Minister Welcomes Healthcare Pay Agreement

Health Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for 35,000 nurses, healthcare assistants, and midwives employed by Health New Zealand.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) members will receive pay increases under the 20-month deal, which includes a 2.5 per cent salary increase in the first year and 2 per cent in the second year.

"I am pleased for the approximately 35,000 nurses, healthcare assistants, and midwives employed by Health New Zealand who will benefit from this agreement. These dedicated frontline health workers play a vital role in delivering care across our hospitals and communities," Mr Brown says.

The agreement also includes targeted salary adjustments, with enrolled nurses at the top of their pay scale receiving an extra $2,000. Senior designated nurses will get lump-sum payments of $1,300, while all other staff receive $1,000.

Other benefits include increases to various allowances, with the Nurse Practitioner Professional Development Allowance rising from $5,000 to $6,000 per year.

A key feature of the deal is a Safe Patient Care Statement of Intent, jointly developed by NZNO and Health New Zealand, outlining their shared commitment to supporting patient care and improving working conditions.

"Nurses, healthcare assistants, and midwives are at the centre of our healthcare system, supporting patients and their families in moments that matter most, often in challenging circumstances. I want to recognise and thank them for the skill, care, and professionalism they bring to their work every day, and for their commitment to putting patients at the centre of what they do," Mr Brown says.

The ratification follows recent collective agreement approvals for other health sector unions, including pharmacy, psychology, and medical staff.

"I want to acknowledge NZNO and Health New Zealand for their constructive engagement in reaching this agreement, which provides certainty for staff and helps ensure New Zealanders can continue to receive the care they need."