Nurses Society of New Zealand

01/09/2026

The decision to make free flu vaccinations available to under 5-year-olds from today is excellent. It will help curb the spread of the flu and significantly ease the extreme pressure on health services. Ideally should have been made earlier.

05/08/2026

In submission to the Social Services and Community Select Committee the Nurses Society of New Zealand (NSNZ) has indicated its total opposition to the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill (“the Bill”).

Nurses Society director, David Wills, says NSNZ regards the Bill as completely unnecessary.

"There is absolutely no need for a legal definition definition of woman or man. Moreover, the proposed definitions are facile, naive and completely flawed."

The submission can be read here.

https://nursessociety.org.nz/uploads/8d5fe501c2fb9c24303fadc3acf991fb.pdf

29/05/2026

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HEALTH NZ | TE WHATU & THE NURSES SOCIETY OF NEW ZEALAND SETTLED

Nurses Society of New Zealand (NSNZ) members employed by Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ have voted to accept the terms of settlement for a collective agreement signed by the parties last month. This follows a ratification vote.

Nurses Society director David Wills says it seems that most members who voted recognised the offer was the best that could realistically be achieved given current health funding.

Plus, the settlement for NSNZ members is essentially the same as the offer for nursing staff represented by other unions.

The new base pay rates for registered nurses, enrolled nurses, senior designated nurses, midwives, nurse practitioners, as well health care assistants and mental health assistants have a 2.5% increase this year and a further 2.0% next year.

The full terms of settlement, the new CA and the pay rates can be viewed on the news section of our main website: https://nursessociety.org.nz/

18/05/2026

TE WHATU ORA - NURSES SOCIETY COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT

Subject to a ratification vote, the Nurses Society of New Zealand (NSNZ)/Te Uniana o NSNZ and Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand have now reached agreement on a collective agreement. The terms of settlement are now available on our main website, with links:
https://nursessociety.org.nz/

The settlement includes a 2.5% pay increase this year and 2.0% pay increase in 2027. A 1,300 lump sum for Senior Designated Nurse or Senior Designated Midwife pay scales and $1,000 FTE lump sum for all other nursing staff.

Other changes include: Nurse Practitioner professional development allowance increased to $6,000 annually, which may be accrued for up to three years (to $18,000), $2,000 flat rate increase for step 5 of the enrolled nurse scale (in additional to the general 2.5% pay increase), a tikanga Māori pūtea allowance, $3,500 annual allowance for Duly Authorised Officers and $3,500 annual allowance for Authorised Officers.

Provision for NSNZ invited to participate in the safe-staffing programmes and o Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ commits to maximise ongoing recruitment of new graduates.

The pay increases mean base rates for RNs this year range from $77,667 for new graduates to $166,872 for senior nurses, and next year from $79,221 to $170,209.

Step 7 (the base scale most RNs are on) increases to $109,407 this year and $111,596 next year. The full, base pay rates can be viewed here.

Full rate details for all nursing staff have a link on our main website,

17/04/2026

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/early-edition-with-ryan-bridge/audio/david-wills-nurses-society-director-on-the-increasing-reports-of-abuse-towards-healthcare-staff/

Increasing reports of horrendous abuse directed towards staff at emergency departments.

24/03/2026

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/590457/government-says-it-s-improved-on-all-five-of-its-health-targets

Director of the Nurses Society of NZ, David Wills said the data had shown a lot of good work was being done by nurses and others across Health NZ, but the system is under constant pressure.

"There is still unmet need and Health NZ still requires increased funding and resources. Hopefully that will be in the next budget."

The Health Minister says the improvements included shorter stays in emergency departments and shorter waits for specialists.

10/03/2026

The Royal Commission into the COVID-19 response confirms that Aotearoa New Zealand’s management was one of the best in the world.

Moreover, it finds, on balance, that the then government’s decision to adopt a vaccine strategy early on in the pandemic was “appropriate, and consistent with overwhelming scientific advice”.

The Commission concluded that decision makers “carefully balanced the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines ... against any potential risks”.

It reviewed Medsafe’s process of approving the vaccines – and praised it.

The Commission report says, “Medsafe was agile and adaptive in its regulation of COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic. This allowed rapid approval of a vaccine without taking short cuts”.

Nurses Society Director David Wills says it is good to get further confirmation that Aotearoa New Zealand did better than most.

Also, it is obvious with hindsight that there are some lessons for being better prepared for similar events in the future.

The Commission also recognised that misinformation on social media was a major problem.

Royal commission says response led by Jacinda Ardern was broadly ‘appropriate’, in a wide-ranging report featuring recommendations for future pandemics