The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes Labour’s guarantee that every eligible New Zealand-trained graduate nurse will be offered a job in the public health system.
“Guaranteeing all graduate nurses a job offer would be a useful step in addressing the major workforce shortages across the health system,” says Sandra Grey, NZCTU President.
“From hospitals to GP clinics to aged-care facilities, Aotearoa’s health workforce is chronically stretched. With a growing and ageing population, demand for health and aged care is only increasing.
“Yet the Luxon-led Government has failed to increase nursing numbers. The net increase in Health New Zealand nursing staff between March 2024 and March 2026 was just 54 full-time equivalents, while hundreds of newly qualified graduates have been unable to find a job.
“When young people take the time to train for this crucial job, they should be supported to get work. If graduates can’t find a job here, they will often move to Australia. This deprives New Zealand of the workforce of the future.
“Labour’s proposal would be a good first step to increasing the number of nurses, improving outcomes in the health system, and preventing the loss of talent overseas.
“It will need to be complemented with action to significantly lift funding for public health and address other workforce shortages across our hospitals, primary care facilities, and aged care. Every New Zealander will benefit from a better staffed health system,” says Grey.