News – Page 13 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

October 2022

Members nationwide gear up for week-long boycott of extra shifts

By Cate Macintosh

September 30, 2022

Nurses across the country are preparing to take a stand against dangerous short-staffing on hospital wards.

October 2022

Battle looms over incentive payments

By Cate Macintosh

September 22, 2022

A battle is looming over incentive payments for additional shifts to fill desperately under-staffed hospital wards. NZNO members are vowing to stop doing them completely for the week of October 3-9 in a national protest while Te Whatu Ora says there won’t be any need for them after September 30 anyway.

October 2022

Maranga Mai! — rise up — is our plan to save the health system

By Cate Macintosh

September 16, 2022

Maranga Mai! – rise up – is a plan to save New Zealand’s health system, NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter tells conference delegates.

October 2022

NZNO members silently protest to Andrew Little over ‘reneging’ on promised back pay

By Kaitiaki co-editors

September 15, 2022

October 2022

NZNO rules changed to protect against racism, hate and clarity on dual membership entitlements

By Kaitiaki co-editors

September 14, 2022

NZNO’s constitution will make it a disciplinary offence for members to “incite racism or hate”, following a vote announced at NZNO’s annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday.

October 2022

Free NZNO membership for nursing students ‘an example for Government’

By Mary Longmore

September 13, 2022

Student members say NZNO is “leading by example” by granting free membership to nursing students.

October 2022

NZNO board election results brings a mix of new and returning directors

By Kaitiaki co-editors

September 12, 2022

The NZNO 2022 board election results bring mixture of current, former and new board members.

October 2022

Nursing Council announces changes to competency testing for overseas nurses

By Mary Longmore

September 6, 2022

Direct competency and clinical assessments, alongside cultural safety education, are among crucial changes for internationally-qualified nurses (IQNs) coming to work in New Zealand from 2024.

September 2022

The Aussies are doing it — can we train nurses for free here?

By Mary Longmore

September 1, 2022

Nursing students say they would welcome free training in New Zealand, after the Australian state of Victoria this week announced a $270 million investment to train 10,000 nurses and midwives over the next two years.

September 2022

NZNO puts out call for Pasifika nurses at Southland Polyfest

By Mary Longmore

August 30, 2022

“What could be better than our rangatahi meeting proud Māori and Pasifika nurses?” NZNO students reach out to Pasifika community

September 2022

Nurses around the country protest lower pay in primary health care

By Mary Longmore

August 30, 2022

Health Minister Andrew Little promises pay parity “a priority” as protests held around the motu in support of primary health care (PHC) nurses.

September 2022

Members urged to turn out for primary health care nurses

By Mary Longmore

August 26, 2022

NZNO members are being encouraged to turn up for a ‘day of action’ being held around the country on Monday in support of pay parity for primary health care nurses.

September 2022

Stepping up and speaking up, across the ditch

By NZNO president Anne Daniels

August 19, 2022

NZNO’s Maranga Mai! campaign has strong echoes across the Tasman in New South Wales, where nurses and midwives are fighting for nurse-patient ratios and “stepping up and speaking up” about the pressures they are under.

September 2022

Nursing Council eases written English test for overseas nurses

By Mary Longmore

August 19, 2022

The Nursing Council is easing standards on the written English test for overseas-trained nurses, in an effort to reduce barriers.

September 2022

Real nurses star in campaign to draw more Māori, Pasifika & men into nursing

By Mary Longmore

August 5, 2022

NZNO nurses from military to burns and plastic surgery feature in a new NZNO-Ministry of Health (MoH) recruitment drive to encourage more people into nursing — particularly Māori, Pasifika and men.

September 2022

Member voting opens on three remits ahead of September AGM

By Kaitiaki co-editors

August 3, 2022

Members have until Sept 9 to vote on three remits relating to membership fees for students; supporting NZNO values and not bringing the organisation into disrepute; and proposed changes for NZNO members who belong to other unions.

September 2022

12 candidates standing in NZNO board of directors elections 2022

By Kaitiaki Editors

August 3, 2022

Nominations were called for the NZNO Board of Directors on 17 June and closed at 12 noon, Friday 15 July 2022.

As there were more than seven nominations received for the seven vacancies on the Board, an election is required.
The following article contains the candidate profiles and photos of the candidates standing for the Board positions.
Please note that while the candidates are listed in alphabetical order by surname in this article, candidate names are listed in random order on the voting paper.
The profiles have been provided by each candidate and are unedited by Kaitiaki. Co-editors accept no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the statements as supplied by the candidates.

