Health NZ assures pay for graduate nurses due to start on September 1
Health New Zealand is postponing the start date of more than 300 graduate nurses to September 8 because of the upcoming nurses' strike.
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) declared strike action on September 2 and 4, after a vote from more than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants, and kaimahi hauora.
Nadine Gray, Health NZ National Chief Nurse, said the strike would disrupt the training of graduate nurses, who are supposed to start on September 1.
Gray explained that all hospital training for graduate nurses would be suspended, as the staff responsible for their training will either be on strike or occupied with regular duties.
"We understand many of our graduate nurses will be disappointed with the delay. However, we have to put patient safety, staff safety, and the safety of our graduate nurses first as they transition into the workforce," Gray said in a statement.
"I want to reassure our graduate nurses that they will still be paid for the week, and we look forward to welcoming them for their first day on Monday 8 September."
Strike disrupts hospital operations
Health NZ estimates that the NZNO's strike action will mean a week-long disruption for hospitals.
It would also result in the postponement of an estimated 2,251 planned procedures, 3,600 first specialist appointments, as well as 8,000 follow-up appointments.
"Postponed surgeries and first specialist appointments result in our waitlists growing longer and increased patient safety concerns, as people have to wait longer for the care they need," Gray said.
The NZNO said its members voted for additional strike action after Health NZ failed to address ongoing concerns about understaffing.
This decision reflects the union's increasing dissatisfaction with their collective agreement, compounding their existing concerns over pay.
"We recognise improvements can be made to the current safe staffing approach and we are exploring how that can be progressed," Health NZ previously said.
Health NZ has also offered nurses a pay increase that would see a new graduate nurse on $75,773 gain a total pay increase of $8,337 (or 11%) by the end of June 2026.
A registered nurse on the highest step with a base salary of $106,739 would also see their pay increase by $3,224 to $109,963 during the same time period.
"We believe the offer we have made to the union is a fair one and better than many other offers being made in the public sector," Gray said. "We are focused on reaching a settlement with the NZNO and believe outstanding issues need to be resolved through further bargaining, not more strike action."
