News – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

June 2026

Primary health-care nurses chase Te Whatu Ora pay rates as 2026 bargaining kicks off

By Mary Longmore

June 4, 2026

Primary health-care (PHC) nurses say they will be fighting hard to finally reach pay parity with Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ (HNZ) as 2026/27 bargaining starts.

June 2026

Nursing, health stars prominent in 2026 King’s Birthday honours

By Kaitiaki co-editors

June 3, 2026

Compassion, knowledge, mana — this year’s King’s Birthday Honours recognised extraordinary lives in nursing and health.

June 2026

BUDGET26:Plunket nurses ‘forgotten’ in Budget — despite Coalition funding promise

By Mary Longmore

May 29, 2026

Wellington Whānau Āwhina Plunket nurse Hannah Cook said her organisation ran on next to nothing and had been holding out hope for some funding this year — especially after its pay equity claim was scrapped last year.

May 2026

BUDGET26: Robbing Pita to pay Paul — Budget leaves nurses, Māori in ‘money-go-round’

By Joel Maxwell and Mary Longmore

May 28, 2026

At best Budget 2026 has kept the health system in steady decline — at worst it drove Māori health off a cliff.

May 2026

More HCAs but no more nurses — Waitākere Hospital staff to ‘wait and see’ after safety complaint

By Mary Longmore

May 25, 2026

Under-the-pump nurses and health-care assistants (HCAs) at Waitākere Hospital’s Muriwai stroke ward say they will “wait and see” if things improve in the next two weeks before deciding their next moves — which could include health & safety strike action.

May 2026

Bupa aged-care nurses latest to raise pay equity claim

By Kaitiaki coeditors

May 22, 2026

NZNO nurses working at Bupa aged residential care homes throughout Aotearoa have raised a pay equity claim to address historic gender-based wage discrimination.

May 2026

Call for nurses, kaiāwhina to stand up against Government efforts to ‘erase’ trans communities

By Mary Longmore

May 21, 2026

New law proposal attempts to ‘erase’ trans and intersex communities, says rainbow nursing group as it calls nurses and kaiāwhina to stand firm.

May 2026

‘They won’t be forgotten’ — wreath laid for 53 nurses killed in earthquake

By Mary Longmore

May 18, 2026

Grace McKenna was just seven when her Irish father, a nurse, died in the catastrophic Christchurch earthquake on February 22, 2011.

May 2026

NZNO members vote to accept Te Whatu Ora offer

By Kaitiaki co-editors

May 15, 2026

NZNO nurses, midwives and health care assistants working for Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ (HNZ) have voted to accept the latest collective agreement offer following a close secret ballot, which closed today.

May 2026

‘More respiratory nurses needed’ college tells Minister

By Mary Longmore

May 15, 2026

Better respiratory care in the community will save people ending up in hospital — and nurses are the answer, NZNO’s respiratory nurses tell Simeon Brown.

April 2026

Kua maumaharatia ngā tapuhi 53 i hinga i te rū nui i Ōtautahi

By Mary Longmore

May 12, 2026

Tau atu, tau mai, ka whakatakotoria e te nēhi o Ōtautahi a Janine Randle tētahi puapua whakamahara i te pakitara whakamaumahara o te tāone nui ki ngā tapuhi 53 i mate i te rū nui o Pēpuere 2011.

April 2026

The mental health facility where the doors don’t lock properly: Hillmorton revealed

By Joel Maxwell and Mary Longmore

May 11, 2026

Nurses have been forced to work in squalid, unsafe and understaffed conditions at Christchurch’s Hillmorton Hospital, a new NZNO survey has revealed.

May 2026

What now for members, after Health New Zealand’s latest offer?

By Mary Longmore

May 8, 2026

NZNO’s bargaining team members say they have fought hard in the room — now it is up to members to decide whether to accept Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ (HNZ)’s latest offer.

April 2026

Remembering the 53 nurses killed in the Christchurch earthquake

By Mary Longmore

May 7, 2026

Every year, Christchurch nurse Janine Randle lays a wreath at the city’s earthquake memorial wall for 53 nurses who died in the February 2011 earthquake.

April 2026

Working 10-hour nursing shifts? Prepare to lose sick leave under new law

By Joel Maxwell and Mary Longmore

May 7, 2026

They’re surrounded by sick people and subject to assaults: now nurses face the additional injury of having sick days wiped by a proposed new law.

May 2026

Complaint lodged with UN over ‘sneaky’ gutting of pay equity claims

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

May 6, 2026

New Zealand has become an international “pariah” since gutting pay equity laws — and now faces further humiliation as the United Nations is asked to investigate.

May 2026

Nurses link across the country — and street — against Government attacks on rights

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

May 1, 2026

Some nurses were leaving a long shift, others gearing up to start one — they were the first links in a literal, and figurative, chain across Aotearoa for workers’ rights.

April 2026

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

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

April 24, 2026

It’s decision time for the 36,000 NZNO Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ (HNZ) members as they consider new potential terms of settlement in bargaining.

April 2026

Community health nurses win six per cent pay rise after ‘humiliating’ bargaining

By Mary Longmore

April 22, 2026

Access community health nurses endure eye rolls and being told their concerns are ‘boring’.

April 2026

Free bowel cancer screening cut-off ‘racist’ say NZNO cancer nurses

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

April 16, 2026

NZNO cancer nurses condemn the Government refusal to lower the free bowel screening age to 50 for Māori.

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.