nursing education jobs in new zealand

Nursing Education jobs in New Zealand

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Director of Nursing - Primary Care, Whangarei

Academic lecturer nursing.

Manukau Institute of Technology

Lecturer Veterinary Nursing

• Palmerston North, Manawatu-Wanganui

Head of School, Education and Social Sciences

EIT | Te Pukenga

Eastern Institute of Technology

• New Zealand

Nurse Education Manager - Auckland

New Zealand Blood Service

Casual Community Nurses (District Nursing and Specialist Nursing Teams)

• Hawke's Bay

Education Support - Theatre

Southern Cross

NZ Blood Service (NZBS)

Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) West Virginia

TLC Nursing

• Hilltop, Canterbury
• West Virginia

Specialist Palliative Care Physician

Lakes District Health Board

• Rotorua, Bay of Plenty

Professional Teaching Fellow / Lecturer

The University of Auckland

• $100,696-138,721 per year

New Zealand Government

• Bay of Plenty

Registered Nurse - Auckland

Registered nurse, ward 23 oncology.

• Whanganui, Waikato

Registered Nurse - PACU/Recovery

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora

• New Plymouth, Taranaki

Regional Clinical Coordinator

Wintec - Te Pukenga

• $114,584-134,802 per year

Care Home Manager

Frontline Recruitment

• $125,000-140,000 per year

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• Job profiles

Registered Nurse

Tapuhi whai rēhitatanga.

Alternative titles for Registered Nurse:

• Community Health Nurse

Nurse Practitioner

Plunket nurse, practice nurse.

• Enrolled Nurse
• Mental Health and Addictions Nurse
• Aged Care Nurse
• Critical Care and Emergency Nurse
• Perioperative Nurse

Registered nurses assess, treat and support people who are sick, disabled or injured, in hospitals, clinics, rest homes, and nursing homes.

Enrolled nurses usually earn

$68K-$84K per year

Registered nurses usually earn

$74K-$153K per year

Source: Te Whatu Ora and NZNO, 2023 -2024.

Job opportunities

Length of training

3 years of training required.

Vocational Pathways More

• Social and community services

About the job

Pay for registered nurses varies depending on their qualification, experience, duties and responsibilities.

Enrolled nurses working for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ

• Graduate enrolled nurses working for Te Whatu Ora usually earn $68,000 a year. ($70,000 from 1 April 2024.)
• Enrolled nurses can earn $71,000 to $81,000. ($73,000 to $84,000 from 1 April 2024.)

Registered nurses working for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ

• Graduate registered nurses working for Te Whatu Ora usually earn $74,000 a year. ($76,000 from 1 April 2024.)
• Registered nurses usually earn $79,000 to $104,000. ($82,000 to $107,000 from 1 April 2024.)
• Senior registered nurses can earn $111,000 to $158,000. ($114,000 to $163,000 from 1 April 2024.)
• Nurse practitioners can earn $133,000 to $158,000 ($137,000 to $163,000 from 1 April 2024).

Registered nurses can also earn overtime.

Source: Te Whatu Ora, 'Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ and New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Nursing and Midwifery Collective Agreement 31 March 2023 - 31 October 2024.'

• Te Whatu Ora website - Te Whatu Ora and NZNO Collective Agreement 2023- 2024
• PAYE.net.nz website - use this calculator to convert pay and salary information

(This information is a guide only.  Find out more about the sources of our pay information )

What you will do

Registered nurses may do some or all of the following:

• assess patients
• plan and carry out nursing care in partnership with other health professionals
• monitor patients' conditions and record changes
• give patients immunisations, medicine and intravenous (IV) drugs
• advise patients and help them to manage their own health 
• visit and educate patients, families and community groups about health and preventing accidents and illness
• delegate work to enrolled nurses and health care assistants
• give further education to trained nurses and other staff
• do health-related research and evaluations.

Enrolled nurses care for patients while a registered nurse or nurse practitioner supervises them.

Skills and knowledge

Registered nurses need to have knowledge of:

• how to assess and monitor patients' conditions and symptoms
• the human body and its diseases and illnesses
• nursing methods for different illnesses and injuries
• the effects of different medicines and treatments
• how to advocate on behalf of patients
• different cultural beliefs about health and medical treatment.

Working conditions

Registered nurses:

• usually work eight- to 12-hour shifts, including nights, weekends and public holidays. Nurses who work in the community or at medical centres usually work a set 40 hours a week
• may work in stressful situations, and be in contact with distressed people, diseases and body fluids
• may travel locally to visit clients.

What's the job really like?

Registered nurse video.

Tafadzwa talks about life as a registered nurse – 5.07 mins.

How to enter the job

Entry requirements, enrolled nurse .

To become an enrolled nurse you need to:

• complete a Diploma of Enrolled Nursing (Level 5) 
• pass an assessment by an approved provider
• pass an examination for enrolled nurses.

Registered nurse

To become a registered nurse you need to :

• complete a Bachelor of Nursing, or other Level 7 or 8 qualification approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand
• pass a Nursing Council of New Zealand examination for registered nurses.

Registered nurses also need to register with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

• Ministry of Health website - nursing qualifications and providers in New Zealand
• Nursing Council of NZ website - becoming a registered nurse

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.

