Manuka Hospital, Nelson

Hamilton, Waikato

North Shore

Oranga Hospice

Whitby BUPA

Concern over Te Whatu Ora's Conflict of Interest policy

NZNO has written to Te Whatu Ora to express concerns about their demands that all staff complete and sign conflict of interest declarations by 31 March 2026. There is concern and confusion from some members about this.

NZNO disagrees with Te Whatu Ora indiscriminately requiring all employees to complete a declaration. This will result in Te Whatu Ora holding significant amounts of our members’ personal information, in our view, without good reason. We are also concerned that if you declare you have no conflicts, there could be confusion if one later arises.

NZNO also believes the initial consultation on the drafting of the policy was inadequate and Te Whatu Ora never discussed its implementation with us or our fellow unions.

For these reasons, we are advising you not complete the declaration without first seeking advice from your delegate or organiser first. We have also asked Te Whatu Ora to remind their staff that they have a right to obtain legal advice before making any such declaration

Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa bargaining has now set dates after members endorsed both the claims and the bargaining team. We have our first negotiation meeting for two days on 24/25 March. Fingers crossed we will have something to bring to members after these two days. The bargaining team consists of three RNs from all over the country, two of whom are new to collective bargaining.

Access has failed to respond to our proposal made at mediation on 3 February, so we’re going back to mediation on 19 March. After this mediation day, we will be talking to members as soon as possible, either to present an offer or discuss what industrial action is required to support the bargaining team. So far, we have only been offered below-inflation pay increases that widen the gap between Access as the lowest paying employer and the next best one, who pay 6% more than Access. 

Access has stated they are very comfortable being the lowest paying employer in the sector, but the bargaining team delegates have been very strong in telling their employer that they no longer wish to be the worst paid nurses and that they want a pay increase that makes them feel valued and is above the steeply rising cost of living.

Corrections have several working groups to support the new collective agreements, such as the new EN step, violence and aggression, Te Tiriti, senior nurses and so forth. There are eight working groups, all time bound, and all informing the negotiations due to start towards the end of this year. Several NZNO delegates have offered to assist with this important work, supported by NZNO staff. At least two of the groups are underway already and all will inform bargaining later this year.

The National Delegate Committee has met once. The NDC approved the sector plans that went to NZNO’s national executive where they were approved by the Board, they elected co-convenors and set dates to meet through the year. We still have vacancies for delegates who want to contribute to the NDC work. Email nurses@nzno.org.nz for a nomination form. To join, you must be a delegate or Te Rūnanga representative. Vacancies are: one each for the four regions: Auckland and Northland/Midlands/Central/South Island.

We are continuing to plan for the PHC MECA. We are aiming for a bargaining round that doesn’t have as many delays and disputes from the large number of employer advocates who we negotiate with. Member surveys for claims and nominations to be on the team will be undertaken throughout April in time for initiation on 1 May.

For those members affected by the PHC MECA negotiations, it is important our membership lists are up to date with your correct contact details and employer, workplace etc. It would be very helpful if you check the details we do have on the system to make sure yours are correct: https://www.nzno.org.nz/member_login?returnurl=%2fmembership

Summerset bargaining

Summerset has proposed an offer that would retain weekend allowances for existing employees however, these provisions would not apply to employees hired in the future. Over time, this would mean that different conditions apply to different groups of staff. As the workforce changes, the number of employees covered by the current provisions would reduce. This could also create incentives for the company to rely more on employees employed on the lower cost conditions, including when allocating additional or overtime shifts. Members are currently circulating a collective letter to the company responding to this offer. Once sufficient members have signed, the letter will be presented to Summerset at the next bargaining meeting. When your delegate brings the letter to your site, please add your signature.

Pay Equity for aged care nurses

Tōpūtanga Tāpuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa, NZNO and Bupa Aotearoa acknowledge the importance of pay equity in the aged care sector. NZNO is seeking to hear directly from aged care nurses about how they feel about pay equity and the ongoing issue of gender-based pay disparities in the sector. NZNO will be holding small group discussions in the coming weeks to provide space for nurses to share their views and experiences. Bupa supports the principle of pay equity and is enabling nurses to attend these meetings if they wish to. While Bupa is not involved in the discussions themselves, it recognises the importance of nurses having the opportunity to speak openly and independently. Nurses who would like to contribute are encouraged to attend.

Age Safe  reporting understaffing

Our Age Safe campaign now includes a reporting form for whānau of residents. Family members can report the impact of understaffing in residential care through the Maranga Mai website. If you have a loved one in residential care, please let them know about this option. These reports help build evidence about the impact of understaffing in aged residential care. Aged Care Whanaū Impact Report

Age Safe delegate training

Age Safe training for aged care delegates begins next week. Delegates will be discussing the need for mandatory minimum staffing levels in aged residential care. Across the sector we are seeing ongoing reductions in rostered hours, which affects both workers and residents. The campaign for mandatory minimum staffing levels is aimed at addressing this.

Training dates include:

18 March – Hamilton

19 March – Christchurch

24 March – Wellington

26 March – Auckland

Further information will be provided to delegates attending these sessions.

