February 2022 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

May 2022

Rural nurses struggle to access Kaitiaki online

By Janet Jin

March 25, 2022

I write in response to [associate manager professional and nursing services] Kate Weston’s reply to “A loss for rural nurses” by Liz Perales in the December 2021 issue of Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand.

April 2022

Crisis of staffing and resourcing ‘intolerable’: new NZNO chief executive shares vision

By Paul Goulter

March 7, 2022

Kia ora koutou – ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Ko Paul Goulter tōku ingoa.

My name is Paul Goulter and I am privileged to have been appointed chief executive of NZNO Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa.

March 2022

Canterbury regional hospitals closing as COVID-19 hits nurses

By Mary Longmore

March 7, 2022

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is temporarily closing four of its smaller regional hospitals to prepare for COVID-related staff absences, NZNO organiser Lynley Mulrine confirmed.

March 2022

Numbers of nurses on sick/isolation leave ‘unreal’ as hospitalisations grow

By Mary Longmore and Joel Maxwell

March 7, 2022

Nurses and their families around the country are falling prey to COVID-19 as hospitalisations near 700.

March 2022

Omicron ‘significant factor’ as Employment Court halts allied health workers’ strikes

By Joel Maxwell

March 4, 2022

Planned strike action by 10,000 allied health workers was halted by an Employment Court decision that included concerns about the impact of the Omicron surge.

March 2022

Court ruling on vaccine mandate ‘not relevant’ for nurses

By Mary Longmore

March 2, 2022

A High Court judgement overturning the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for New Zealand Police/Defence Force is ‘not relevant’ for nurses, say NZNO lawyers.

March 2022

From teachers to nurses: New chief executive Paul Goulter starts at NZNO

By Joel Maxwell

February 28, 2022

Nurses and teachers could be working more closely together as the incoming NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter is welcomed to NZNO.

April 2022

Nursing magazine ditches century-old healthy-food title, finally becomes ‘guardian’

By Joel Maxwell

February 25, 2022

Ahakoa he iti, he pounamu (Although it is small, it is a treasure).
After 114 years, an incorrectly-named nursing magazine has – in a small physical correction, but big bicultural statement – gained its proper title.
Kai Tiaki magazine has now become Kaitiaki.

March 2022

Will safe staffing review be a turning point at last?

By Hilary Graham-Smith

February 25, 2022

When I got the call asking if I would be interested in participating in a review of nursing safe staffing in district health boards (DHBs) I uttered a quiet hallelujah.

March 2022

Delayed by COVID-19 surge – proposed pay equity document now set for release

By Joel Maxwell

February 24, 2022

Omicron got in the way – but now the brakes are off for setting a date on a vote for pay equity.

March 2022

HOW TO TREAT: COVID-19 in primary care

By Dee Mangin

February 24, 2022

New Zealand can draw on the experiences of health systems around the world that have been caring for COVID-19 patients in the community much longer than us.

March 2022

Emergency nurses in ‘moral distress’

By Mary Longmore

February 23, 2022

Emergency nurses are in “moral distress”, unable to provide “fundamental care” to patients, says a nurse leader.

March 2022

Government-commissioned review finds safe staffing programme ‘not fit-for-purpose’, nurses under pressure

By Joel Maxwell

February 17, 2022

Nurses are overworked, understaffed, face mental health pressure – and the safe staffing programme meant to fix this is not “fit-for-purpose” a review has found.

March 2022

Overcoming barriers to COVID-19 testing and vaccination – everything matters

By Susan Shaw and Rain Lamdin

February 16, 2022

Non-violent language and less-invasive techniques for testing and vaccination are important tools for overcoming public fear.

February 2022

‘Abuse can take many forms’: nursing student uses creative writing to share experiences

By Laura MacDonald

February 15, 2022

A grand old house, piles of old newspapers, empty whiskey bottles and a couple struggling with age and injury – student nurse Laura MacDonald was discovering the realities of community health.

February 2022

Booster deadline extends over fears ‘thousands’ of nurses would be stood down as Omicron hits

By Mary Longmore

February 15, 2022

NZNO and other unions have convinced the Government to push back the deadline for nurses and health workers to get boosted by 10 days, amid fears of losing “thousands” of nurses amid an Omicron surge.

