July 30 once again saw nursing staff raise a picket line outside Thames Hospital, as nurses across New Zealand walked off the job for 24 hours.
The nationwide strike is part of ongoing union action by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) since it began its collective bargaining agreement process with Health NZ Te Whatu Ora in September last year.
The strike began at 9am, with around 36,000 nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and kaimahi hauora across the country withdrawing their labour from Te Whatu Ora-run healthcare services. Life-preserving services were not affected.
In Thames, around 30 people gathered on Mackay St with signs sporting slogans like “safe staffing saves lives” and “we need nurses”.
They would not talk to media.
An open letter from the union said the strike was called over concerns about staff shortages.
“Our primary concern is safe staffing. Right now, we simply don’t have enough staff to safely care for the volume and complexity of patients coming through the doors. This isn’t just a workplace issue – it’s a public health issue,” it read.
NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter also issued a press release on July 29, saying Te Whatu Ora was refusing to recruit into roles necessary for safe staffing.
“NZNO has raised concerns about chronic and ongoing staff shortages continually throughout the collective agreement bargaining process,” he said.
“If Te Whatu Ora truly values nurses, as it claims, it will ensure they are not under-staffed, under-resourced and overworked.”
Te Whatu Ora issued several statements in response to the strike action, saying it was “disappointed that the NZSO is taking strike action when there is a fair offer on the table”.
“We would like to reassure New Zealanders that Health NZ is completely committed to safe staffing,” it said.
“The offer rejected by the union would see a new graduate nurse on $75,773 gain a total pay increase of $8337 (or 11 per cent) by the end of June, 2026, once step progression is included.
“A registered nurse on the highest step with a base salary of $106,739 would see their pay increase by $3224 to $109,963 by the end of June, 2026.
“The average salary for both senior and registered nurses, including overtime, PDRP allowance, and penal rates, is $125,662.”
Te Whatu Ora estimated around 4300 planned procedures and specialist appointments would have to be postponed as a result of the strike action.
