Nursing reports

New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki O Aotearoa members will gather in support of their bargaining team on tomorrow morning to mark the first day of collective contract negotiations with Te Whatu Ora.

Wednesday 25 September will be the first day of bargaining for NZNO’s biggest collective contract.

"This year’s bargaining is taking place at a time when our health system is om crisis," NZNO delegate Bruce McIntosh says.

"There is a chronic shortage of thousands of nurses at Te Whatu Ora nurses which is leading to increased wait times in Emergency Departments and compromising the quality of patient care," Bruce McIntosh says.

"Understaffing in our hospitals has been exacerbated with the Government’s obsession with cutting costs.

"With a commissioner appointed to Te Whatu Ora and a voluntary redundancy process underway, there’s no doubt our bargaining team has their work cut out for them.

"Members are gathering on Wednesday morning in solidarity with the bargaining team and to wish them all the best as they arrive for this important mahi. They will take with them into the negotiation room the collective strength of 35,000 members covered by this agreement," Bruce McIntosh says.

Media are invited to attend the rally:

Where: The Manawa, 276 Antigua Street, Christchurch

Time: 9am

Date: Wednesday 25 September

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) agrees with the Minister of Health that every dollar spent on health is precious but disagrees that the Government’s health targets can be reached within current budgets.

Today, Health Minister Hon Dr Shane Reti released the Government’s implementation plan for reaching its five health targets for shorter stays in emergency departments, shorten wait times to see specialists and receive treatments, improved immunisation for children and faster access to cancer treatments. Initiatives include expanding the number of beds and operating theatres in public hospitals and making greater use of capacity in private hospitals.

Health Commissioner Lester Levy has advised him that these targets can be reached within current resources.

NZNO Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says it’s one thing to have a plan, but you need people and resources to implement it.

"The operational Health Budget only increased by 0.4 percent. That’s not enough to address staffing issues or achieve the health targets. The simple truth is that Health is underfunded and under-staffed.

"We are continually hearing from our members that there is an understaffing crisis. They have held rallies, strikes and marches outside their hospitals and care facilities voicing their concerns about understaffing and cuts to health care.

"Te Whatu Ora say that they are recruiting more nurses than ever, but this is not the reality our nurses are seeing when they are struggling with high workloads, and nurses are not being replaced when they leave.

"We know there is a freeze on roles that are not patient-facing such as administration and support staff. This will have a flow-on event of even more work for frontline staff.

Reducing waiting times and ED stays will be very difficult to achieve with the current lack of investment in the health workforce. We need a robust workforce that can provide the high-quality care Dr Reti envisions for all the people of New Zealand. This won’t be happening without a commitment to appropriate funding, says Ms Nuku.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) is horrified by statements from Finance Minister Nicola Willis that the Government is experimenting with using heated tobacco products as an alternative to cigarettes to see if they will help people to stop smoking.

This follows a recent halving of the excise tax on heated tobacco products.

The Minister made these statements on Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report programme today.

NZNO Board Member and Nurse Practitioner Lucy McLaren says it is difficult to understand the rational that making tobacco products more available will lead to less people smoking.

"It’s horrifying that our finance minister sees this as an opportunity to gamble with the health and lives of our people.

"There is no evidence that making more tobacco products available will help people quit smoking, and there is no conclusive, independent evidence they are less harmful than cigarettes. We think this ‘experiment’ is more likely to result in more people - particularly young people - smoking.

"It’s our tamariki using these products. We know the tobacco industry is already marketing heated tobacco products to rangatahi. Once they are hooked on these, they’ve got a customer for life.

"We know that smoking and the use of tobacco products is harmful to health. The only ones benefiting from this ‘experiment’ will be the tobacco industry.

"We call upon the Government to halt this experiment and reverse the decision on tax cuts for heated tobacco products," says Ms McLaren.

New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) has deep concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the aggression of the Israeli state towards the Palestinian peoples.

Board member and mental health nurse Grant Brookes said: "We are aware that some drug suppliers such as Teva are funding Israeli activities in Gaza and the West bank. Last year, Teva contributed almost $1 billion in revenue to the Israeli government, and in June this year it agreed to settle an historical tax bill of up to $2 billion. We don’t support Teva or any other supplier that enables Israel's acts of aggression."

On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an advisory opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT; encompassing the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem) to be illegal under international law. Teva profits from this illegal occupation at the expense of Palestinian health, because Israel excludes cheaper drug companies from supplying what is a "captive market" for them in the OPT.

"For this reason, we call on Pharmac through its tender process to replace medicines currently on the Pharmaceutical Schedule that are currently supplied by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (Teva) with another brand," Brookes said.

"They should also refrain from sourcing from Teva other medicines currently on the Pharmaceutical schedule but procured through other suppliers and refrain from sourcing from Teva medicines that are not currently on the Pharmaceutical Schedule, but which Pharmac intends to add to the schedule."

