Statement attributable to Robyn Shearer, Executive Lead Industrial Relations Health New Zealand

A strike notice from NZNO on behalf of perioperative, theatres and radiology services for a two-hour withdrawal of services was in place yesterday in Christchurch. Given the notice Health NZ contingency planners prepared accordingly and postponed planned care and first specialist appointments in the impacted departments.

The strike notice was lifted 45 minutes before the action was due to start leaving no time to reinstate the postponed planned care and appointments.

Health NZ is deeply concerned at these actions and the impacts this will have on the 85 patients who had to have their care postponed yesterday.

Health NZ and has written to the union to express our concern.

Letter from HNZ to NZNO [PDF, 640 KB]

While we recognise the right of NZNO members to strike, actions such as those taken yesterday in Christchurch are have real impacts on patients.

Health NZ is committed to reaching settlement with NZNO and avoiding disruption to patients.

We encourage NZNO to lift the strike notices and return to the bargaining table.

Note

In July we made an offer that included a pay increase of 2% this year and 1% next year, meaning nurses would get a total 3% pay increase over two years.

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

The average cost to Health New Zealand 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.

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