NZNO offices and the Member Support Centre will be closed from 5pm on Thursday 17 April and will reopen at 8am on Wednesday 23 April for the Easter weekend.
If you do happen to call the Member Support Centre during this period, you will be prompted to press 1 for urgent enquiries and press 2 for non-urgent enquiries.
On Tuesday 22 April a staff member will be monitoring and clearing urgent voicemails only and will return calls as needed to assess and triage.
If you need urgent assistance over this period, we would suggest approaching your workplace NZNO delegate who may be able to assist with your enquiry.
The links below might also be helpful in providing guidance on some issues.
Alternatively, please phone the Member Support Centre on 0800-28-38-48, and leave a message. We will get back to you when we reopen on Wednesday 23 April .
Is the enquiry urgent?
A matter is urgent if:
- the incident is about serious misconduct or patient harm and/or involves: police; coroner; Nursing Council; Midwifery Council; Health and Disability Commissioner; witness in court
- the meeting or action is to happen before the NZNO offices re-open on 6 January and cannot be delayed
- the matter concerns an unavoidable situation that could affect the member’s practice or safety, e.g. ongoing boundaries issue, unsafe work situation or unsafe employer instruction.
More information you may find useful
Legal matters
If your enquiry is in relation to a legal matter (e.g. Police, Coroner, HDC, Nursing Council) or a disciplinary matter, please take the following steps:
- If a meeting date has been set, defer the meeting and advise it will need to be scheduled when the NZNO offices reopen. You have the right under common law to be given reasonable notice of a meeting and the right to representation. Postponing the meeting will ensure you get access to representation. Find out more about your rights when it comes to workplace investigations and disciplinary meetings.
- Do not have interviews with Police or investigator until NZNO can contact you. As above, you have the right under common law to representation. Click here for your rights.
- Do not sign any statements.
- Get contact details for the investigator.
- Take notes of the incident noting at the top “for legal advice only”. Do not provide this to anyone.
If you have been suspended:
- do all of the above, and
- your suspension should be on pay so confirm with your employer that it is and ask for the timeframe of the suspension.
Mental health support
If you are feeling extreme stress and vulnerable please get in touch with the following services:
- Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland
- Depression Helpline – 0800 111 757
- Suicide Crisis Helpline (aimed at those in distress, or those who are concerned about the wellbeing of someone else) – 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)
- Healthline – 0800 611 116
- Samaritans – 0800 726 666 (for callers from the lower North Island, Christchurch and West Coast) or (04) 473 9739 (for callers from all other regions)
- Youthline – 0800 376 633, free text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
- What's Up (for 5-18 year olds; 1 - 11 pm) – 0800 942 8787
- www.depression.org.nz – includes The Journal online help service
- www.thelowdown.co.nz – visit the website, email team@thelowdown.co.nz or free text 5626 (emails and text messages will be responded to between 12 noon and 12 midnight).
- OUTLine NZ – 0800 688 5463 (OUTLINE) (provides confidential telephone support for sexuality or gender identity issues).
- SPARX.org.nz – SPARX is an online e-therapy tool provided by the University of Auckland. SPARX helps young people learn skills to deal with feeling down, depressed or stressed.
- Common Ground – a central hub providing parents, family, whānau and friends with access to information, tools and support to help a young person who’s struggling.