New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) has joined the nation in mourning the passing of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII.

Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said among the union’s membership are thousands of Māori nurses who would have been feeling a deep loss this morning, after finding out about his death.

"Like all nurses, Māori nurses will be doing their mahi today, but their day would have started with a deep sadness because they’ve lost a leader," Ms Nuku said.

"Kiingi Tuheitia stood for all the values and aspirations that our Māori nurses have been fighting for which in essence is - love the people, care for them and the nation.

"Our hearts are with his wife Makau Ariki, their children, the Kiingitanga movement and all of Waikato Tainui."

Kingii Tuheitia and the Kiingitanga movement promoted alternatives to a health system not working for Māori, Ms Nuku said.

"Going right back to the days of Te Puea Hērangi, about 100 years ago, the Kiingitanga have been trying to tell the powers that be that there are other ways to improve the health and wellbeing of their people. And that way is Mana Motuhake."

In 2006, a scholarship programme for Waikato Tainui descendants studying nursing was established in the name of Kiingi Tuheitia’s late mother, Dame Te Ātairangikaahu.

Nurses are kicking off their collective bargaining with Te Whatu Ora by taking action for safe staffing on Friday, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.

On Friday, NZNO members employed by Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora commence bargaining for their 2024 collective agreement negotiations. Also, at the forefront will be claims reflecting the needs of Māori nurses. Nurses and health workers across the motu will take action on Friday to let Te Whatu Ora and the Government know that safe staffing will be the priority in this year’s negotiations.

NZNO CEO Paul Goulter said cuts to healthcare are making the system worse for patients and for the health workers who provide care.

"Te Whatu Ora needs to be doing everything it can to keep nurses in New Zealand and safe staffing is a critical part of this picture.

"Nurses are taking a stand this Friday because they know it is patients and whanau that suffer when our health system is underfunded, and staffing gaps not filled.

"When nurses look to Australia, they not only see better pay but also better working conditions in the form of safe staffing ratios. Nurses don’t want to work in hospitals that are continuously understaffed and under-resourced."

Among the numerous countrywide activities planned for Friday, Northland health workers will hold a rally outside the office of Health Minister Shane Reti in Whangārei.

Whangārei delegate Sacha Young said this was a prime opportunity to show the minister how the local people feel about recent changes in health.

"He’s our local MP so he’s accountable to us. We need to remind him that we are not seeing improvements in the health system since he’s become the health minister."

Young is upset that once again workers are forced to include safe staffing in bargaining with the employer.

"We would expect that would be a given. It’s sad that decade after decade we have to keep fighting to be safe in our workplace."

Health workers and the public want to see change and they are hoping to see commitment from Te Whatu Ora during this bargaining process, Ms Young said.

Stand with health workers! Join us in calling on Te Whatu Ora and the Government to increase funding for health and to value health workers.

Find the action locations here.

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora’s call for employees to end their employment via voluntary redundancy is in breach of the established consultation processes, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) says.

Chief executive Paul Goulter says Te Whatu Ora did not follow the correct consultation processes before arriving at the conclusion that there should be redundancies.

Goulter said this proposal was simply presented it as an outcome and NZNO did not agree with that or their economic rationale as to why there should be reduction of staff.

"Starting from the point in any change management process that proposes redundancies, whether voluntary or required is not in keeping with the spirit and or good faith principles of consultation that being a proposal not finally decided on and is not perfunctory or a mere formality.

"This approach does not allow for all the options to be considered when a genuine staff surplus is identified."

"We also hold the view that taking this approach is disrespectful of the values that underpin the relationship process as set out in Te Mauri o Rongo."

"Suggesting there are opportunities for redundancies when the health workforce is under resourced will have the effect of destabilising workers who will be concerned about the security of their work and will create more stress to people who already stretched.

"We’re aware that any reduction of staff will impact on the people who remain. Removal of supporting roles means that other staff must pick the work they’re doing and that’s unacceptable."

Wellington retirees will rally tomorrow to protest staffing cuts at Aged Residential Care facilities. They want a fair go for staff and residents.

The rally will take place from 11:30am to 12:30pm outside Tākina Conference Centre which is hosting the Retirement Village Association Conference.

The Wellington retirees are working with the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) and E tū, who represent nursing and caregiver staff, to call for changes that support residents' dignity and quality of care, and pay equity with fair work conditions for staff.

Many of the Wellington retirees live at the Arvida facility, Village at the Park in Newtown and are opposing cuts to staffing hours at the residential aged care facility.

Arvida is proposing cuts of around 400 hours a week for care workers, nurses, and activity coordinators at Village on the Park. These cuts are deeply opposed by workers, the residents they care for, their families, and the wider community.

NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter has urgent concerns about ongoing staffing reductions in the aged care sector.

“Major aged care providers, Arvida, Bupa, Oceania, Metlifecare, and Summerset are all proposing cuts to the care time provided.

