‘I imagined this for a moment and it was glorious’

Women’s health college

We wish for better funding, resources and prioritisation of women’s health across Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Wāhine deserve equitable access to timely, culturally-safe, evidence-based care, regardless of where they live or their circumstances. We would love to see greater investment in prevention, education, screening and early intervention, alongside better support for the health-care professionals delivering this care.

Women’s health deserves more recognition. We also need a national, publicly- accessible women’s health dashboard that empowers wāhine to navigate health information, services and care pathways, while transparently reporting access, waiting times, outcomes and inequities to drive system accountability and improvement.

Aotearoa college of diabetes nurses

Our diabetes nursing wish list includes greater recognition, investment and support for the specialist diabetes nursing workforce. We need equitable access to diabetes technologies, medications and specialist services for all people living with diabetes, regardless of ethnicity, location or financial circumstances.

We want funded professional development, clear prescribing pathways, supported career progression and more nurse practitioner (NP) roles across primary and tertiary care. Stronger workforce planning is essential to ensure there are enough nurses with the right skills to provide the care needed by the growing number of people living with diabetes. Protected education time and recognition of advanced nursing expertise are also essential.

Above all, we want diabetes nurses empowered to deliver timely, culturally safe, person-centred care that improves outcomes and reduces inequities across Aotearoa,.

College of child & youth nurses – tapuhitia ngā mokopuna mō apōpō

The college of child and youth nurse committee wishes for the return of school nurses.

On behalf of all tamariki, rangatahi and the nursing workforce that dedicates their careers to caring for them, our wish is for a government that actually prioritises the health and wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi, in tangible measurable outcomes, not just lip service.

This would look like:

Properly-funded and safely-staffed public health services for all child & youth health services across the motu.
Pay equity for community-based nurses in roles such as WellChild/Plunket, school-based and primary health-care services.
Increased (and appropriate) funding for youth health and youth mental health services.
And a return to a commitment of a well-paid school nurse in every school.
Extending the age of paediatric services to 18 (or 25 if we’re dreaming big) with investment in support for a smooth transition into adult services.

College of respiratory nurses

We wish (maybe not just one wish!) for a focus on preventing people from getting so unwell.

Investment and recruitment of doctors and nurses to work (and stay) in primary care.
Better funding of general practice and primary care so people have access to timely and affordable appointments with GPs and primary care nurses and colleagues.
Timely access to tests for early diagnosis/ treatment, funded vaccines.
Addressing inequities and promoting healthy communities.

College of stomal therapy nursing

Our wish is that they make health care a priority. That these massive swings we get from one party to the next stop. They are just a waste of time, money and energy.

Neonatal nurses college Aotearoa

The neonatal nurses college committee wishes for safe and equitable care for families of neonatals wherever they live.

Our one wish is for the incoming Government is to make a sustained investment in a well-resourced, specialist neonatal nursing workforce, ending the postcode lottery, so every pēpi and whānau can access safe, equitable, high-quality neonatal care wherever they live in Aotearoa.

This matters because neonatal care depends on nurses with highly specialised skills, supported by safe staffing, education and workforce development.

Investing in this workforce will strengthen services, support retention and ensure our most vulnerable pēpi and their whānau receive the care they need when they need it as close to home as possible.

College of gerontology nurses

Our one (or more!) wish for the next government is:

A substantial increase in funding for all aspects of health care, across all areas, primary, secondary and community.
To reduce the inequities of care delivery regardless of age, race and gender.
To reduce inequalities of access to a wide range of services for all those living in New Zealand, ensuring that all individuals have the resources available to them to live their healthiest lives whether living in urban, rural or remote areas.
For all nurses to be recognised as deserving equal pay and access to relevant education and an enduring commitment to keep nurses safe in their workplaces.

We should be building a health care system that other countries aspire to and ensuring our older adults/kaumātua get the best care is a priority.

Infection prevention and control nurses college

The infection, prevention and control college committee wishes for a nursing workforce connected across sectors.

Our wish for the next government is to invest in infection prevention nurses across the entire health care system, from primary care and aged-residential care to community services and hospitals.

Infection prevention doesn’t start at the hospital door, it starts wherever care is delivered. We need a strong, connected IPC nurses workforce that can support prevention, education, outbreak management, reduction of health-care infections and antimicrobial resistance. To achieve these we need acknowledgement of the crucial part all IPC nurses play by ensuring the same renumeration and resourcing for all infection prevention nurses from primary to tertiary care.

Cancer nurses college

We wish for sufficient cancer nurse full-time equivalents to deliver equitable, timely and high-quality care across the cancer continuum, ensuring everyone affected by cancer receives the right care, at the right time, regardless of where they live.

Nursing research section

Our one wish is for dedicated and equitable professional development funding that reflects nursing’s central role in health and social care research, education and quality improvement.

Nurses are instrumental in generating evidence, translating research into practice, leading quality initiatives, and driving innovation across the health sector. Yet access to professional development funding often remains disproportionately limited compared with some other health professions.

Meaningful investment in education and professional development would strengthen national workforce capability, support evidence-based care, accelerate the adoption of research findings, and improve the quality and safety of health-care delivery. Investing in the nursing workforce is an investment in better health outcomes for all New Zealanders.’

New Zealand college of critical care nurses

The college of critical care nurses committee wishes for a nationally consistent critical-care nursing education pathway

Our one wish is for a nationally supported critical care nursing education pathway.

Critical care nurses require highly specialised knowledge and skills to care for patients with life-threatening illness and injury.

A nationally consistent education and career framework would support recruitment, retention, professional development, and workforce mobility across Aotearoa.

Investing in critical care nursing education strengthens patient safety, improves equity of access to specialist care, and helps build a sustainable workforce ready to meet future health care challenges.

27 Oct	Pilot registry to trial a safer path for women’s pelvic health Health New Zealand has started a pilot in Christchurch today to test processes required to establish a nationwide registry for female pelvic floor procedures, including surgical mesh.
23 Oct	National’s hiring freeze puts lives at risk Last night’s warnings from doctors at Wairau Hospital that patients may die if they don’t get more staff is yet another example of the damage National’s hiring freeze has done to our health system.
23 Oct	Recognition of need to fix primary care crisis good for patients Recognition of the need to fix the crisis in primary health care is good for patients but stops short of a much-needed overhaul of the sector, NZNO says.
20 Oct	Winners of the 2026 NZ Primary Healthcare Awards \| He Tohu Mauri Ora announced Over 600 supporters of primary care gathered at the Auckland's Viaduct Events Centre on Saturday night for a glittering gala dinner for the 2026 New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards \| He Tohu Mauri Ora.
19 Oct	Te Whatu Ora must fully staff vital Starship Children's Hospital wards Te Whatu Ora must fully staff all wards at Starship Children's Hospital including four vital wards which are short of a total of 18 full-time nurses, NZNO says.
16 Oct	Paid placements policy will help boost nursing workforce A policy to pay nursing students a weekly allowance while they're on clinical placements will help them graduate and boost Aotearoa New Zealand's homegrown nursing workforce, NZNO says.
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.