September 2021 vol 27 no 8

NZNO kaiwhakahaere wins global human rights award

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Kerri Nuku wins award while Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference inspires Māori–healthcare professionals.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

The dangers of Delta

By Georgina Casey

September 1, 2021

Mutations are producing COVID-19 variants more dangerous than the original.

Racism stirs up dawn raids memory for Pacific nurse

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Pacific nurses had enough to cope with without racist comments in the media, Pacific Nurses’ Section chair ‘Eseta Finau said.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Oranga Tamariki, health reforms, sit at ‘intersection’ for Māori

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

September 1, 2021

The man tapped to salvage child welfare agency Oranga Tamariki says health reforms could help stop Māori children being taken from whānau.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

‘Sense of urgency’ in Pacific community

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Frontline nurses vaccinating Auckland’s Pacific communities against COVID-19 have seen thousands of people since the Delta outbreak began last month, says a nursing team leader.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Te Tiriti to bolster new health legislation

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

September 1, 2021

The vaccination rollout and the health reforms were discussed by the Associate Health Minister.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Workplace policies needed on end of life law

By professional nursing advisor Michelle McGrath

September 1, 2021

Nurses need to think about what their roles will be under the End of Life Choice Act and seek the support and guidance they will need.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

A journey through time, memory, hope, to the top of the maunga

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

September 1, 2021

It was years ago, but Moana Jackson’s first journey up his maunga might give meaning to new generations of Māori.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

‘I do it for my whānau, hapū, my iwi’

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

The Indigenous Nurses Aotearoa Conference 2021 wrapped with an awards evening at the Beehive, recognising the work of Māori nurses and students.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Of mice and nurses: The life and times of a fighting woman

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

September 1, 2021

She was the woman in black, and shooting from the lip.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

NZNO successfully defends Employment Court LPS challenge

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

NZNO has claimed victory after being taken to the Employment Court by district health boards (DHBs) in their ongoing industrial dispute with members.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

‘Be inspired’ – heed call of the maunga

By co-editor Joel Maxwell

September 1, 2021

It was a time for inspiration, whanaungatanga, important information – and some great news about final exams.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Staffing shortages laid bare by lockdown pressure

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

The COVID-19 lockdown has exposed chronic short-staffing as nurses were asked to work despite living with people potentially exposed to the virus.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

NZNO staff moves – retirements & resignations

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

After 13 years at NZNO, policy analyst Māori Leanne Manson has resigned, to take up a senior role at Pharmac as pou tohu mātāmua (principal advisor) te whaioranga (Māori responsiveness strategy).

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Aged care nurses must await DHB deal – Little

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Aged care nurses must wait for district health board (DHB) nurses to strike a pay deal before attaining their own pay parity, Minister of Health Andrew Little says.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Get vaccinated, avoid spreading misinformation – Nursing Council

By Kai Tiaki editors

September 1, 2021

Nurses should get vaccinated – and shouldn’t spread vaccine misinformation, the Nursing Council of New Zealand says.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Just under 1200 nurse vacancies were reported across the country’s district health boards (DHBs) at March 31 this year – about five per cent of the 25,000 DHB nursing workforce – but the real vacancy rate is likely to be “significantly higher”, says an NZNO safe staffing expert.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

From the Employment Contracts Act to the COVID-19 lockdown

By Margaret Cain

September 1, 2021

Retiring NZNO professional nursing advisor Margaret Cain looks back at the big issues over three decades of working for nurses.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Nurses ‘can do more’ in mental health

By co-editor Mary Longmore

September 1, 2021

Nurses can do much more in the mental health space – they just need the confidence and experience to do so, says long-time mental health nurse Anthony O’Brien, who is weaving mental health care throughout a new nursing degree at the University of Waikato.

September 2021 vol 27 no 8

Use social media ‘wisely’ – NZNO

By NZNO acting manager, nursing and professional services, Kate Weston

September 1, 2021

NZNO and its members are currently in a phase of significant activity.

Uncut – news briefs

10 July	NZNO welcomes Te Whatu Ora backdown on Wellington maternity services Te Whatu Ora's decision to pull the plug on a trial to take beds away from Wellington Hospital's maternity and gynaecology wards is the right decision, NZNO says.
10 July	Government must save Tōtara Hospice: NZNO The Coalition Government must provide urgent funding to Totara Hospice to stop it having to cut its services by a quarter from next week, NZNO says.
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.