September 2022

Thanks minister, but please put nurses on the fast-track to residency

By Mary Longmore

August 2, 2022

NZNO is cautiously welcoming a raft of new health workforce measures and a global nurse recruitment campaign — but says ultimately Aotearoa needs to grow its own health workforce.

August 2022

Not a crisis?

By Mary Longmore

July 20, 2022

Thousands of nurses speak out in response to Health Minister Andrew Little’s refusal to acknowledge a health system they say is ‘in or beyond’ crisis.

Attitudes to vaccination have changed little in 80 years, says former ‘fever’ nurse

By University of Canterbury journalism student Anna Sargent

July 1, 2022

Former nurse Una O’Neill, of Christchurch, says today’s opposition to COVID-19 vaccinations echoes opposition she saw in 1940s England when she nursed in “fever wards” in World War II.

Uncut – news briefs

1 Apr	Health NZ wants your feedback on a Paediatric Adolescent and Young Adult Palliative Model of Care Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) is seeking feedback on potential options for national palliative care services for tamariki, rangatahi/children, young people and their whānau/families.
27 March	Bar still too high for small mental health providers Small mental health providers will still be locked out of co-funding from the Mental Health Innovation Fund despite a lower threshold.
25 March	ICN advocates for health system gender equity and women’s health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) brought the nursing voice to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) which wrapped up on Friday. ICN participated in critical discussions on gender equity and women’s health throughout the event.
19 March	ICN warns of healthcare crisis as USAID funding cuts devastate nursing initiatives in the world’s most vulnerable regions The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has documented alarming firsthand evidence of widespread disruption and collapse of essential health care services following the sudden withdrawal of USAID and other funding.
19 March	New High Dependency Unit will expand critical care services in Wellington Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU).
13 March	Pharmac to fund more cancer medicines Pharmac is funding six more medicines for cancers and one for antibiotic resistant infections.
28 Feb	Pharmac CE resigns The Board of Pharmac wishes to announce that its Chief Executive for the last 7 years, Sarah Fitt, has resigned effective from 30 May 2025.
25 Feb	ICN issues updated statement on health care in conflict, calling for peace and compliance with international humanitarian law In recent years, the world has witnessed a disturbing increase in conflicts and wars, placing immense strain on health systems and exacerbating human suffering. Nurses have been at the forefront of these crises, responding to emergencies, supporting recovery efforts, and providing essential care to those affected by violence and displacement.
21 Feb	ICN’s new guidance on integrating nurse leaders into heart of health workforce planning The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has published a practical guide to including nurses in workforce planning decisions.
17 Feb	ICN warns of effect of US withdrawal from WHO on nurse-led services The International Council of Nurses (ICN) warned that the withdrawal of the United States from WHO has already halted some nurse-led services, including vaccination programmes and care for people with HIV/AIDS.
17 Feb	Minister acknowledges outgoing Director-General Health Minister Simeon Brown has today acknowledged the resignation of Director-General of Health and Chief Executive of the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Sarfati, and thanked her for her service.
12 Feb	Pharmac funds medicines for liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers People with liver, ovarian, and neuroendocrine cancers will have access to more medicines from 1 March 2025.
11 Feb	Consultation begins on work to improve patient access to medical devices Pharmac is continuing to improve the way medical devices are managed for New Zealanders, today opening consultation on its comprehensive list of medical devices used by public hospitals.
3 Feb	First Whānau Āwhina Plunket site in NZ delivering childhood vaccinations Childhood immunisations are now being delivered at a Whānau Āwhina Plunket site in Whāngarei, with other regions soon to also provide the new service.
29 Jan	Local access to specialist audiology services comes to Wairarapa A newly established out-patient clinic for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) and audiology appointments is providing Wairarapa patients with local access to specialist hearing services for the first time.
29 Jan	Pharmac reconsiders oestradiol patch options following community feedback Pharmac is reviewing and reconsidering its oestradiol patch options after considerable feedback was received when it announced a move to a single funded brand late last year.
22 Jan	Consultations for cancer and ADHD medicines close soon Pharmac is encouraging people to have their say on proposals to fund six more medicines and change the brand of one medicine before consultation closes on 27 January.
20 Dec	Health NZ introduces public reporting of key primary healthcare measures and PHO performance Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) has introduced public reporting of key primary healthcare measures and Primary Health Organisation (PHO) performance.
19 Dec	Quarter 1 performance report released Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has today published its Quarterly Performance Report for Quarter 1, covering the period 1 July to 30 September 2024.
