college & sections – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

April 2025

NZNO mental health nurses call for immediate halt to police withdrawal

By coeditors

April 11, 2025

Police withdrawal from mental health call-outs should be stopped until Te Whatu Ora makes critical resources available, NZNO — Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa mental health nurses say.

March 2025

Raising the voice of specialist diabetes nurses — college steps up for patients

By Amanda de Hoop

April 1, 2025

Supporting post-graduate diabetes education, highlighting workforce shortages, and being visible — these are the aims of NZNO’s Aotearoa college of diabetes nurses, writes chair Amanda de Hoop.

April 2025

‘We can turn this around’: Nurses’ emotional plea for a safer health-care system

By Mary Longmore

March 17, 2025

Nurses can be change agents for a better health system, say leaders at NZNO’s 2025 college and section forum.

March 2025

‘We do give really great care’ — emergency nurses bear the weight of systemic failings

By Lauren Miller

February 28, 2025

NZNO’s college of emergency nurses (CENNZ) talks short-stay targets, the need for 24/7 security and their desire to provide safe care.

April 2024

When words fail: Why hasn’t anyone listened to nurses?

By Mary Longmore

March 27, 2024

Collective union action is the only way nurses will achieve safe staffing after years of being ignored, former director of the Safe Staffing Health Workplaces unit (SSHWU) Jane Lawless says.

April 2024

‘If we don’t provide the voice of nursing, who will?’ Under-pressure nurses are determined to be heard

By Mary Longmore

March 22, 2024

Members of NZNO’s professional colleges and sections were called on to “shape the issues” facing health, at an energetic college and section day in Te Whanganui-a-tara, Wellington, this week.

January 2024

First nursing leadership conference in three years aims to ‘create great’

By Natasha Ashworth

December 21, 2023

About 100 nurses and nurse leaders attended the nursing leadership conference ‘Creating great – leading into the future’ held over two days in Whanganui recently.

Uncut – news briefs

14 Apr	Rural Health Roadshow to hear from rural communities Associate Health Minister with responsibility for Rural Health and Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced today he will be coming to 12 rural locations across the country on a Rural Health Roadshow, starting this week in Levin.
10 Apr	Expanded emergency department at Auckland City Hospital will see capacity increase Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Auckland City Hospital’s newly refurbished adult emergency department.
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.