Articles tagged with Workforce
New Collective Agreement Secures Salary Increase for Health NZ Dietitians
5 days ago | 154 viewsAssociate Health Minister Matt Doocey has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for Health New Zealand dietitians, resulting from a successful APEX vote. The 24-month agreement includes salary increases of 2.5% in the first year and 2% in the second, along with enhanced professional membership contributions and improved terms. This agreement follows recent approvals for other health sector workforce agreements, highlighting ongoing progress in settling employment conditions.
Tags: Matt Doocey Health New Zealand dietitians Association of Professional and Executive Employees APEX collective agreement salary increase workforce agreements public health union representativesNew Collective Agreement Boosts Support and Stability for NZ Pharmacists
2 weeks ago | 157 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for about 300 pharmacists employed by Health New Zealand, following a vote by APEX members. The agreement recognizes pharmacists' valuable work, offers workforce stability, and includes uplifts to professional membership contributions and other improvements. This initiative aims to build a more stable and supported pharmacy workforce to ensure timely, quality care for New Zealanders.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister Health New Zealand pharmacists Association of Professionals & Executive Employees APEX collective agreement pharmacy workforce New Zealand professional membership contributionsNew Collective Agreement Boosts Support and Stability for NZ Pharmacists
2 weeks ago | 148 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for pharmacists employed by Health New Zealand, benefiting approximately 300 pharmacists nationwide. The agreement recognizes their valuable work, provides greater workforce stability, and supports their essential role in health service delivery. It also includes uplifts to professional membership contributions and other improvements, aiming to build a more stable and supported pharmacy workforce.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health Minister Health New Zealand pharmacists Association of Professionals & Executive Employees APEX collective agreement pharmacy workforce New Zealand professional membership contributionsNew Collective Agreement Boosts Pay and Career Growth for NZ Psychologists
3 weeks ago | 260 viewsHealth Ministers Simeon Brown and Matt Doocey have welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for approximately 670 psychologists employed by Health New Zealand, following a vote by APEX members. The agreement includes pay increases of 2.5% in the first year and 2% in the second year, along with expanded professional development opportunities and a new salary step for senior expertise. This agreement aims to provide greater workforce certainty and support psychologists in delivering quality mental health care to patients nationwide.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey Health New Zealand psychologists APEX collective agreement mental health pay increases professional pathways workforce supportNew Rural Health Training Program Boosts West Coast Workforce and Care
4 weeks ago | 209 viewsA new coordinated rural hospital medicine and specialist GP training programme has launched on the West Coast to strengthen the home-grown rural health workforce by increasing registrar numbers from two to three to eight to ten. The programme, accredited to deliver Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine training, offers six to twelve-month placements with strong supervision, support, and aims to retain trainees long-term by fostering community connections. This initiative aligns with the National Rural Health Strategy’s goal of ensuring accessible healthcare for all New Zealanders, particularly those in rural areas.
Tags: Simeon Brown Matt Doocey West Coast rural health workforce rural hospital medicine specialist GP training New Zealand Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine National Rural Health Strategy rural generalistsMinister Louise Upston Encourages Timaru Employers to Hire Local Jobseekers with MSD Support
1 month ago | 303 viewsMinister Louise Upston encouraged Timaru employers to prioritize hiring jobseekers and highlighted how the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) supports businesses by matching them with skilled and suitable candidates. MSD collaborates closely with local employers like Fonterra to understand their workforce needs and build trust by connecting them with ready-to-work talent from a large pool of jobseekers. She emphasized that recruitment through MSD is about unlocking potential and creating lasting opportunities, urging employers of all sizes to engage with MSD for workforce solutions.
Tags: Louise Upston Ministry of Social Development MSD Timaru Fonterra Jobseekers Employment Social Development Workforce RecruitmentMental Health Workforce Grows 11% with Vacancies Halved in New Zealand
1 month ago | 488 viewsThe frontline mental health and addiction workforce in New Zealand has grown by over 11% under the current Government, resulting in significantly reduced vacancy rates across key professions such as social workers, nurses, and counsellors. This workforce expansion has improved access to mental health services, with more than 83% of people receiving primary support within one week and over 82% accessing specialist services within three weeks. The Government’s focused mental health workforce plan, implemented in response to previous challenges, is delivering faster support and aims to continue this positive momentum into 2026.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister Health New Zealand clinical psychology psychiatry social workers mental health nurses drug and alcohol counsellors Health Workforce Information ProgrammeGovernment Welcomes Select Committee Report on Employment Relations Amendment Bill
2 months ago | 332 viewsThe Government welcomes the Select Committee report on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill, which supports key reforms to enhance labour market flexibility and reduce compliance costs while maintaining core objectives. The Committee recommends clarifications to the gateway test for contractors, including platform-based arrangements, and supports Cabinet decisions to expand income definitions for unjustified dismissal claims and raise the income threshold from $180,000 to $200,000. Minister Brooke van Velden looks forward to progressing the Bill in early 2026, emphasizing the Government’s commitment to helping businesses grow and innovate confidently.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Employment Relations Amendment Bill Education and Workforce Committee Cabinet Government Labour Market Flexibility Select Committee Workplace Relations and Safety Contractors Income ThresholdWaikato Medical School Construction Begins to Boost Regional Healthcare and Training
2 months ago | 408 viewsConstruction has begun on the Waikato Graduate School of Medicine, supported by over $230 million in funding, to train more doctors and improve primary care access in regional New Zealand. The new graduate-entry program, starting in 2028, aims to create a diverse medical workforce with a focus on rural and regional clinical placements, enhancing healthcare in underserved communities. This initiative complements the Government’s broader investment in the primary care workforce and supports regional development by providing local medical education and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
Tags: Simeon Brown Shane Reti University of Waikato Waikato medical school New Zealand Graduate School of Medicine primary care rural health medical education Government funding healthcare workforceNew Zealand’s New Tertiary Education Strategy Boosts Skills, Careers, and Economy
3 months ago | 352 viewsNew Zealand’s new Tertiary Education Strategy focuses on equipping students with skills and knowledge that lead to strong careers and support a productive, innovative economy. It emphasizes employment outcomes, economic impact, access, collaboration, and international engagement, aligning with broader reforms in universities and vocational education. The Strategy also prioritizes responsive regional training, foundation education, and work experience to ensure all learners, especially those at risk, can contribute to the country’s success.
