Here are the terms of settlement for the new Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and Nurses Society of New Zealand – Te Uniana o NSNZ nursing collective agreement (CA).
The agreement was actually signed by the parties in April. It will now shortly go to a ratification vote.
The full, signed terms of settlement (ToS) can now be read here. Likewise, the new CA (subject to ratification) is available here on our main website, as well as on the Health NZ I Te Whatu Ora intranet. The ToS and the new CA are best read together as the ToS only has key points.
The CA has a two-year term effective from 6 April 2026 with the following new provisions:
* 2.5% pay increase this year
* 2.0% pay increase in 2027
* $1,300 FTE lump sum for Senior Designated Nurses or Senior Designated Midwives
* $1,000 FTE lump sum for all other nursing staff
* Nurse Practitioner professional development allowance is increased to $6,000 annually, which may be accrued for up to three years (to $18,000)
* $2,000 flat rate increase for step 5 of the enrolled nurse scale (in additional to the general 2.5% pay increase)
* A tikanga Māori putea allowance
* $3,500 annual allowance for Duly Authorised Officers and $3,500 annual allowance for Authorised Officers
* NSNZ to participate in safe-staffing programmes
* Health NZ I Te Whatu Ora commits to maximise ongoing recruitment of new graduates.
The pay increases mean base rates for RNs this year range from $77,667 for new graduates to $166,872 for senior nurses, and next year from $79,221 to $170,209. Step 7 (the base scale most RNs are on) increases to $109,407 this year and $111,596 next year.
Full details of the new pay rates for registered nurses, enrolled nurses, senior designated nurses, midwives, nurse practitoners, as well health care assistants and mental health assistants can be viewed here.
The terms of settlement offered to NSNZ members essentially match the terms offered to the other unions representing nurses.
As might be expected, Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora wants all nurses who are on CAs to have the same terms and conditions, regardless of which union they are represented by. This includes the same, across-the-board pay rates, lump sums, allowances and general terms and conditions. There is backdating to 6 April 2026.
NSNZ plans to run several online meetings over the coming week for members employed by Te Whatu Ora before a ratification vote. Links and dates for the proposed meetings will be emailed to members working for Te Whatu Ora in the coming days.
Nurses Society director David Wills says, “While we clearly sought higher increases and other changes, given current circumstances and available funding, the increases and changes offered are the best that realistically can be achieved at this time.”
"Hence we are recommending to members that they vote to accept the terms of settlement."
Note: NSNZ uses its union arm Te Uniana o NSNZ - the Union of the Nurses Society of New Zealand Te Kāhui Tapuhi o Aotearoa for most of its collective bargaining. Nurses Society members are generally automatically members of Te Uniana o NSNZ.
Here are the terms of settlement for the new Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and Nurses Society of New Zealand – Te Uniana o NSNZ nursing collective agreement (CA).
The agreement was actually signed by the parties in April. It will now shortly go to a ratification vote.
The full, signed terms of settlement (ToS) can now be read here. Likewise, the new CA (subject to ratification) is available here on our main website, as well as on the Health NZ I Te Whatu Ora intranet. The ToS and the new CA are best read together as the ToS only has key points.
The CA has a two-year term effective from 6 April 2026 with the following new provisions:
* 2.5% pay increase this year
* 2.0% pay increase in 2027
* $1,300 FTE lump sum for Senior Designated Nurses or Senior Designated Midwives
* $1,000 FTE lump sum for all other nursing staff
* Nurse Practitioner professional development allowance is increased to $6,000 annually, which may be accrued for up to three years (to $18,000)
* $2,000 flat rate increase for step 5 of the enrolled nurse scale (in additional to the general 2.5% pay increase)
* A tikanga Māori putea allowance
* $3,500 annual allowance for Duly Authorised Officers and $3,500 annual allowance for Authorised Officers
* NSNZ to participate in safe-staffing programmes
* Health NZ I Te Whatu Ora commits to maximise ongoing recruitment of new graduates.
The pay increases mean base rates for RNs this year range from $77,667 for new graduates to $166,872 for senior nurses, and next year from $79,221 to $170,209. Step 7 (the base scale most RNs are on) increases to $109,407 this year and $111,596 next year.
Full details of the new pay rates for registered nurses, enrolled nurses, senior designated nurses, midwives, nurse practitoners, as well health care assistants and mental health assistants can be viewed here.
The terms of settlement offered to NSNZ members essentially match the terms offered to the other unions representing nurses.
As might be expected, Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora wants all nurses who are on CAs to have the same terms and conditions, regardless of which union they are represented by. This includes the same, across-the-board pay rates, lump sums, allowances and general terms and conditions. There is backdating to 6 April 2026.
NSNZ plans to run several online meetings over the coming week for members employed by Te Whatu Ora before a ratification vote. Links and dates for the proposed meetings will be emailed to members working for Te Whatu Ora in the coming days.
Nurses Society director David Wills says, “While we clearly sought higher increases and other changes, given current circumstances and available funding, the increases and changes offered are the best that realistically can be achieved at this time.”
"Hence we are recommending to members that they vote to accept the terms of settlement."
Note: NSNZ uses its union arm Te Uniana o NSNZ - the Union of the Nurses Society of New Zealand Te Kāhui Tapuhi o Aotearoa for most of its collective bargaining. Nurses Society members are generally automatically members of Te Uniana o NSNZ.