Statement attributable to Robyn Shearer, Health New Zealand Acting Chief Executive

Health New Zealand is committed to reaching an agreement with our nurses on their collective agreement.

This week we have presented an updated offer to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and invited the union to respond to it.

We value our nurses and want to do the best we can for them, but the reality is that Health NZ is operating within tight financial constraints.

In May we offered registered nurses pay increases of 1% in 2025 and 1% in 2026.

The Employment Relations Authority recommended that NZNO accept the May offer, considering our financial situation.

This week’s offer includes a higher 2025 pay increase of 2%, meaning nurses will get a total 3% pay increase over two years.

The offer also includes two lump sum payments of $325 - one in 2025 and one in 2026. This means:

  • a new graduate nurse on $75,773 would gain a total pay increase of $8337, or 11%, by the end of June 2026, once step progression is included.
  • most registered nurses are on the highest step with a current salary of $106,739.  Under the offer their pay will increase by $3224 to $109,963 by the end of June 2026.

The offer includes a $2,000 increase to step 5 for the Enrolled Nurses salary scale from 5 January 2026.

The average salary for both senior and registered nurses, including overtime, PDRP allowance, and penal rates, is $125,662.

Since 2011 the top salary step of a registered nurse covered by the NZNO collective agreement increased significantly, raising by 73.95%, outpacing the broader labour market outcomes, as shown through comparison against the Labour Cost Index which increased by 35.53% over the same period.

For registered nurses, the top salary step rose by $45,377 between 2011 and 2024. This increase includes a $16,444 pay equity settlement.

The landscape for our nursing workforce has change significantly in recent years. Turnover has decreased markedly from 14% in December 2022 to 8.6% in December 2024.

The offer will expire on 31 July if it is not ratified before then.

We encourage the union to take this offer to their membership for a vote.

For information on the role of a Health New Zealand nurse, and the salary and benefits see here: Factsheet

The ERA’s full recommendations can be found here: Determinations - Employment Relations Authority (external link)