Letters – Page 4 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

March 2024

Survey on key issues facing health-care workers

By Yasmin Handrich

February 15, 2024

Kantar, a global research and insights consultancy, is conducting a survey on behalf of our client, UP Education, to better understand the key issues facing health-care workers and the role of education in solving some of these issues.

March 2024

‘Innovative’ nurse-pharmacist partnership can help with declining childhood immunisation rates

By Nicola Metcalfe

February 2, 2024

I write as a registered nurse (RN) and immunisation coordinator, deeply concerned about the declining childhood immunisation rates in Aotearoa.

February 2024

Protected: ‘Kerri Nuku needs to stick with nursing and leave history to the experts’

By Helen Mccrostie

January 15, 2024

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

January 2024

‘I see the effects every day’ — nurse and midwife implores Government to rethink Smokefree law change

By Anne-Mieke van der Zanden

December 12, 2023

I’m writing in the hope that the Government will change its mind on the Smokefree law change.

January 2024

Stop the repeal of Smokefree legislation, say respiratory nurses

By NZNO College of Respiratory Nurses

December 7, 2023

The NZNO college of respiratory nurses demands the Government stop the repeal of the Smokefree legislation.

December 2023

PhD student sought for research project on elimination of tuberculosis among Māori

By Amy Jones and Sue McAllister

November 23, 2023

December 2023

2024 skills and training scholarships offered to union members and families

By Sheryl Cadman

November 3, 2023

The Northern Drivers’ Charitable Trust (NDCT) is a registered charitable trust that was established in 1987.

September 2023

Ground down and left in the lurch

By Vincent Theunissen

September 7, 2023

I write to express my profound disappointment and dismay after reading the recent article “Disappointed primary health nurses pin hopes on pay equity”.

September 2023

Anaesthetic technicians no threat to perioperative nurses, says their society

By Matthew Lawrence

August 31, 2023

September 2023

Participants sought for nurse-led research into eating disorders

By Louise Fletcher

August 22, 2023

I am a registered nurse looking for people affected by eating disorders, and their family members, for my PhD research.

September 2023

Trauma-informed care micro-credential in Aotearoa

By Tracey Howarth

August 21, 2023

At Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) Te Pūkenga, we offer the only trauma-Informed care micro-credential in Aotearoa and would love more people to know about our next intake.

September 2023

Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and NZ nursing scholarship 2023

By the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand

August 17, 2023

The Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSSANZ) offers a nursing scholarship every year. Applications for the 2023 scholarship close on Monday, September 4.

September 2023

Wound care conference important for keeping skills up to date

By Sasha Drennan

August 8, 2023

Wound management and the dressing of wounds are some of the most basic services offered in primary health care facilities across New Zealand.

August 2023

Abstracts wanted for stomal therapy nurses’ 2024 conference

By NZNO College of Stomal Therapy Nurses

July 28, 2023

Conference Link: CSTN Conference 2024
Conference theme “Innovation”
Ellerslie Events Centre, Feb 29 – March 1, 2024

August 2023

Candidates for Nursing Council election

By Warwick Lampp

July 11, 2023

Nominations for three nurse members to be elected to the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) board closed at 5pm, Friday, June 30, 2023.

August 2023

New Zealand Faith Community Nurse Association closes

By Charles Tyrrell

July 4, 2023

The New Zealand Faith Community Nurse Association (NZFCNA) has served many communities throughout New Zealand since a pilot at Nelson Cathedral over two decades ago begun by Elaine Tyrrell. This form of nursing practice combines practical nursing with the Christian ministry of health care.

July 2023

The New Zealand Nurses Memorial Fund ready to support nurses in times of hardship

By Helen Williams

June 30, 2023

In these challenging times of COVID, climate change and global recession, many people continue to experience financial hardship and we write to highlight the financial help available from the New Zealand Nurses Memorial Fund (NZNMF).

June 2023

2023 nominations for the election of Nursing Council members are now open

By Warwick Lampp

May 24, 2023

Nominations are now being called for three nurse members to be elected by the nursing profession to the Nursing Council board. Elected members will serve for a period of three years.

June 2023

Comprehensive guide to mesothelioma

By Jacob Bryant

May 17, 2023

A United States law firm which acts for people exposed to asbestos has produced a thorough guide to mesothelioma.

June 2023

So much more than ‘just a nurse’

By Anna Hickey

May 8, 2023

An Auckland clinical nurse educator explains, in poetry, why you should not say ‘I’m just a nurse’.

