Speaking to the board, Woltman said the “correction” in membership numbers after an unusual peak of more 52,000 following the 2018 district health board pay negotiations had been realised.
Overall, membership dropped 2.3 per cent – 1192 – from 51,643 to 50,451 in the six months to September 30, 2020. That was a similar trajectory to the previous year, he said.
But between July and September last year, the decline steadied, he noted.
Income from membership was short $370,000 against budget, with a $713,000 shortfall forecast by the end of the financial year due to the drop off, he said.
However, a pre-tax surplus of $123,000 in the year to date was better than budgeted. Spending levels were lower, mainly due to COVID-19 travel restrictions resulting in savings on NZNO events such as college and section or regional conferences and hui-ā-tau.
Printing and stationery costs were down by $93,000 and communication and postage by $76,000, in part due to savings from an online-only Kai Tiaki during the lockdown.
This article has been written from reports and minutes taken from the December 2020 board of directors meeting.