Pay Equity Now: Momentum building 

Over the past two weeks, NZNO members have helped push Pay Equity Now further into the national spotlight. 

Members joined the Pay Equity rally and took part in the Mind the Gap action alongside unions across Aotearoa, highlighting the ongoing undervaluation of women’s work and the importance of restoring real progress on pay equity.  

Alongside this public action, NZNO continues progressing pay equity claims with employers across aged care, primary care, hospice and community services. Unions were clear that workers will continue to fight until fair pay processes and outcomes are secured.  
We're not going to stop

The actions taken by NZNO members and unions across the country are beginning to drive real political pressure. 

“I can no longer continue being a National Party member… that was the atomic bomb for me.” 

Former National MP Dr Jackie Blue has resigned her party membership over the scrapping of pay equity claims, saying she could not support a party that had “done this to 180,000 workers.” Blue was also part of the cross-party People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity, which concluded the law change was a “flagrant and significant abuse of power.”
Former National MP quits party, joins Opportunity Party in new role

Her comments come as pay equity moves to the centre of the political debate ahead of the election. Parliament continues to argue over the Government’s $12.8 billion estimate and what it means for the future of claims.
Read the NZ Herald story here

In electorates, workers are also making the issue visible. Union members in Tauranga protested outside the office of Sam Uffindel over delays to women’s pay equity claims. 

Bay of Plenty union members protest in Tauranga over women’s pay equity

The pressure is building and pay equity is firmly on the national agenda.

Sector-wide

National Delegates Committee (NDC)

Elections continue for the Central Te Ikaroa region and will close on Wednesday, 25 March. Read more.

Private & NGO hospitals

ABI & Evolve Rehab

The parties will return to negotiations on 16–17 March.

Allevia Kensington

We are looking at returning to negotiations next Friday (20 March).

Braemar

We are reopening voting on the proposed collective agreement for a further a week. A number of members have not received a voting email and we are giving people the opportunity to revote considering three minor errors in our summary. (The terms of settlement are correct). We will also be sending a text message to get around any email spam filters.

Evolution

The union and company will meet to discuss the working groups in the next few weeks.

Grace

We are still waiting to hear back from the employer and have made it clear this cannot be delayed any further.

Mercy (Dunedin)

We are returning to negotiations next week

HOSPICE

Hospice Southland

We have now received and are reviewing formal offer from the employer.

Hospice MECA (Rotorua, Taupō, Eastern Bay of Plenty, Marlborough)

Negotiations will be held on 24–25 March.

Four Hospice MECA (Waikato, Waipuna, Mary Potter, Harbour Hospice)

We are running report-back meetings this week to get direction from members on negotiations.

Private Health

New Zealand Clinical Research (NZCR)

The employer will soon provide the same pay rates for non-union members to union members outside of negotiations.

The knock-on effects of the latest wars started by the United States is a reminder that when they act Aotearoa is not immune.

Just last night, the Government met to urgently consider the return of carless days and fuel rationing. Flights have been reduced to some of our most vulnerable regions to conserve fuel and families are bracing for drastic rises in electricity bills this coming winter.

While Christopher Luxon and the current Government is urging the New Zealand public to not be nosy, to not get involved with the world, what they are really telling us is “don’t make us accountable for our actions these last two and half years”. Because they’ve cut the earning potential of women and wāhine for generations – money that is proven to go to heating homes and feeding children. Because they’ve exchanged renewable energy solutions for tax breaks in the landlord’s pocket. They’re selling multimillion-dollar citizenship to the billionaires who are burning the world to the ground.

And now this Government are facing the consequences of their actions – because their time is up. At the College and Section Forum earlier this week I gave a call to action: that we can still care whilst we amplify our voices through action. That we can continue to promote our profession as one of strength and dignity, and we can do that through resistance – by reclaiming our sovereignty in the workplace.

While this Government has its own priorities, we will continue to maintain ours. To hold the line for our patients, their families; whānau and communities.   

Colleges and sections are central to NZNO’s success and influence and brings together groups of members who are focused on a specific nursing specialty.

So far only less than 20% of members have elected to join a college or section, and we'd like to see you grow that number. NZNO colleges and sections can help you advance your practice through policy and professional development opportunities, and membership at most colleges and sections is open and free to NZNO members.

There’s bound to be one for every member as there are 20 colleges and sections across a range of specialty areas and members can choose to belong to as many as three. Individual membership choices are usually related to clinical specialty and/or study and research interests.

Check out our colleges and sections here. Which one(s) will you join?

Registrations are now open for the NZNO College of Respiratory Nurses 2026 Symposium - New New New – What’s New in Respiratory

When - Friday 1st May 2026
Where – The Oaks Wellington, 89 Courtney Place, Wellington

We have an exciting range of expert speakers providing insight on the latest research and management. 

Download the CRN Symposium Programme here

To register, just click on the link to go to the registration page 

2026 College of Respiratory Nurses Symposium - "New, New, New"

- Choose New Registration

The next NZNO Maranga Mai! funding round opened on 31 December 2025 closing end of March 2026.