February 2022

From technology to health: Auckland man starts nursing journey

By Joel Maxwell

February 8, 2022

A Samoan Aucklander charts a new life course — from IT to nursing.

February 2022

‘Perfect storm’ coming as Omicron collides with nurse burnout

By Mary Longmore

February 8, 2022

NZNO warns health sector will be hard hit by ‘perfect storm’ of Omicron and burnout.

February 2022

‘It’s going to be ugly’ — critical care nurse leader

By Mary Longmore

February 8, 2022

A four-hour online course is not enough to train nurses to work in intensive care during a COVID-19 surge, says NZNO’s College of Critical Care Nurses chair Tania Mitchell.

February 2022

Has the time come for nurses to gain a mega MECA?

By Joel Maxwell

February 8, 2022

A universal collective agreement for all nurses across all sectors – is it possible?

Daily doses – uncut news

30 Apr	BroPilot grounding digital tools in whānau, culture, and care A passion for his Māori culture and a desire to make AI accessible to everyone inspired Troy Baker, Senior ICT Specialist, Health New Zealand to develop BroPilot – a culturally grounded way of working with Microsoft Copilot that reflects Māori values, whakaaro, and real lived experience.
29 Apr	Heartbreaking tragedies were avoidable - NZNO Analysis by a media outlet, published today, finding health care staff shortages were contributing factors in the deaths of 11 babies is a national and avoidable tragedy, NZNO says.
28 Apr	CTU launches Roving Health and Safety Representatives policy on Workers’ Memorial Day The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today launched our Roving Health and Safety Representatives policy at the Workers’ Memorial Day commemoration in Wellington, with further events held across the motu in Manawatū, Christchurch, and Otago.
24 Apr	“The 80s Calling”: New national campaign challenges outdated HIV stigma Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey today launched Health New Zealand’s “The 80s Calling”; a provocative new campaign designed to reduce stigma, normalise conversations about HIV, and support people living with HIV.
23 Apr	Government’s attack on Māori health raised at the UN Concerns over the Coalition Government’s active reversal of policies designed to improve Māori health outcomes were raised at the United Nations in New York this morning.
16 Apr	Tribute to Professor Lester Levy’s service to healthcare Health New Zealand Chief Executive Dr Dale Bramley is paying tribute to Health NZ Board Chair Professor Lester Levy, who finishes in the role at the end of the month.
10 Apr	Chronic health care assistant short staffing harming vulnerable patients Te Whatu Ora’s attempt to cut costs by requiring health care assistants to carry out cohort patient watches is harming vulnerable patients and staff, NZNO says.
9 Apr	New group education clinics speeding up knee and hip surgery care Health New Zealand is rolling out a new group education approach for people waiting for hip and knee surgery in north and west Auckland, resulting in more patients being seen sooner.
25 Mar	National Diabetes Roadmap launched to improve care, prevention, and quality of life Health New Zealand has launched a new National Diabetes Roadmap (‘the Roadmap’) to improve care, strengthen prevention, and support better health outcomes and quality of life for people living with diabetes.
24 Mar	ACT should leave nursing to professionals and medical evidence Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says ACT MP Todd Stephenson has dismissed the Nursing Council’s draft code of conduct - which proposes strengthening cultural safety, whānau-centred care and te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations - as political ideology.
23 Mar	UK report reflects ICN warnings on international recruitment ripoff — now countries must act together The International Council of Nurses (ICN) warmly welcomes a new report from the UK All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Health and Security that recognizes the huge sums saved by high-income countries who recruit abroad and acknowledges the severe harms caused by unethical recruitment from fragile source countries left without nurses.
20 Mar	HPV self-test boosts cervical cancer screening ‘across the board’, new study confirms Making human papillomavirus (HPV) self-testing available to all women increases the number of people screened for cervical cancer, a new study led by researchers from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington has confirmed.
19 Mar	ICN at CSW70: Violence against nurses is a gendered crisis threatening global health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has warned that violence against nurses is a global gendered crisis that threatens health systems, patient safety and workforce sustainability
17 Mar	Additional winter health care workers a drop in the ocean of need The Government’s announcement today of 378 extra staff to help hospitals cope with winter demand is a drop in the ocean of what patients need, NZNO says.
12 Mar	Funding change will ensure more consistent emergency care for New Zealanders A simple change in how ambulance medicines are funded is set to create more consistent emergency care.
