressed disgust at the shooting and killing of nurse Alex Pretti on a Minneapolis, US street on Saturday morning by federal officers.
27 Jan	New national group forms to support public healthcare in Aotearoa Kaitiaki Hauora - Together for Public Health has been formed as a national group bringing together patients, health workers, iwi and Māori health representatives, unions, advocacy organisations, and community groups, with backing from a growing number of organisations across the health sector.
22 Jan	Pharmac proposes to fund life changing treatments for people with cystic fibrosis Pharmac is proposing to fund new treatment options for people living with cystic fibrosis with eligible mutations, including young children, from 1 April 2026.
05 Jan	Nurses pay tribute to Dame Poutasi The passing of Dame Karen Poutasi has seen Aotearoa lose one of its foremost health leaders and a woman of high integrity, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says.