18 Dec	Recent uptick in Boostrix immunisations amid whooping cough epidemic, but work still to do As the healthcare sector continues to respond to a whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic across the motu, it’s promising to see a recent uptick in the number of Boostrix immunisations among the 15- to 44-year-old age group, with a recent doubling of doses administered from about 1,000 per week to over 2,000 per week.
18 Dec	Extra security to again keep EDs safe this summer Health Minister Dr Shane Reti is again reminding New Zealanders that violence against patients, visitors and health workers won’t be tolerated, with additional security for hospital emergency departments across the country this summer.
13 Dec	Mental health and addiction targets implementation plans released Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has today published its first quarterly results for four of the five mental health and addiction targets, covering the period 1 July – 30 September 2024.
12 Dec	Health targets encouraging – work continues New data shows that the Government’s focus on health targets is putting the brakes on the steep decline in delivery seen over the past five years.
12 Dec	Gisborne receives mental health beds boost Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey today opened Gisborne Hospital’s new acute mental health unit, Te Whare Awhi Ora, and says the region will be better served by a bigger, more therapeutic acute mental health unit.
9 Dec	Afghan women ‘banned from nursing and midwife training’ in latest blow to rights BBC News has reported that female nursing and midwifery students in Afghanistan have been told not to return to their studies, effectively ending women’s only access to further education, and putting women and children’s lives at risk.
9 Dec	How student and early career nurses can influence policymaking The International Council of Nurses (ICN) held a webinar which highlighted the vital importance of primary and preventative health care in meeting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) challenging goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030
3 Dec	Health NZ end-of-year deficit confirmed In publishing its annual report, Health NZ has confirmed it ended the financial year with a deficit of $722 million, against a target surplus of $54 million.
2 Dec	ICN says COP29 climate finance shortfall threatens the planet’s health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has expressed profound disappointment with the outcomes of COP29, held in Baku, particularly the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that was passed despite significant objections from developing countries.
29 Nov	Minister reminds public health officials of priorities Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti says the National Public Health Service should concentrate its focus on prioritising serious public health issues facing New Zealanders.
29 Nov	Community providers rally to protect hapū māma and pēpi as national whooping cough case numbers surpass 1,000 for 2024 Hapū māmā are being urged to get immunised, and parents and caregivers are encouraged to get their babies immunised on time, as whooping cough case numbers continue to climb across Aotearoa New Zealand.
28 Nov	Govt ignores health crisis, plans to axe 1500 public health roles The health of New Zealanders will suffer because of the Government’s plan to axe nearly 1500 roles at Te Whatu Ora, coming at a time when the public health system is already under severe pressure.
27 Nov	Health New Zealand Establishes Technical Advisory Group to Lead Transformation in Maternity Care This team of experts and community representatives will play a key role in the development of the Maternity Commissioning Framework, a core element of the wider Kahu Taurima programme, which aims to make maternity and early years services more equitable, accessible, and whānau-centered.
22 Nov	Whooping Cough epidemic declared across Aotearoa New Zealand Health agencies have confirmed today that Aotearoa New Zealand is now in the early stages of a Whooping Cough epidemic, with a nationally coordinated response now in place.
20 Nov	A Global Map of Winter Depression Healthnews has released an extensive study that ranks 194 countries based on their winter-pattern Seasonal Depression Disorder (SAD) risk.
18 Nov	Potential travel disruption expected with Tuesday’s national Hīkoi Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora urges those with an appointment scheduled at Wellington Regional Hospital on Tuesday morning or early afternoon, to please allow extra time to get to appointments.
15 Nov	ICN’s calls on G20 leaders to address international health worker migration crisis Ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro next week, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) welcomes the Declarations recently adopted by the G20 Health Working Group and health ministers.
13 Nov	Measles case confirmed in Tāmaki Makaurau Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has confirmed today that a new case of measles has been identified on Waiheke Island in Auckland. The case and their household are being supported by the National Public Health Service (NPHS), with those most at risk now in quarantine to help reduce the chance of further spread.
5 Nov	Safety fears ahead of changes to mental health 111 calls Mental Health Nurses have serious concerns about the safety of their patients, the public, their colleagues and themselves when police changes to emergency 111 calls come into effect on Monday, New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa says.