A plea from our nurses - stand with us!

Today is a big day - 36,000 nurses, midwives and health care assistants will strike for 24 hours. From 9am, pickets and marches will be held across the motu.

I had a chat to Hilary Gardner from the Nurses union to find out why nurses are striking and what we can do to support them. Here’s a quick explainer - everything you need to know and nothing you don’t!

I think I have a fair idea given I’ve seen all of the news about resourcing issues and safety but why exactly are nurses striking?

Yes, this strike is primarily about concerns our staff have around safety. Patients are at risk because nurses, we are just stretched too thin. We became nurses because we care - that’s why we are striking.

It’s a pretty huge thing to strike. How long has there been issues around safe staffing and what has been done to fix them?

NZNO [The nurses’ union] and Te Whatu Ora have been in bargaining for more than eight months. Te Whatu Ora has failed to address concerns about safe staffing despite them being raised continually throughout the collective agreement bargaining process.

What kind of physical, mental, and emotional toll is this taking on nurses?
It’s hitting us hard - physically and emotionally. Patients are at risk because of short staffing, we chose this industry because we wanted to provide the care that patients need, but we can’t. This is heartbreaking for our exhausted members - we just want to help people.

Are there concerns about nurses leaving the profession or moving overseas because of the crap they’re dealing with?

Yes, and that’s why we think protecting and growing our workforce is key. We have lost thousands of nurses to Australia in the past year, and while we remain underfunded and understaffed, we will keep losing more. One of our claims was for our new graduates to be guaranteed employment, and unfortunately Te Whatu Ora won’t commit to do this.

What long-term risks does this pose to New Zealand’s health system if these issues aren't resolved?

The future of New Zealand depends on a functioning health system. We're not striking because we want to, we're striking because safe patient care demands it.

Te Whatu Ora must adequately staff its operations for the sake of our country’s health. Our future depends on having healthy, well citizens who are educated, trained, and capable of working. None of this is possible when people are sick, injured, and unable to access the care they need.

How will the strike affect patients and healthcare services during this time?

The lack of nurses has impacted on services and wait times over the years, making them worse. This is only 24 hours and life preserving service are in place.

What do you want the government to do? What are you asking for?What can patients and the public do to support nurses during the strike?

The Government needs to stop prioritising budgets over people’s lives. The public can show their support by joining nurses on the picket line and voicing their support for better-staffed hospitals and health care facilities.

What message would nurses like to send to the wider New Zealand public about why this strike matters—not just for them, but for everyone?

For nurses to go on strike, sacrificing their own financial situation for complete strangers in an attempt to get safety for those whom they care for, shows how much they care for the people they look after now and going into the future. Please stand with us.

Tomorrow you can share the following images on your social media accounts to show your support for our amazing nurses, midwives, and health care assistants.

I’ll be at Wellington Hospital to stand with the folks who saved my baby’s life - remember you can always show up at a picket with a treat for the nurses to show your support!

Thank you for supporting me to do this mahi. I am so grateful to you for becoming a free or paid subscriber.