9 Mar	Questions over dilapidated and cramped renal unit forced to ration dialysis The Health Minister must explain why after years of concerns from nurses about Christchurch Hospital’s barely functioning dialysis unit, he only stepped in late yesterday when life-saving treatment had to be rationed, NZNO says.
3 Mar	Hospitals and health workers should never be targets The right of health care workers to provide care during international conflicts must be protected, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO says.
2 Mar	Public and Mental Health Nurses settle collective agreement Health New Zealand welcomes the ratification of the two Public Service Association (PSA) Public and Mental Health Nurses collective employment agreements for Auckland and the Rest of New Zealand.
27 Feb	Whakatāne Hospital to resume secondary obstetrics and gynaecology services Whakatāne Hospital will resume secondary obstetrics and gynaecology services from 8am on 13 April 2026.
26 Feb	Counsellors warn NZ is normalising crisis levels of youth distress Youth mental distress has become entrenched, suicide remains a national tragedy, and our systems are failing to intervene early enough, says the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC).
26 Feb	Record uptake nearly doubles advanced nurse education scholarships A record 235 primary care registered nurses will begin advanced education this year – nearly doubling the number originally planned – following strong demand for the Government’s new Registered Nurse Primary Care Scholarships, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
19 Feb	‘Top Up’ to deliver faster access to support Seven grassroots mental health initiatives supporting small and hard-to-reach communities have received funding to deliver faster access to support, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced today.
18 Feb	Pharmac proposes funding new treatments that could transform early care for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer People in New Zealand living with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) could soon benefit from funded access to targeted treatments under a new proposal from Pharmac.
13 Feb	Te Whatu Ora’s embarrassing U-turn over proposed car park plan Te Whatu Ora needs to go back to the drawing board and prioritise worker safety after reversing plans to charge hospital workers market rates for car parks, NZNO says.
11 Feb	Stark differences in COVID-19 vaccination rates between Māori and non-Māori, research finds A new study analysing COVID-19 vaccine uptake has found markedly lower vaccination rates among Māori, which researchers link to existing inequities in healthcare access.
9 Feb	ICN’s call for International Nurses Day 2026: empower nurses to save lives ICN has announced the theme for International Nurses Day (IND) 2026: Our Nurses. Our Future. Empowered Nurses Save Lives. This focus sends a clear message that to maximize the full life-saving impact of the nursing workforce, we must empower nurses with safe, fair work environments and full nursing practice, influence, and leadership.
5 Feb	Global nurse leaders gather in Japan to address urgent workforce crisis Nursing leaders from Japan and around the world are gathering in Yokohama this week for two major nursing events that are advancing the global conversation on how countries can protect, retain and invest in their nursing workforce as pressures mount across health systems worldwide.
4 Feb	Midwives to deliver more vaccinations to help protect families Midwives are now able to offer a wider range of funded immunisations, supporting families from pregnancy through the early months of a child’s life, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
30 Jan	Opening of E Tū Wairua Hinengaro – Mason Clinic Health New Zealand has marked the opening of E Tū Wairua Hinengaro, a new purpose-built facility at Auckland’s Mason Clinic designed to strengthen and modernise forensic mental healthcare in Aotearoa.
29 Jan	NZNO disgusted by nurse’s killing in the US Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO has expressed disgust at the shooting and killing of nurse Alex Pretti on a Minneapolis, US street on Saturday morning by federal officers.
27 Jan	New national group forms to support public healthcare in Aotearoa Kaitiaki Hauora - Together for Public Health has been formed as a national group bringing together patients, health workers, iwi and Māori health representatives, unions, advocacy organisations, and community groups, with backing from a growing number of organisations across the health sector.
22 Jan	Pharmac proposes to fund life changing treatments for people with cystic fibrosis Pharmac is proposing to fund new treatment options for people living with cystic fibrosis with eligible mutations, including young children, from 1 April 2026.
05 Jan	Nurses pay tribute to Dame Poutasi The passing of Dame Karen Poutasi has seen Aotearoa lose one of its foremost health leaders and a woman of high integrity, Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says.