March 2025 – Kaitiaki Nursing New Zealand

March 2025

‘We can turn this around’: Nurses’ emotional plea for a safer health-care system

By Mary Longmore

March 17, 2025

Nurses can be change agents for a better health system, say leaders at NZNO’s 2025 college and section forum.

March 2025

Speaking out ‘daunting but worth it’ — nurses share wins, hopes and challenges

By Mary Longmore

March 17, 2025

More than 50 NZNO college and section members and staff gathered in Wellington earlier this month to share their mahi and figure out how to be the leading professional voice in their fields.

March 2025

‘Scary time’ for workers trying to improve Māori health

By Renee Kiriona

March 14, 2025

“It is a very scary time right now for nurses, whānau ora navigators and other kaimahi working to keep Māori communities alive longer,” says Tracey Morgan, chair of NZNO’s College of Primary Health Care Nurses.

March 2025

New website discusses health needs of New Zealand and Pacific nations

By Jocelyn Peach

March 12, 2025

Nursing has much to be proud of over the past 120 years. We can learn from how nurse leaders have managed situations in the past that are not dissimilar to challenges that we face today.

March 2025

Bowel cancer screening changes ‘dangerous for Māori’, say Māori health leaders

By Mary Longmore

March 11, 2025

Changes to free bowel cancer screening age eligiblity will leave more Māori and Pacific people at risk of dying, say nursing and Māori health leaders.

March 2025

‘Distressed IQNs, a distressed domestic workforce, and distressed new graduates’ — a nursing pipeline and workforce in crisis

By Kathy Stodart

March 11, 2025

The Government spent more than $50 million on the recruitment and education of migrant nurses in the two years after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions ended, which has led to a serious imbalance in the nursing workforce.

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

Extra 60 primary health NPs ‘nice’ but long-term pay boost needed, say nurses

By Mary Longmore

March 7, 2025

NZNO’s primary health care nurses are welcoming training places for an extra 60 nurse practitioners (NPs) in primary health each year — but say only pay parity will stem the exodus of nurses from the sector.

March 2025

MARCH 2025 crossword

By Kathy Stodart

March 6, 2025

Here’s a new crossword for March. You can fill it in online, or download a PDF if you want to print it out and fill it in by hand.

Government committed to pay parity for primary health nurses, claims Simeon Brown

By Mary Longmore

March 6, 2025

Minister of Health Simeon Brown says the Government is “absolutely committed” to pay parity for primary health-care nurses — but it would take time.

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.

March 2025

‘The past 14 years of my life’. Holiday pay battler reflects on her long fight

By Cath Hellyer

March 3, 2025

Health-care assistant (HCA) and NZNO delegate Cath Hellyer shares her relentless 14-year battle for correct holiday backpay which led to a $15.2 million payout for 4000 Hawke’s Bay workers in November. But it’s still not over.

February 2025

‘We do give really great care’ — emergency nurses bear the weight of systemic failings

By Lauren Miller

February 28, 2025

NZNO’s college of emergency nurses (CENNZ) talks short-stay targets, the need for 24/7 security and their desire to provide safe care.

February 2025

Emergency nurses call for urgent meeting with Simeon Brown over ED targets

By Mary Longmore

February 28, 2025

Fed up with being blamed for missing shorter-stay targets, NZNO’s emergency nurses have requested an urgent meeting with new Minister of Health Simeon Brown to ask for more support.

February 2025

Chief nurse opens up on the challenges of working at Te Whatu Ora

By Mary Longmore

February 27, 2025

Despite grief at the “once in a generational opportunity” lost with the dissolution of Te Aka Whai Ora/Māori Health Authority, chief nurse Nadine Gray tells Kaitiaki she will not stop raising its Māori health kaupapa.

February 2025

New nursing course: ancestor-inspired, inequities-driven

By Renee Kiriona

February 25, 2025

Aotearoa now has a new nursing degree. And its birth and inspiration have been drawn from the stories of health justice in the country’s most northern region and the realities there where tangata whenua face major health inequities.

February 2025

Rotorua nurses raise violence, safety concerns with local MP

By Lyn Logan

February 21, 2025

Nurses in Rotorua this month raised concerns about violence and aggression and unsafe staffing with their long-time local MP Todd McClay.

February 2025

Te Whatu Ora scraps proposed nursing leadership cuts

By Mary Longmore

February 21, 2025

A proposal to cut 18 directors of nursing (DON) roles down to 14 at Te Whatu Ora has been scrapped after “strong” opposition.

February 2025

Another aged-care company plans major restructures

By Renee Kiriona

February 20, 2025

Unions have been notified that Bupa, one of the biggest aged care companies in New Zealand, will be restructuring 17 of its sites all at once.

February 2025

‘The way illegal drugs are discussed can cause more harm than the drugs themselves’

By Phil Tansey

February 20, 2025

A mental health nurse cautions against labelling all drug use as negative, and stigmatising people in the process.

