strike – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

March 2025

‘They’ve got no heart for people’ — hīkoi planned over Bupa’s proposed cuts

By Mary Longmore

March 10, 2025

After 23 years working at Bupa’s Sunset facility, enrolled nurse (EN) Epenesa Mutimuti says she will walk away if a proposal to cut staff and hours goes ahead.

March 2025

87-year-old resident takes to Bupa picket line in South Auckland

By Mary Longmore

March 3, 2025

A family of unionists hit the picket line recently to support striking staff at Bupa’s South Auckland home in Wattle Downs — led by their 87-year-old mum who lives there.

December 2024

Rolling nurse strikes reinforce plea for patient safety

By Samesh Mohanlall and Renee Kiriona

December 13, 2024

Thousands of Te Whatu Ora nurses and kaiāwhina at different locations throughout the country are taking part in rolling strikes, reinforcing their message for more patient safety.

December 2024

Nationwide strike: ‘It’s not right’ – patients speak up

By Renee Kiriona and Mary Longmore

December 4, 2024

“Our hospitals aren’t safe – I’ve seen it. We need more nurses and they need to treated better and paid properly.”

November 2024

Nurses: Why are they striking?

By Samesh Mohanlall

December 2, 2024

Nurses explain in their own words why they are striking. Te Whatu Ora NZNO members are embarking on an eight-hour-long strike tomorrow. Rolling strikes across Aotearoa follow in the next two weeks up to 20 December.
Nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora are desperate for people outside the health sector to understand just how seriously they’ve taken the decision to strike. They feel it is a last resort and felt like they had no other option because they fear for their patients’ safety after proposals raised in recent collective bargaining with Health NZ.
Communities in Aotearoa have been crying out for more staff to provide better care and a more culturally appropriate, equal health system

November 2024

Nurses and kaiāwhina vote to strike before Christmas

By Mary Longmore

November 18, 2024

Unhappy with Te Whatu Ora’s bargaining position, nurses and kaiāwhina have voted strongly to hold an eight-hour nationwide strike on December 3 followed by rolling district strikes.

September 2024

Wellington aged-care residents and staff win ‘faint concession’ after picket, petition

By Mary Longmore

August 13, 2024

Wellington aged-care facility Village at the Park has shaved 42 hours off proposed nursing and caregiving cutbacks, after residents rallied behind staff with a picket and petition.

August 2024

Extra buck an hour offer ‘insulting’, say community nurses as they go back out on strike

By Mary Longmore

August 5, 2024

Community nurses say they are “disgusted” with a pay offer of one more dollar an hour from their employer, Access Community Health.

August 2024

‘We are family’ — residents rally around nursing staff after bosses propose cutting 400 care hours

By Mary Longmore

July 19, 2024

Upset residents and their families and friends turned out to support staff striking over a proposal to cut 400 care hours a week at a Wellington aged care facility.

August 2024

‘We work just as hard’ — community nurses strike for the same pay as hospitals

By Mary Longmore

July 16, 2024

About 150 Access Community Health nursing staff went on strike around the country on this week, demanding the same pay and conditions as their Te Whatu Ora colleagues.

July 2023

Strike action not ruled out as nurses overwhelmingly reject Te Whatu Ora’s proposal for offer

By Mary Longmore

June 7, 2023

‘Disheartened’ but resolute nurses, midwives and kaiāwhina are not ruling out industrial action after a resounding rejection of Te Whatu Ora’s proposal for an offer.

June 2023

Hundreds support striking Gisborne nurses after court win

By Mary Longmore

May 24, 2023

A hard-won one-hour strike by 24 Gisborne Hospital ward 5 nurses and health-care assistants (HCAs) this afternoon drew “huge” support, says an emotional nurse who led the fight all the way to the courtoom.

Uncut – news briefs

8 May	NZ First’s gender definition bill will harm mental health, counsellors warn The New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) is deeply concerned by New Zealand First’s proposed Member’s Bill, which seeks to legally define “man” and “woman” solely based on biological sex.
6 May	Police and Health NZ continue to implement mental health response changes Phase Two of the Police Mental Health Response Change Programme is set to be extended with a second group of districts implementing Phase Two from 19 May.
1 May	New weekend urgent care service launched in Tairāwhati Access to urgent healthcare on weekends will be restored in Tairāwhati this Saturday (3 May 2025) with the launch of a new service, Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced.
29 Apr	Taupō Hospital accredited to train next generation of rural doctors Taupō Hospital has become the first hospital in the North Island to receive accreditation to deliver Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) training, Health Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey have announced.
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.