5 Oct	Labour's pay rise a first step, but pay equity needs a full settlement Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO has welcomed Labour's promised pay rise for care and support workers as a first step. It says care and support workers now need a full settlement of their pay equity claim and a workable pay equity system for all of its members.
1 Oct	Health NZ releases first national report on serious adverse events Health New Zealand has published its first national Serious Adverse Event Report, acknowledging the serious harm experienced by patients and whānau and outlining the improvements identified and actions underway to strengthen patient safety. The report covers serious adverse events reported in Hospital and Specialist Services between 1 July and 31 December 2025.
25 Sept	380 more health care workers at the end of winter too little too late An announcement of 380 additional nurses, midwives and health care assistants for hospitals around the country at the end of winter is too little too late, NZNO says.
23 Sept	Auckland University research finds nurse shortages increase post-surgery deaths and complications New research by Auckland University has found addressing nurse shortages in post-operative care may save 182 lives a year because short-staffed wards have higher rates of potentially preventable deaths and complications after their surgeries.
21 Sept	Whanganui Hospital ED averaged 680% capacity over a week Working in an overcrowded emergency department (ED), up to 680% capacity over a week, makes staff feel overwhelmed with the pressure, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO says.
14 Sept	WellSouth's Newborn Enrolment Kahu Taurima Programme a finalist at the Primary Care Awards 2026 WellSouth's Newborn Enrolment Kahu Taurima Programme is a finalist at the Primary Care Awards for the HALEO Best Supplier Service, Product or Campaign category. Winners will be announced on 17 October.
14 Sept	Global Study: Nursing Shortages Require Workforce Policy Solutions, Not Recruitment Campaigns Alone Why people choose nursing, and why they leave, comes down to the same factors. The global nursing shortage cannot be solved simply by encouraging more people to enter the profession, according to a new evidence brief.
8 Sept	Overworked, understaffed Gisborne ED staff strike Health and safety concerns arising from unsafe staffing levels have forced nurses at Gisborne Hospital’s emergency department (ED) to go on strike.
4 Sept	Strong growth in wāhine Māori and Pacific women’s cervical screening rates highlights success of self-testing programme Cervical screening participation has increased significantly for both wāhine Māori and Pacific women, reflecting the strong impact of self-testing, Screening Services and the dedicated efforts of health providers working alongside their communities.
4 Sept	Government must adopt Wai 2713 recommendations on disability system The Coalition Government must urgently adopt new recommendations from the Waitangi Tribunal which has found significant parts of the disability system prejudice tāngata whaikaha Māori (Māori with disabilities), NZNO says.
31 Aug	Employing graduate nurses will help keep them in nursing and the country A new proposal that will require Te Whatu Ora to offer all eligible graduate nurses jobs in the public health system will help keep them in nursing and in Aotearoa New Zealand, NZNO says.
26 Aug	Health Minister’s claim Winter Plan ‘managing well’ delusional Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that hospitals are ‘managing well’ because of the Government’s Winter Plan is delusional, NZNO says.
25 Aug	Hospital data shows nursing shortages continue to put patients at risk Te Whatu Ora data released today shows patients are continuing to be put at risk by the Coalition Government’s deliberate failure to safely staff hospital wards, NZNO says.
24 Aug	Fed-up North Shore ED staff declare state of emergency NZNO members working in the emergency department (ED) at North Shore Hospital have declared a state of emergency due to unsafe staffing levels resulting in ongoing overcrowding.
19 Aug	What happened to the winter health plan? The $25 million 2026 Winter Plan launched by Health Minister Simeon Brown in March to erase pressure on the health system has been an unmitigated disaster, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO says.
11 Aug	Applications open for advanced nursing education programmes Health New Zealand is encouraging registered nurses to apply for two advanced education programmes that support nurses to further develop their clinical skills and expand access to care in communities across New Zealand.
3 Aug	Health New Zealand welcomes settlement of NZRDA collective agreement Health New Zealand welcomes the vote by New Zealand Resident Doctors Association (NZRDA) members to settle their collective agreement.
30 Jul	Backing our frontline rural health workforce Rural communities across New Zealand will benefit from three new investments that will support the rural health workforce and help more people access care closer to home, Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey says.
22 Jul	Te Whatu Ora must disclose staffing levels at time of tragic death Te Whatu Ora must disclose whether the Waikato emergency department (ED) was short-staffed at the time a man tragically died in the waiting room, NZNO says.
6 Jul	Reflecting on IND 2026 Looking back on last month’s International Nurses Day 12 May 2026 (IND 2026), the impact of this year's theme "Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives" continues to resonate across the world. ICN’s landmark IND 2026 report defined seven key powers of nursing and this message has been strengthened with nurses in every region celebrating, naming, and owning their powers throughout May.
3 Jul	Health New Zealand acknowledges Ombudsman statement on Wakari Ward 10A Health NZ welcomes the independent investigation by the Ministry of Health into Ward 10A. On Wednesday the Health NZ board agreed to close Wakari Ward 10a as a forensic intellectual disability (ID) unit, with the future use of the ward yet to be determined.
2 Jul	New programme to fast track bowel cancer care and cut colonoscopy waitlists Health New Zealand is today launching a national initiative, designed to fast track bowel cancer care and reduce colonoscopy waitlists by up to 30 per cent.
1 Jul	Six new Co-Response Team locations announced to strengthen support for people in mental distress The next six locations for Health New Zealand and NZ Police Co-Response Teams have been confirmed, expanding a model that helps people experiencing mental distress receive timely, wraparound support that better meets their health needs.
29 Jun	Mental health and addiction targets progress continues Health New Zealand continues to make important progress against its mental health and addiction targets, meeting four out of five national targets this quarter.
25 Jun	Access to care continuing to improve across a range of health indicators New health data released today shows continued improvement in access to care across a range of health indicators.
18 Jun	Funding "boost" continues dangerous under-funding of aged care The Health Minister’s funding "boost" for aged residential care continues underfunding to the sector and will continue unsafe practices and short staffing, which is putting vulnerable residents at risk, NZNO says.
16 Jun	Labour to make maternity scans free Labour will add free maternity scans to the Medicard alongside three free doctor’s visits a year, so every pregnant woman gets the care she needs.