News – Page 28 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

December 2021 vol 27 no 11

Aged care safe staffing petition presented

By Kai Tiaki editors

December 1, 2021

NZNO and E tū members delivered a 5000-signature petition to Parliament calling for mandated safe staffing levels in aged care.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Pakeho: More Māori nurses needed

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

November 1, 2021

More kaupapa Māori wards and Māori nurses, less red tape and paper work, says returning tumu whakarae.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Aged care nurses ‘backbone’ of system – Little

By Kai Tiaki editors

November 1, 2021

NZNO’s aged care nurses are quitting, exhausted from working double shifts and long hours due to an estimated 1000-strong nursing shortfall nationally, says an NZNO aged care nurse leader, also thinking of leaving.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

Health reforms offer ‘one-system culture’

By Kai Tiaki editors

November 1, 2021

Minister of Health Andrew Little has touted equity, a focus on te Tiriti, and a nationwide “one-system culture” as highlights of legislation underpinning a health sector shakeup.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

High Court overturns MOH decision on Māori vaccination data

By Kai Tiaki editors

November 1, 2021

The Whānau Ora commissioning agency has won a judgement in the High Court in Auckland to gain individual information on unvaccinated North Island Māori.

November 2021 vol 27 no 10

No nurse left behind: Cabinet expands vaccine mandate from original groups

By Kai Tiaki editors

November 1, 2021

NZNO is calling for a programme of COVID-19 booster shots for frontline workers who face waning protection.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

Record turnout as DHB members accept offer

By Kai Tiaki editors

October 15, 2021

After 15 months of bargaining, a nationwide strike and countless meetings, the members have spoken.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

New NZNO leadership team after board election results

By Kai Tiaki editors

October 1, 2021

NZNO has a new president and vice president after September’s board election. Anne Daniels was elected president and Nano Tunnicliff was elected vice president after voting closed on September 10.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

Financial statement outlined at AGM

By Kai Tiaki editors

October 1, 2021

NZNO management will take a microscope to spending to cut a cashflow shortfall, the 2021 annual general meeting has heard.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

Kai Tiaki online only from 2022

By Kai Tiaki editors

October 1, 2021

Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand will be heading exclusively online by 2022, but will still be accessible to NZNO members through a simple online registration.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

DHBs obliged to staff safely in latest offer

By Kai Tiaki editors

October 1, 2021

The latest offer from district health boards, in multi-employer collective agreement (MECA) negotiations with NZNO, allows DHBs to be penalised and health services cut back if they are not able to be safely staffed.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

Farewell to esteemed Whanganui nurse

By Kai Tiaki editors

October 1, 2021

Ailsa Crawford Stewart’s contribution to the Whanganui community was immense. The former hospital matron, staunch women’s advocate and community stalwart died in Whanganui Hospital in August, at age 77.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

Nuku: Nursing voice needed in reforms

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

October 1, 2021

Te Rūnanga has worked hard to understand the long game of political decision-making, says the re-elected kaiwhakahaere.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

Daniels: It’s time for collective action

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

October 1, 2021

Safe staffing, better working conditions and pay equity across nursing sectors will be the focus of NZNO’s new president.

October 2021 vol 27 no 9

The needle’s edge: our COVID-19 future

By Kai Tiaki editors

October 1, 2021

Alice Gillan-Sutton, first-year Massey nursing student, faces a workplace future that hasn’t been contemplated in decades.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

NZNO kaiwhakahaere wins global human rights award

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Kerri Nuku wins award while Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference inspires Māori–healthcare professionals.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Racism stirs up dawn raids memory for Pacific nurse

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Pacific nurses had enough to cope with without racist comments in the media, Pacific Nurses’ Section chair ‘Eseta Finau said.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

‘Sense of urgency’ in Pacific community

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Frontline nurses vaccinating Auckland’s Pacific communities against COVID-19 have seen thousands of people since the Delta outbreak began last month, says a nursing team leader.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

‘I do it for my whānau, hapū, my iwi’

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

The Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference 2021 wrapped with an awards evening at the Beehive, recognising the work of Māori nurses and students.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

NZNO successfully defends Employment Court LPS challenge

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

NZNO has claimed victory after being taken to the Employment Court by district health boards (DHBs) in their ongoing industrial dispute with members.

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.