Health Minister, Simeon Brown, has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO).
More than 38,000 Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO members were eligible to vote in the ballot.
The 20-month agreement provides around 35,000 members with a 2.5% salary increase in year one and a 2% increase in year two. It also includes an extra $2,000 salary adjustment for those at the top of the Enrolled Nurses pay scale, alongside lump‑sum payments of $1,300 for Senior Designated Nurses and $1,000 for all other staff. Other allowances will also increase, including lifting the Nurse Practitioner Professional Development Allowance from $5,000 to $6,000 per year.
The offer also includes a Safe Patient Care Statement of Intent jointly developed by NZNO and Health New Zealand, outlining their shared commitment to working together to support patient care and improved working conditions for nurses.
“I am pleased for the approximately 35,000 nurses, healthcare assistants, and midwives employed by Health New Zealand who will benefit from this agreement. These dedicated frontline health workers play a vital role in delivering care across our hospitals and communities,” Mr Brown says.
“Nurses, healthcare assistants, and midwives are at the centre of our healthcare system, supporting patients and their families in moments that matter most, often in challenging circumstances. I want to recognise and thank them for the skill, care, and professionalism they bring to their work every day, and for their commitment to putting patients at the centre of what they do.”
NZNO Auckland delegate and bargaining team member, Dawn Barrett says NZNO and Te Whatu Ora will now begin work to implement the agreement.
“This includes launching a time bound work programme with NZNO to research nurse-to-patient ratios, including applying a cultural lens supporting our Te Tiriti commitments. Te Whatu Ora has also agreed to strengthen its Care Capacity Demand Management staffing tool, by reviewing ways to make it more transparent, enforceable and accountable,” she says.
Ms Barrett thanked all NZNO members who participated in the extended 20 months of bargaining.
“We could not have made any progress without their willingness to stand up for what was right for patients and nursing staff,” she said.
“We recognise that many members who voted to reject this offer were willing to carry on the fight.
“We celebrate you and know there is more to be done as we continue to battle to ensure all New Zealanders get the care they need and our nurses, midwives and health care assistants are properly recognised and valued.”
The ratification follows the recent approval of collective agreements for APEX pharmacy members, APEX psychologists, PSA Allied Public Health, Scientific and Technical members, APEX dietitians, PSA Public and Mental Health Nurses, STONZ Resident Medical Officers, and ASMS Senior Medical Officers.
“I want to acknowledge NZNO and Health New Zealand for their constructive engagement in reaching this agreement, which provides certainty for staff and helps ensure New Zealanders can continue to receive the care they need,” Mr Brown said.