Tags: Shane Reti Penny Simmonds New Zealand Tertiary Education Strategy vocational education Te Pūkenga Workforce Development Councils Industry Skills Boards universities economic developmentNew NZ Government Procurement Rules Boost Kiwi Businesses and Economic Benefits
3 months ago | 360 viewsNew government procurement rules, effective immediately, aim to boost Kiwi businesses by simplifying tender processes and introducing a minimum 10 percent economic benefit weighting in contract evaluations. The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment will monitor compliance and impact, ensuring agencies prioritize New Zealand economic benefits such as workforce participation and training. These changes apply to contracts over specified thresholds and comply with international trade obligations by allowing foreign companies to demonstrate economic benefits to New Zealand.
Tags: Nicola Willis government procurement New Zealand economic benefit Kiwi firms Ministry for Business Innovation and Employment government contracts workforce participation trade agreements tender processNew Health Workforce Committee Appointed to Strengthen NZ Healthcare System
3 months ago | 345 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown announced new appointments to the Health Workforce Committee, including Chair Dr David Gow and members Dr Jeremy Dryden, Dr Ruth Large, and Dr Allan Moffitt, with Dr Gary Hopgood continuing. The Committee provides long-term strategic advice on health workforce matters to ensure New Zealand’s health system meets future community needs. The appointments, effective from December 1, 2025, support the Government’s focus on accessible, quality care and acknowledge outgoing members Dr Bryan Betty and Dr Andrew Connolly’s ongoing contributions in new roles.
Tags: Simeon Brown David Gow Jeremy Dryden Ruth Large Allan Moffitt Gary Hopgood Bryan Betty Andrew Connolly Health Workforce Committee Health MinisterHealth NZ to Employ 1800 Graduate Nurses, Boosting Workforce in 2025
3 months ago | 389 viewsHealth New Zealand plans to employ around 1800 graduate registered nurses in hospital-based roles this year, significantly strengthening the workforce and supporting timely, quality care. The government is also investing in primary care roles for graduates, offering funding incentives to rural and urban providers to expand opportunities. Health Minister Simeon Brown emphasizes that these initiatives provide structured support and professional development, contributing to a sustainable, resilient nursing workforce for the future.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health New Zealand graduate nurses nursing graduates health system primary care workforce development nursing workforce New ZealandHealth Minister Simeon Brown Sets Priorities for Health NZ to Improve Patient Care
3 months ago | 354 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has presented Health New Zealand’s Annual Report and issued a Letter of Expectations emphasizing the need to devolve decision-making closer to frontline services while maintaining national planning and meeting government health priorities. The letter outlines key focuses such as strengthening primary care, growing the health workforce, improving infrastructure, and ensuring efficient, transparent operations with strong governance and accountability. Brown stresses the importance of reducing bureaucracy, improving recruitment, meeting health targets, and delivering timely, accessible care to achieve better patient outcomes.
Tags: Simeon Brown Health New Zealand Health Minister Health New Zealand Board Government priorities healthcare delivery health system frontline clinical roles health workforce health infrastructureNew Zealand Launches Te Haeata Certificate to Boost Business Events Workforce
3 months ago | 350 viewsThe New Zealand Government is investing in the New Zealand Certificate in Business Events (Level 4) “Te Haeata,” an industry-led qualification designed to build a skilled workforce for the business events sector. This practical, online training program aims to address workforce shortages, support career pathways, and enhance the global competitiveness of New Zealand’s tourism and hospitality industries. Launching in early 2026, Te Haeata will also be introduced in high schools to attract and retain talent, promoting sustainable growth in the sector.
Tags: New Zealand Certificate in Business Events Te Haeata Louise Upston business events sector tourism hospitality workforce development career pathways sustainable growth