News – Page 2 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

August 2026

Gisborne ED staff vote for health and safety strike as understaffing bites

By Joel Maxwell

August 27, 2026

Between long 12-hour shifts and crushing work demands, nurse Clara Dolman-Tuhou has only seen her son three times in the last two weeks.

August 2026

Proposed new RN prescriber and NP competencies open for consultation as both roles bloom

By Mary Longmore

August 24, 2026

Consultation is open on proposed new standards of competence for nurse practitioners (NPs) and registered nurse (RN) prescribers that the Nursing Council says will better reflect their expanded practice today.

August 2026

‘There was despair’: Government’s meddling in Nursing Council slammed at hui-ā-tau

By Joel Maxwell

August 18, 2026

The largest gathering of Māori nurses, kaimahi, kaiāwhina and ākonga in Aotearoa has blasted the Government’s gutting of the Nursing Council.

August 2026

‘Great crowd of Westies’ turn out to support Waitākere Hospital nurses

By Mary Longmore

August 17, 2026

Around 400 people turned out to a public meeting in Henderson recently to support local nurses and health staff from Waitākere Hospital.

August 2026

Nursing Council chief executive quits amid leadership exodus

By Mary Longmore

August 13, 2026

Chief executive Catherine Byrne and several senior executives have quit the Nursing Council two months after a major board reshuffle by Minister of Health Simeon Brown saw several nurses and Māori ousted.

August 2026

Government ‘fudging’ hiring figures as nurses face intense pressure

By Joel Maxwell and Mary Longmore

August 11, 2026

The hospital nursing workforce has grown by a measly 54 roles since the Coalition Government took power, it has been revealed — despite its claims of 2100 extra nurses.

August 2026

Patients admitted to lazy boy chairs as city outgrows hospital, nurses tell mayor

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

August 10, 2026

A group of Hutt Hospital nurses have called on Hutt city mayor Ken Laban’s help getting a hospital upgrade after struggling with “constant” overcrowding and, now, leaks.

August 2026

High Court becomes new frontline in battle to win back pay equity rights

By Joel Maxwell

August 4, 2026

It was a bleak and freezing Wellington morning but a trio of primary school kids were about to grab the bullhorn and preach about pay equity.

August 2026

‘It was so cold’: Student nurse moves into caravan for two-month placement

By Mary Longmore

August 4, 2026

New nursing graduate Ella Hofman got so cold and sick living in a caravan for two months on placement, she was still unwell weeks later while sitting her nursing exams.

August 2026

Antacid didn’t cut it — then five-hour wait to find he was having a heart attack

By Joel Maxwell

July 31, 2026

A man waited five hours in Wellington’s emergency department (ED) gripped by a heart attack — three years later the full staffing fix has yet to arrive.

August 2026

‘We’re willing and ready to go’ say grads, but less than half score Te Whatu Ora jobs — again

By Mary Longmore

July 29, 2026

Nurse graduates say they are “ready and willing to go” — but fewer than half graduating this month have been offered supported-entry jobs at Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ (HNZ).

August 2026

Auckland University’s first Māori head of nursing ‘awesome’, say tauira

By Mary Longmore

July 29, 2026

Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa-NZNO students say the appointment of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland (UOA)’s first Māori head of nursing, Josephine Davis, is important for rangatahi.

August 2026

Plunket nurses told to double appointments as funding, staffing crunch hits

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

July 28, 2026

NZNO Plunket nurses have raised the alarm over Government funding after being told they have to double their appointment workload.

August 2026

Understaffed, under pressure and now on strike — Muriwai ward walks out

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

July 24, 2026

Nurses and health-care assistants (HCAs) from Muriwai ward marched side-by-side out the main entrance of Waitākere Hospital on Friday — striking for safe staffing.

August 2026

‘It’s really disheartening’ — Te Whatu Ora graduate job offers fall short

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

July 24, 2026

Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ (HNZ) is promising 1800 jobs for new nurse graduates over the next 12 months — but it’s still only 60 per cent of what’s needed.

July 2026

‘We need to be recognised’ — primary health nurse on why she decided to stay and fight for better pay

By Mary Longmore

July 23, 2026

Auckland enrolled nurse Priscilla Wiki has thought about leaving primary health for better pay. Just once. But she just couldn’t do it — even though the pay is up to eight per cent higher elsewhere.

July 2026

Summerset members to ponder new offer after day of action for bargaining team

By Joel Maxwell

July 20, 2026

It was a beautiful day for a Teams hui, but the NZNO Summerset members still hadn’t found what they were looking for.

July 2026

‘A terrible thing to do’: Nurses slam bill that would send homeless kids packing

By Joel Maxwell

July 15, 2026

Nursing leaders have come out swinging at a Government anti-homeless law that could see 14 year olds in desperate need of help — and a home — incarcerated instead.

July 2026

Nursing students challenge schools to stand up for them — and cultural safety

By Mary Longmore

July 6, 2026

Nursing students across Aotearoa stood before their teachers in Wellington to ask for more protection amid cultural safety attacks, financial hardship and far-flung placements.

July 2026

Show us the money! New Te Whatu Ora pay rates on the way

By Mary Longmore

July 1, 2026

After a six week wait, Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ (HNZ) said new pay rates would start to roll out this month for more than 35,000 of their nurses, health-care assistants and midwives.

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.