Summarised by Centrist
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has voted to strike again on 2 and 4 September, citing dangerous understaffing and government inaction.
Around 1700 members in Tauranga and 800 in Rotorua will walk off the job unless Health NZ changes course.
This follows a nationwide 24-hour strike on 30 July involving over 36,000 nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants, and other staff.
Union chief executive Paul Goulter said members were left with no option after failing to resolve safe staffing concerns. “Our members have had enough of seeing patients wait in pain because no one can get to them,” he said.
Health NZ warned that another strike would delay more than 2200 procedures, 3600 first specialist appointments, and 8000 follow-ups. A spokesperson said hospitals already slow down in the days before a strike and take time to recover afterwards.
While the union accuses the government of choosing cost-cutting over patient need, Health NZ says more than 3000 new full-time nurses have been hired in two years and staff turnover is down to 8.1 percent.
The offer rejected by NZNO would have lifted a new graduate’s pay to $75,773 and eventually to $84,110 with step progression.
Top-tier registered nurses would earn $109,963, not including overtime and penal rates. Health NZ says that brings average total pay to $125,662.