Uncut – news briefs

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.
20 Dec	Health NZ introduces public reporting of key primary healthcare measures and PHO performance Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora (Health NZ) has introduced public reporting of key primary healthcare measures and Primary Health Organisation (PHO) performance.
19 Dec	Quarter 1 performance report released Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has today published its Quarterly Performance Report for Quarter 1, covering the period 1 July to 30 September 2024.
18 Dec	Recent uptick in Boostrix immunisations amid whooping cough epidemic, but work still to do As the healthcare sector continues to respond to a whooping cough (pertussis) epidemic across the motu, it’s promising to see a recent uptick in the number of Boostrix immunisations among the 15- to 44-year-old age group, with a recent doubling of doses administered from about 1,000 per week to over 2,000 per week.
18 Dec	Extra security to again keep EDs safe this summer Health Minister Dr Shane Reti is again reminding New Zealanders that violence against patients, visitors and health workers won’t be tolerated, with additional security for hospital emergency departments across the country this summer.
13 Dec	Mental health and addiction targets implementation plans released Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has today published its first quarterly results for four of the five mental health and addiction targets, covering the period 1 July – 30 September 2024.
12 Dec	Health targets encouraging – work continues New data shows that the Government’s focus on health targets is putting the brakes on the steep decline in delivery seen over the past five years.
12 Dec	Gisborne receives mental health beds boost Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey today opened Gisborne Hospital’s new acute mental health unit, Te Whare Awhi Ora, and says the region will be better served by a bigger, more therapeutic acute mental health unit.
9 Dec	Afghan women ‘banned from nursing and midwife training’ in latest blow to rights BBC News has reported that female nursing and midwifery students in Afghanistan have been told not to return to their studies, effectively ending women’s only access to further education, and putting women and children’s lives at risk.
9 Dec	How student and early career nurses can influence policymaking The International Council of Nurses (ICN) held a webinar which highlighted the vital importance of primary and preventative health care in meeting the World Health Organization’s (WHO) challenging goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030
3 Dec	Health NZ end-of-year deficit confirmed In publishing its annual report, Health NZ has confirmed it ended the financial year with a deficit of $722 million, against a target surplus of $54 million.
2 Dec	ICN says COP29 climate finance shortfall threatens the planet’s health The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has expressed profound disappointment with the outcomes of COP29, held in Baku, particularly the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance that was passed despite significant objections from developing countries.
29 Nov	Minister reminds public health officials of priorities Minister of Health Dr Shane Reti says the National Public Health Service should concentrate its focus on prioritising serious public health issues facing New Zealanders.
29 Nov	Community providers rally to protect hapū māma and pēpi as national whooping cough case numbers surpass 1,000 for 2024 Hapū māmā are being urged to get immunised, and parents and caregivers are encouraged to get their babies immunised on time, as whooping cough case numbers continue to climb across Aotearoa New Zealand.
28 Nov	Govt ignores health crisis, plans to axe 1500 public health roles The health of New Zealanders will suffer because of the Government’s plan to axe nearly 1500 roles at Te Whatu Ora, coming at a time when the public health system is already under severe pressure.
27 Nov	Health New Zealand Establishes Technical Advisory Group to Lead Transformation in Maternity Care This team of experts and community representatives will play a key role in the development of the Maternity Commissioning Framework, a core element of the wider Kahu Taurima programme, which aims to make maternity and early years services more equitable, accessible, and whānau-centered.
22 Nov	Whooping Cough epidemic declared across Aotearoa New Zealand Health agencies have confirmed today that Aotearoa New Zealand is now in the early stages of a Whooping Cough epidemic, with a nationally coordinated response now in place.
20 Nov	A Global Map of Winter Depression Healthnews has released an extensive study that ranks 194 countries based on their winter-pattern Seasonal Depression Disorder (SAD) risk.
18 Nov	Potential travel disruption expected with Tuesday’s national Hīkoi Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora urges those with an appointment scheduled at Wellington Regional Hospital on Tuesday morning or early afternoon, to please allow extra time to get to appointments.
15 Nov	ICN’s calls on G20 leaders to address international health worker migration crisis Ahead of the G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro next week, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) welcomes the Declarations recently adopted by the G20 Health Working Group and health ministers.
13 Nov	Measles case confirmed in Tāmaki Makaurau Health New Zealand \| Te Whatu Ora has confirmed today that a new case of measles has been identified on Waiheke Island in Auckland. The case and their household are being supported by the National Public Health Service (NPHS), with those most at risk now in quarantine to help reduce the chance of further spread.
5 Nov	Safety fears ahead of changes to mental health 111 calls Mental Health Nurses have serious concerns about the safety of their patients, the public, their colleagues and themselves when police changes to emergency 111 calls come into effect on Monday, New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa says.