This grant is available to all NZNO financial members and is awarded annually.

The purpose of this fund is to provide members with assistance for professional development activities to enhance health care outcomes/provision in Aotearoa /New Zealand.

The fund is available for a variety of activities such as short courses, conferences, seminars, postgraduate and undergraduate study, workshops, books and travel. Other course related costs may be considered.

The fund is not available for any mandatory training required by an employer which is the employer’s responsibility to provide or fund.

The amount of any grant is determined by the Committee and will be decided based on total fund amount available once all applications are assessed.

You can apply through the Maranga Mai! online form on the NZNO Scholarships and Grants webpage.

NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Sandra Grey is calling on Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden to pause the proposed reform of the Holidays Act and listen to the concerns of workers.

“The Minister’s desire to introduce a bill to Parliament has got ahead of writing good legislation. We have many concerns about the proposed Bill and have not been consulted properly in its development,” said Grey.

“The Bill as currently written might mean that some workers, particularly vulnerable workers, have their holiday pay reduced. Workers don’t appear to be able to take leave in advance, and their ability to take two weeks of consecutive leave is weakened.

“New Zealanders already work some of the longest hours in the developed world. Burnout and work stress are harming workers and their whānau and costing the economy billions.

“We need to approach change carefully as this Bill will impact millions of Kiwis. Many of the proposed changes seem designed to reduce the benefits that workers deserve during their precious holiday breaks.

“The Government needs to come back to the table, talk with workers and unions, and develop changes that have broad-based support. It does not have the mandate for this Bill.

“There is an opportunity to build an enduring system that delivers for decades to come. Both employers and employees need certainty and a fair deal. The Minister shouldn’t let her desire for speedy reform ruin New Zealanders' future holiday plans,” said Grey.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has expressed its deep solidarity with nurses and health care workers affected by the escalating violence across the Middle East and Gulf region.

ICN has been in contact with many of its National Nursing Associations across the region in recent days to offer support and hear directly from nurses about the challenges they are facing as the situation evolves.

As part of its #NursesforPeace initiative, ICN is also launching a global photo action inviting nurses and nursing associations around the world to demonstrate their solidarity with colleagues affected by the crisis – details below.

Nurses are working in fear and uncertainty. They are caring for the injured, supporting families in distress and striving to keep essential services running. They are fulfilling their ethical duty to care, often at significant personal risk.

Read more

Organiser

Palmerston North – 1.0 FTE

NZNO is seeking applications for the role of Organiser for 40 hours per week (full time), based in the Palmerston North Office of NZNO. 

Applications should be addressed in confidence to Donna-Marie Simpson and close at 5pm on Sunday 15 March 2026. They must include both a cover letter and a current curriculum vitae. Please submit your application by email to: donna.simpson@nzno.org.nz.

Please find the advert and job description.

Organiser

Dunedin – 1.0 FTE

NZNO is seeking applications for the role of Organiser for 40 hours per week (full time), based in our Dunedin office. 

Applications, addressed in confidence to Jarrod Bates, close at 5pm Wednesday 25 March 2026, and must include both a cover letter and a current curriculum vitae. Please submit your application by email to: jarrod.bates@nzno.org.nz.

Please find the advert and job description.

Together – a night of music and solidarity

A historic benefit concert bringing together leading Aotearoa musicians in tribute to Helen Kelly and Peter Conway – two comrades who dedicated their lives to fighting for workers' rights.

All proceeds will go directly to UnionAID's union development projects in the SE Asia-Pacific region, backing workers organising for their rights.

The line-up features: Tiny Ruins, Don McGlashan, The Muttonbirds, SJD, Luke Buda (Phoenix Foundation), Sofia Machray, David Long, Ross Burge, and The E tū Orchestral Musicians.

Event details:

• When: Sunday 3 May 2026, 7.30pm
• Where: Meow Nui, Wellington

Tickets:

• General Admission: $58.50
• Platinum Lounge: $98.50 - elevated balcony views with guaranteed seating and a private bar. Numbers are strictly limited.

Demand the Government support people experiencing homelessness!

We have seen a significant rise in homelessness all over the country, as a direct result of policy decisions made by this Government. 

They have:

• Slashed access to emergency housing by tightening criteria
• Cut funding from services³, including frontline workers who provide critical support for families living in emergency housing
• Brought back no-cause evictions⁴, so landlords can evict tenants without reason
• Cancelled the construction of thousands of state houses that would have provided decent and stable homes for people

We deserve a housing system that ensures everyone has a place to live with dignity and security. And we deserve leadership that prioritises people’s wellbeing and our shared future over short-term optics.

Mairi, now is the time to stand together, speak out and demand housing justice.

What you can do:

• Sign this petition demanding the government support people experiencing homelessness (this will also mean you keep getting more updates on this campaign)
• Follow Kick Back on Instagram  or Facebook for updates (they’re a youth homeless organisation in Tāmaki leading on lots of this work)
• Take part in the National Day of Action called for Sunday 29th March. If you are doing organising work in your community on this (or want to!) - please get in touch with vanessa@actionstation.org.nz