“Aged residential care facilities are already understaffed, and nurses are generally paid less than nurses working for Te Whatu Ora. Staff have been shocked to receive change proposals to reduce hours when they are already stretched thin. They are concerned the cuts will result in reduced quality of care for residents.

“Staff feel that their feedback and that of residents and their families on the impact to quality care and health and safety has not been fairly considered.

“We applaud the retirees who are standing up and asking for their voices to be heard, and showing their support for nurses and caregivers.

“We can and must do better for our aging population. Australia has legal minimum aged care staffing levels. We should have them here to protect both residents and workers,” said Mr Goulter.

Staff at Dargaville Hospital are sick and tired of working in fear because of the unavailability of an on-site doctor. Therefore, members of New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) will strike for one hour to voice their frustrations on 29 August.

Without an on-site doctor, Dargaville Hospital is currently "defaulting" to cover by a telehealth service and nurses overnight, with critically ill patients transferred to Whangārei.

NZNO delegate and registered nurse at Dargaville Hospital, Shayna Mariscal says staff are extremely worried about community and staff safety.

"We’re quite stressed about having no doctors because of not knowing what walks through the door and managing that without a doctor on site is terrifying.

"Even Prime Minister Christopher Luxon admitted we are under tremendous pressure but still nothing is being done about it."

"We really need doctors on-site rather than a telehealth service. You can only do so much as a nurse, and while we are grateful to have help, it's not the same as having a hands-on doctor to actually do a physical assessment. And so, you feel really helpless and you're just waiting for someone to come and help you, which doesn't always arrive."

She acknowledges Dargaville being a rural hospital makes hiring permanent staff more difficult, but the doctor shortage was related to management’s unwillingness to pay locum doctors a worthwhile rate.

"We relied heavily on locums to fill in our gaps, especially on sick leave and holidays but now the locums aren't getting paid that same rate. They're not willing to pay up for the shifts.

"But how can you think about cutting costs when lives are at risk?"

Fellow NZNO delegate, registered nurse and health and safety representative at Dargaville Hospital, Rachyl Randell says the doctor shortage is having a big impact on nursing staff.

"We are also struggling with a shortage of nursing staff overnight and high workloads. If a patient is transferred to Whangārei, it means a nurse is taken off the floor to transfer them. The amount of sick calls since the doctor shortages has increased significantly due to the impact this is having on nurses’ wellbeing, mentally, emotionally and physically.

"I became a registered nurse to provide the best possible care I could for each and every one of my patients, not leave work in a state of wondering what if or what else could I have done with the current conditions we are working in."

The strike takes place at Dargaville Hospital on 29 August 2024 from 1pm to 2pm.

The passing of Rhoena Davis on Friday, 16 August has created a gaping hole among the ranks of senior Māori nurses which will be difficult to fill, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku says.

Ms Davis was a nurse in Northland since 1993, and for more than 30 years her nursing ability was unparalleled. As chair of the Māori caucus of the College of Nurses Aotearoa and a member of the New Zealand Nursing Council Komiti Māori, she was vital in shaping nursing leadership and advocating for Māori health at local, regional, and national levels.

"Her advocacy for funding and policy changes to support nurse practitioners and working tirelessly to address inequities in healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and remote areas, made her a highly respected figure among her peers," Ms Nuku said.

"It was her selflessness and deep care for others, no matter who they were, that made her such an amazing nurse and person. Her life was an emblem of what it truly means to be a nurse."

Ms Davis was also involved in several national groups including the National Nurse Leaders Group, Ora Taiao, and the Federation of Primary Health Care.

"She was dedicated, humble and quietly went about her awesome work right to the end. In fact, she persevered even while knowing she had little time left, only finishing her mahi on 30 July," NZNO Board member and fellow nurse practitioner, Margaret Hand said.

Beyond nursing organisations, Ms Davis sat on the Hauora Taiwhenua Board as deputy chair, and through her position as deputy chair of Te Ropu Arahi she was also part of initiatives aimed at actualising the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Among her many accolades Ms Davis was the 2022 recipient of the prestigious Te Akenehi Hei Memorial Award - the highest award of honour for Te Rūnanga o Aotearoa, NZNO - for her outstanding contribution to Māori health.

On the podium her humility again shone through when she dedicated her award to all who worked alongside her and stressed the importance of working together.

This year’s recipient, Auckland-based nurse practitioner Dhyanne Hohepa, paid homage to her mentor on Saturday morning, saying her generation had huge boots to fill in taking up the challenge of fulfilling all Ms Davis had worked to achieve.

"To her, nursing and seeking and equal playing field wasn't just a job, it was a way of life.

"Rhoena was an inspiration to me and other younger Māori. We will aspire to carry out her dreams and finish what she started."

No reira e te tuakana, e te tuahine, e te mareikura, moe mai ra i roto i nga ringaringa o nga matua tupuna.