March 2023 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

May 2023

50 years nursing, going strong — and taking action to protect the profession she loves

By Cate Macintosh

April 14, 2023

A nearly 50-year career in nursing had a shaky start – fainting at the sight of a naked elderly patient – but Viv Draper says she has no regrets and will struggle to leave her job at Christchurch’s spinal unit when the time comes.

May 2023

‘This is for us and for our future’ — caregivers join nurses for day of action this Saturday

By Mary Longmore

April 12, 2023

‘Exhausted’ health-care assistants (HCAs) are rallying alongside nurses for safer staffing and better pay and conditions at this Saturday’s NZNO day of action around Aotearoa.

May 2023

‘Disingenuous’ – Kiwi nurses challenge claim pay rates now on par with Australia

By Cate Macintosh

April 3, 2023

The Government says a recent pay increase for Te Whatu Ora nurses puts their base rates ‘on par’ with Australian colleagues. But Kiwi nurses in Australia and a leading economist disagree, saying the claim doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

April 2023

Pay boost ‘huge’ for community nurses

By Mary Longmore

March 31, 2023

A 10 to 15 per cent pay boost for community nurses will make a ‘huge’ difference to keeping nurses and kaiāwhina in settings such as aged care, hospices and Māori and Pasifika health.

April 2023

New Zealand needs 450 more ICU nurses, say critical care nursing leaders

By Mary Longmore

March 30, 2023

Another 450 full-time critical care nurses are needed to safely staff the country’s growing number of intensive care (ICU) beds, says NZNO’s college of critical care nurses.

April 2023

Nurses share hopes, achievements and challenges at first post-pandemic college & section day

By Mary Longmore

March 30, 2023

COVID burnout and short-staffing fail to quell nurses’ aspirations and hopes for the future.

April 2023

Course teaches conservative sharp debridement

By Rebecca Aburn

March 29, 2023

Learn the skills needed to safely and competently perform conservative sharp debridement.

April 2023

Why ‘Barbie’s Bill’ and advance care plans matter to nurses

By Louise Duffy

March 29, 2023

A national database of advance care plans is needed, to provide certainty for patients, families and hospital staff.

April 2023

‘Come and stand in solidarity’ — nurses everywhere prepare to rise up on April 15

By Mary Longmore

March 27, 2023

‘We need to stand united, because we’re all nurses, we’re all in this together’. Nurses and health workers prepare to rise up — Maranga Mai! — for a national day of action.

April 2023

Ex-minister gets schooled in primary health care as nurses get political

By Cate Macintosh

March 22, 2023

While full-time lobbyists are paid big bucks to door-knock politicians, primary health care nurses are taking time out of their work days caring for patients to do the same. Kaitiaki tagged along for one such visit – to former minister, National list MP Gerry Brownlee.

April 2023

Bargaining is getting a re-set under Maranga Mai!

By Cate Macintosh

March 21, 2023

Since the dawn of unionism, bargaining has been at the heart of getting a better deal for workers. But the traditional negotiation process, for Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO members, is in transition as it fits within the larger, cross-sector strategy of Maranga Mai!

April 2023

MARCH 2023 crossword

By Kathy Stodart

March 20, 2023

Print out the grid (using PRINT tab at the bottom right of this page) and use the clues below. February’s answers are below the clues.

New guide helps families of children with rare disorders

By Angela Nielsen

March 17, 2023

It is extremely challenging for families when a child is diagnosed with a rare disorder. A new guide can help parents and caregivers navigate their way to the best outcomes.

March 2023

Nurses turn out to support teachers’ strike action

By Cate Macintosh

March 16, 2023

Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO members and staff turned out at rallies across the country in support of a nationwide teachers’ strike on Thursday.

April 2023

Nurse practitioners reject ‘denigrating’ GP college guidelines, will draw up their own

By Mary Longmore

March 14, 2023

Mātanga tapuhi / nurse practitioners say revised guidelines on their role from the Royal College of GPs (RNZCGP) are “denigrating” and “disappointing”, implying they must consult with GPs before making decisions.

