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Download AudioThe Health Minister says a pay jump for nurses should help maintain the momentum as the Government rebuilds the workforce.
Nurses have voted to accept their latest pay offer from Te Whatu Ora, meaning planned strike action this week will not go ahead.
All all roles covered by the collective will get a salary increase of $4000, backdated to April 1, with an additional flat rate salary increase of $1000 to all designated senior nurses, nurse practitioners and designated senior midwives.
A lump sum payment of $750 will be made to all New Zealand Nurses Organisation members bound by the settlement at the date of ratification, and a further lump sum payment of $500 to all employees.
Minister Ayesha Verrall says pay rates are crucial to keeping nurses in the health system.
“Last year over 8000 nurses registered for the first time, a 60% increase from the previous year, and in the last quarter the number of nurses registered to practice in New Zealand has grown by about 2000,” she says.
Dr Verrall says the settlement package also includes a further commitment to safe staffing, and the government is that working at pace to recruit and train more nurses to fill current shortages.
The announcement takes the top of the registered nurse pay scale to $106,738, a massive $40,000 increase or 59.9 percent in just six years, with penal rates on top.
Senior nurses will now earn between $114,025 and $162,802 a year, plus penal rates.
Senior midwives who are NZNO members will be on full-time base salaries of $104,622-$153,180 and registered midwives on $79,261-$103,535.
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