About NZNO
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is a professional and industrial organisation representing approximately 40,000 members in all areas of the health service. NZNO negotiates salary and conditions for nurses, midwives and hospital aides working in the public and private sectors, other health professionals and health sector workers. It provides professional support and leadership for nurses and midwives and clinical development through special interest sections and colleges.
History
NZNO was formed on 1 April 1993, as a result of an amalgamation between the Nurses' Association and the Nurses' Union.
The Nurses' Association began in a small way. A group of nurses in Wellington formed the Wellington Private Nurses Association in 1905. Similar groups were later set up in Dunedin, Auckland and Canterbury, and in 1909 these formed the Trained Nurses' Association, the basis of today's organisation.
Professionalism has been a strong theme since the beginning. An editorial in Kai Tiaki, July 1909, recommended the benefits of fellowship through membership, but immediately warned: "We must, however, guard against any element of trades unionism creeping in among us. A nurse must be a woman, working, not in the first place for the sake of money-making, but for the good of her fellow creatures, to alleviate suffering when she can and help towards the health of those who need her care!" This view predominated, even though the Association did discuss economic welfare. Nurses were dependent on the goodwill of employers in setting wage rates and conditions as no machinery existed for bargaining for improvements.
In 1969, the Association began to develop an industrial role and was recognised by government as the negotiating body for members' wages and conditions in public hospitals. In 1972, branches were asked to set up representation committees, now called delegates’ committees. After a slow start, the number of committees has grown and they have become accepted as necessary in representing members covered by collective employment agreements.
In 1973, the NZ Nurses' Union was formed to fight for fair wages and conditions for private sector nurses, who, until this time, had no awards or union to represent them. The Nurses' Union represented members in private hospitals, Nurse Maude, general practices, Plunket, Family Planning and occupational health nurses, as well as educators and counsellors.
Initially the Association and the Union shared offices, then in 1987 the Nurses' Union employed its own staff and set up its own offices until the amalgamation with the Nurses' Association in 1993 to become the New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation.
In 1996, Health Professionals New Zealand (HPNZ) division was formed to enable all health professionals to join NZNO, thus it now includes a broad range of health professionals eg medical radiology, technologists, scientific officers, pharmacists and dieticians.
Affiliations
NZNO is affiliated to the International Council of Nurses (ICN), which represents more than 1.2 million nurses in more than 100 countries. The ICN works closely with a number of international organisations including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the International Labour Organisation (ILO), UNICEF and UNESCO.
NZNO is also affiliated to the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), which represents workers from all sectors of the economy to government and to the wider community.
Journal
NZNO's monthly journal, Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand, keeps our members up to date with developments in nursing and the health sector.
Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand
Governance
NZNO affairs are managed by a Board of Directors, which is accountable to the Membership of NZNO.
The Board consists of:
- NZNO President
- Regional Representatives
- Chair of Te Rununga O Aotearoa
- Chair of Nurses and Midwives Advisory Committee (NMAC)
- Chair of National Student Unit (NSU)
- National Section Representative
Strategic Plan
NZNO Strategic Plan 2006-2010
Mission
- The New Zealand Nurses’ Organisation is the professional body of nurses and the leading nursing union in Aotearoa New Zealand.
- Our members include nurses, midwives, health care workers and other health professionals.
- Our members are united in the achievement of their professional and industrial aspirations.
- Our members enhance the health and wellbeing of all people of Aotearoa New Zealand through ethically based partnerships.
- NZNO undertakes its work in accordance with Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
NZNO Vision
NZNO Freed to care, Proud to nurse
Strategic Aims
Leadership:
- To become the lead consultant nursing organisation professional and industrial areas including;
- health policy,
- nursing policy,
- nursing education
- organisation of health services
- union policy and activity
- To build ethically based partnerships with the community and consumer groups.
- To establish a strong public image of nursing and NZNO.
Membership:
- To increase and broaden nursing and midwifery membership of NZNO.
- To raise members’ awareness and be responsive to membership issues, increasing members’ participation.
- To achieve fair remuneration and safe working conditions for all members.
Organisational:
- To demonstrate financial and organisational effectiveness throughout all NZNO structures and processes.
- To grow a strong financial base to support the strategic objectives of NZNO.
Social:
- To strengthen NZNO members’ ability to recognise and implement Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
- To play a leading role in working women’s advocacy.
- To oppose injustice and inequality wherever it impacts upon the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.
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Annual Report
The 2006-7 Annual Report is available to view or download as a PDF
NZNO Annual Report (17 pages, 635KB)
Organisational Structure
Organisational Structure 2006
Chief Executive
Organising Services Manager |
Professional Services Manager |
Business Services Manager |
| Whangarei Office
Auckland Office
- Co-ordinating Organiser
- Organisers
- Educator
Hamilton Office
Palmerston North Office
- Organising Co-ordinator
- Organisers
Wellington Office
- Organisers
- Trainee Organiser
- Industrial Adviser
Nelson Office
Christchurch Office
- Organisers
- Educator - Southern & Central Region
Dunedin Office
- Organisers
- Industrial Adviser
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Professional Nurse Advisers
- Auckland
- National
- Southern
Lawyers
- Auckland
- Central & Southern
Policy Analyst
Policy Analyst Maori
Library/Information
Communication
Kai Tiaki
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Accounts
- Accountant
- Project Accountant [fixed term]
- Accounts Administrator [fixed term]
Membership
- Supervisor
- Administrators
Specialist Administrator
PA/Office Managers
- National
- Northern
- Southern & Central
Administration Staff
- National
- Whangarei [casual]
- Auckland
- Hamilton
- Palmerston North
- Wellington
- Nelson
- Christchurch
- Dunedin
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NB: This does not include Regional structures. |
NZNO Rules
The 2007-8 Rules are available to view or download as a PDF
NZNO Rules (Approx 50 pages, 464 KB)
NZNO Relationship Diagram
This whare represents the relationships within NZNO. The whare was chosen as it is something we believe everyone can relate to whether it be your own home, a hospital, community service centre, whare tupuna etc.
The members are our foundation upon which everything else is built.
Our ancestors, tupuna and kaumatua are our central pou - they hold the knowledge of where we have come from and teach us so that we may move forward.
Te Runanga National Executive Komiti and the Board of Directors represent the over arching leadership and umbrella or korowai. Staff are also integrated here as they overarch and interrelate within all aspects of the organisation.
The structures of the house are all dependent on one another to stand as a complete unit.
Our mahi and our relationships are reflected within the aims of our strategic plans.
Released following the June 2007 Board of Directors meeting , explanation provided by Te Runanga Chair, Brenda Close.