April 2023

Thanks, but where’s the rest? Nurses challenge Minister of Health on back pay

By Mary Longmore

March 8, 2023

Pay equity salary increases of up to $12,000 per annum are “appreciated”, but Wellington nurses today told Minister of Health Ayesha Verrall they want to be back-paid to 2019 “like we were promised”.

April 2023

‘Immediate’ pay boost needed for struggling senior nurses, say nurse leaders

By Mary Longmore

March 7, 2023

Senior nurses and leaders are pleading for more support over low morale and burnout as the pay gap with registered nurses (RNs) narrows.

March 2023

‘I’m quite resilient – I guess [it’s] years of being a nurse’

By Cate Macintosh

March 6, 2023

She survived a deadly attack and, most recently, a cyclone that destroyed her home. But mental health nurse Ra Kupa is determined to rebuild and get back to work — and can still make strangers laugh.

April 2023

It’s cool to kōrero — March

By Kathy Stodart

March 6, 2023

I pakaru te whare o tātou e te haumātakataka tino kino. – The cyclone damaged our house.

March 2023

Emotional exhaustion hits nurses, two weeks after Cyclone Gabrielle

By Cate Macintosh

March 3, 2023

Nurses in regions devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle are in a state of shock, coping with post-event trauma while continuing to work and support each other.

Uncut – news briefs

27 June	New mental health centre to transform care in the Wellington region Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey have today marked the beginning of construction on the new Sir Mark Dunajtschik Mental Health Centre in Lower Hutt.
27 June	New STI e-learning for midwives will increase detection, testing, treatment and prevention A new e-learning course was launched early June to equip midwives with up-to-date knowledge on effectively communicating relevant and tailored information about syphilis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
25 June	Changes for prescribing ADHD medications Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey has welcomed prescribing changes that will enable GPs and nurse practitioners to diagnose and treat adults with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
23 June	Minister should fess up on cuts Simeon Brown needs to be honest about how much more money he expects Health New Zealand to cut from its budget to get back in the black. “National has chosen to underfund our health system and expects Health New Zealand to make even more cuts - but won’t say how much,” Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said.
17 June	Notice of NZNO 2025 Board Elections - Call for Nominations Nominations are required to fill seven (7) positions on the NZNO Board. For details, see the notices section in the classifieds
16 June	Gender Gap Closes at Fastest Rate Since Pandemic – But Full Parity Still Over a Century Away The global gender gap has closed to 68.8%, led by economic and political advances – yet progress is still behind pre-pandemic pace, with full parity an estimated 123 years away.
16 June	Against a backdrop of escalating global health challenges, the ruling council of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has issued a powerful call for urgent action to address the nursing workforce crisis. Against a backdrop of escalating global health challenges, the ruling council of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has issued a powerful call for urgent action to address the nursing workforce crisis.
13 June	ICN charts a bold vision and calls for urgent investment in nursing to secure the future of care Against a backdrop of escalating global health challenges, the ruling council of the International Council of Nurses (ICN) has issued a powerful call for urgent action to address the nursing workforce crisis.
12 June	Unions take pay equity fight to the ILO New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges has taken the pay equity fight to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The ILO is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards.
5 June	Refreshed strategy released to tackle gambling harm Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey today announced that the Government has released the refreshed Strategy to Prevent and Minimise Gambling Harm.
3 June	ICN launches new topic brief underscoring vital role of nurses to protect the planet, human health and all life on Earth The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has released a new topic brief titled “Nursing for Planetary Health and Wellbeing”, emphasizing the vital role nurses play in addressing the health impacts of our shared environmental crises. The brief highlights the emerging concept of planetary health and stresses the urgency to recognize and take action to reduce the impacts that human disruptions to Earth’s natural systems are having on the health of individuals and communities.
13 May	On International Nurses Day a new State of the World’s Nursing Report charts a path toward Universal Health Coverage As the world’s nurses celebrate International Nurses Day (IND), ICN issues a rallying cry to governments around the globe for urgent nursing support, following the launch of the second World Health Organization (WHO) State of the World’s Nursing (SOWN) report.
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.