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Background and interim pay equity changes

Te Whatu Ora reached a Pay Equity Agreement in Principle with the NZNO in March 2022, however the agreement has now been challenged in the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and the Employment Court.

When it became clear the court and authority action could take until 2024 to resolve, Te Whatu Ora applied to the ERA to fix interim rates, based on the 2021 Agreement in Principle. The ERA provided Te Whatu Ora with the Order to pay the interim rates in December of 2022.

As a result the interim pay rates have been implemented (with the effective date of 7 March 2022) for around 34,000 registered and enrolled nurses and health care assistants in New Zealand.

 

Download: Download the ERA's decision - PDF, 1.2 MB

The Employment Relations Authority's Interim fixing determination dated 14 December 2022

Download: Download the Agreement in Principle and the new pay scales - PDF, 521 KB

Nurses pay equity bargaining Agreement in Principle 22 December 2021 between the NZNO, NZPSA, and DHBs

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Examples of Agreement in Principle pay rates

The table below sets out the top rates in the Agreement in Principle for the different nursing pay scales.  A copy of the Agreement in Principle and this information can be found here.

A table of three columns showing current rates, Agreement in Principle rates, and percentage increase between the two, for the top pay rates relating to nurses. A table of three columns showing current rates, Agreement in Principle rates, and percentage increase between the two, for the top pay rates relating to nurses. A table of three columns showing current rates, Agreement in Principle rates, and percentage increase between the two, for the top pay rates relating to nurses.

The table below sets out the top rates in the Agreement in Principle for the different nursing pay scales.  A copy of the Agreement in Principle and this information can be found here.

How the new pay rates compare to Australia

The new pay rates will make NZNO pay rates for Te Whatu Ora-employed public hospital nursing staff comparable to the rates in Australian state-level awards or enterprise agreements.

A table with four columns showing rates paid in Australian states New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, compared to the Agreement in Principle PE Rates, across the nursing job scale. A table with four columns showing rates paid in Australian states New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, compared to the Agreement in Principle PE Rates, across the nursing job scale. A table with four columns showing rates paid in Australian states New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, compared to the Agreement in Principle PE Rates, across the nursing job scale.

The new pay rates will make NZNO pay rates for Te Whatu Ora-employed public hospital nursing staff on a par with the rates in Australian state-level awards or enterprise agreements.