News – Page 3 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

November 2024

Stopwork nationwide hui pass five fight-back motions

By Renee Kiriona

October 23, 2024

Thousands of workers across the country stopped work today to take part in multiple hui to fight back on what unions are describing as this Government’s relentless attacks on working people.

November 2024

‘The struggle is real’ — nursing students nationwide take to the streets in a call for paid training

By Mary Longmore

October 21, 2024

Nursing students rallied around the country over the weekend in a passionate call for financial support to stem a drop-out rate of one in three.

October 2024

‘Man, it’s a fight’ — nursing students prepare to rally across Aotearoa

By Mary Longmore

October 18, 2024

‘You get through this three years and you’ve fought so hard to get this degree and now we’re fighting to get a job – it’s scary.’

November 2024

Senior nurse leaders face cuts in proposed Te Whatu Ora reshuffle

By Mary Longmore

October 18, 2024

Te Whatu Ora is looking to axe four directors of nursing (DONs) by the end of the year in a blow to senior nursing leadership at the organisation.

November 2024

‘Fearless’ and outspoken or humble and calm — Canterbury nurses dominate NZNO awards

By Mary Longmore

October 15, 2024

Te Wai Pounamu (South Island) nurses dominated the recent awards for services to NZNO–Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa.

October 2024

Kenepuru Hospital: ‘All hell will break loose if he doesn’t keep his word’

By Renee Kiriona

October 14, 2024

Porirua Mayor Anita Baker says she will hold Health Minister Shane Reti to his word that the after-hours accident and medical service at Kenepuru Hospital will not be chopped and replaced with a telehealth service.

October 2024

‘Liar, liar’: Nurses confront Prime Minister over Dunedin hospital ‘betrayal’

By Mary Longmore

October 11, 2024

Dunedin Hospital nurses were among dozens of protestors who confronted Prime Minister Christopher Luxon this week, when he made a flying visit to the flood-stricken region.

October 2024

Popular cervical self-test should be free for all, say women’s health nurses

By Mary Longmore

October 11, 2024

NZNO’s women’s health nurses say a popular new cervical screening self-test should be free for all.

October 2024

‘They need to make good! ‘ Nurses deliver $2.1b bill to Margie Apa

By Mary Longmore

October 9, 2024

Hospital nurses delivered a whopping $2.1 billion bill to Te Whatu Ora chief executive Margie Apa in Wellington today for years of incorrect holiday entitlements.

November 2024

Primary health nurses ‘hōhā’ with three per cent offer

By Renee Kiriona

October 9, 2024

In te reo Māori, the word hōhā packs a lot of punch! It can mean many things but in this case it simply means ‘fed up!’ And it is the single word Tracey Morgan, spokesperson for the NZNO-Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa primary health-care bargaining team, is using to describe the latest negotiations with employers of about 3500 nurses throughout Aotearoa.

October 2024

‘This is just the beginning’ — southerners rise up against health cuts and hospital ‘betrayal’

By Mary Longmore and Renee Kiriona

October 1, 2024

Thousands of staunch southerners turned out in Ōtepoti (Dunedin) and on the West Coast over the weekend to protest Government health and hospital cut backs — and say they won’t be backing down.

October 2024

Pacific peoples warned grass isn’t always healthier in NZ

By Renee Kiriona

September 26, 2024

The first Pasifika nurse to gain a doctorate is warning her kin to think long and hard before making the move to New Zealand.

September 2024

Te Whatu Ora bargaining for 35,000 nurses enters day one

By Renee Kiriona

September 25, 2024

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki O Aotearoa entered day one of collective contract negotiations with Te Whatu Ora this morning.

October 2024

New student leaders inspired by nurses while growing up

By Mary Longmore

September 25, 2024

At a tough time for nursing graduates, NZNO’s new student leaders share their passion for nursing and what drives them.

September 2024

Show of solidarity before bargaining begins

By Renee Kiriona

September 24, 2024

Bargaining begins tomorrow on NZNO’s biggest collective agreement between more than 30,000 nurses and Te Whatu Ora.

October 2024

Call for nurses and kaiāwhina to stand against radical policies with ‘elegant militancy’

By Mary Longmore

September 24, 2024

Nurses and kaiāwhina are being asked to stand up for Māori and the country’s vulnerable.

October 2024

‘Where is this abundance of nurses?’ Nurses’ wero to Minister of Health at NZNO conference

By Mary Longmore

September 18, 2024

Run-ragged nurses from around the country “locked eyes” with each other and raised eyebrows after Minister of Health Shane Reti talked about the record numbers of nurses hired into the workforce as he opened their conference.

October 2024

Getting New Zealand-trained nursing graduates in work ‘a very high priority’ — Minister of Health

By Mary Longmore

September 17, 2024

Minister of Health Shane Reti says getting New Zealand-trained nursing graduates in work is a “very high priority” for him, as Te Whatu Ora considers expanding their options.

October 2024

Māori app made for, and by, nurses and doctors

By Renee Kiriona

September 16, 2024

It is Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and there is a special app for health professionals on a journey to raise their cultural knowledge.

October 2024

Where’s the money? Nurses challenge Government over its health targets plan

By Mary Longmore

September 13, 2024

Exhausted emergency, perioperative, primary health and cancer nurses may be left wondering how they are meant to treat more patients quicker, without any more funding.

Uncut – news briefs

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.