• Ministry of Justice website - Vulnerable Children Act requirements

Secondary education

NCEA Level 3 is required to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include maths, English, biology, chemistry and physics.

Additional requirements for specialist roles:

To become a nurse practitioner you need to:

• work as a registered nurse for at least four years
• complete a Master's degree that is accredited by the Nursing Council
• pass a Nursing Council of New Zealand assessment.
• Nursing Council of NZ website - how to become a nurse practitioner

To become a Plunket nurse working in child health development and community-based nursing you need to:

• gain a Plunket nurse role
• complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Specialty Nursing (Level 8) while working in the role.
• Plunket website - how to become a Plunket nurse
• Whitireia New Zealand website - Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Specialty Nursing

To become a practice nurse you must have a:

• current cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate
• certificate of competence in vaccinations or cervical screening, if you are performing those duties.
• College of Primary Health Care Nurses website - primary health care nursing

Personal requirements

Registered nurses need to be:

• good at communicating
• skilled at problem solving
• organised, with excellent time management 
• able to work well under pressure and stay calm in emergencies
• able to keep personal information confidential
• kind, patient, tolerant and helpful
• able to relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds.

Useful experience

Useful experience for registered nurses includes:

• work with children, families, the elderly or people with disabilities
• social work or counselling
• community support work
• work in hospitals or health promotion

Physical requirements

Registered nurses need to be reasonably fit, as they may have to spend long periods on their feet, and sometimes have to lift patients.

Registration

Nurses need to be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and have a current Annual Practising Certificate.

• Nursing Council of NZ website - registration

Find out more about training

What are the chances of getting a job, demand for registered nurses expected to grow.

Demand for registered nurses is high, and expected to continue growing due to:

• increasing need for nursing care as the population ages
• older nurses retiring – the New Zealand Nurses Organisation reports 50% of nurses will retire by 2035
• funding in the 2019 Wellbeing Budget for nurses to work in mental health, addictions, child wellbeing, and on school-based programmes
• an international shortage of nurses.

Te Whatu Ora estimates New Zealand needs 4,800 more registered nurses to meet demand. 

A number of registered nurse roles appear on the Governments' Green List: aged care, child and family health, community health, critical care and emergency, developmental delay, disability and rehabilitation, medical practice, medical, mental health, paediatrics, perioperative, surgical, and registered nurse nec [not elsewhere classified], plus nurse practitioner.

This means the Government is actively encouraging these skilled registered nurses from overseas to work in New Zealand.

Enrolled nurse also appears on Immigration New Zealand's Green List. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled enrolled nurses from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to Te Whatu Ora there are nearly 70,000 registered or enrolled nurses in New Zealand in 2023..

Ways for new graduates to find their first job

Chances of getting a job as a new graduate are best if you:

• apply for roles through the Advanced Choice of Employment (ACE) programme or the Ministry of Health’s voluntary bonding scheme
• are willing to work in areas of high need as a nurse in aged care, mental health, or community organisations such as Plunket
• are willing to move to parts of New Zealand that need nurses most. 
• Advanced Choice of Employment website - information on ACE
• Ministry of Health website - voluntary bonding scheme

Types of employers varied

About half of nurses are employed by Te Whatu Ora Health NZ. Others work for:

• private hospitals
• doctors' practices, iwi and Pacific organisations, family planning clinics and other community organisations such as Plunket 
• rest homes and nursing homes
• private health trusts and providers
• Immigration New Zealand, Green List, April 2023, (www.immigration.govt.nz).
• Ministry of Health, 'New Zealand's Nursing Workforce the Largest It's Ever Been' (media release), 11 May 2019, (www.health.govt.nz).
• Ministry of Health, 'Sector Update re the Safe Staffing Accord', 27 March 2019, (www.health.govt.nz).
• New Zealand Nurses Organisation, careers.govt.nz interview, October 2019.
• New Zealand Nurses Organisation, 'NZNO Strategy for Nursing 2018-2023', accessed October 2019, (www.nzno.org.nz).
• New Zealand Nurses Organisation, 'Wellbeing Budget Will Require Nurses' (media release), 30 May 2019, (www.nzno.org.nz).
• Nursing Council of New Zealand, 'Annual Report for Year Ending 31 March 2018', accessed October 2019, (www.nursingcouncil.org.nz).
• Nursing Council of New Zealand, careers.govt.nz interview, October 2019.
• Nursing Education in the Tertiary Sector, 'New Graduate Destinations (as at 31 April, 2019) From Graduates (30 November, 2018)', accessed October 2019, (nurseducation.org.nz).
• Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.
• Te Whatu Ora, 'Health Workforce Plan 2023/24', July 2023, (www.tewhatuora.govt.nz).

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information )

Progression and specialisations

Registered nurses may progress to become:

• charge nurses, who manage wards
• clinical nurse educators, who provide further education to trained nurses and staff.

With further training, registered nurses may progress to become nurse practitioners. They diagnose and treat patients, prescribe medicine, and may run their own health clinics.

Registered nurses usually specialise in a role such as:

Nurses assess, support and care for people who are hurt or sick

Related jobs:

Community karitāne karitāne – hapori whānui.

Community karitāne offer support to families with children under the age of five, and provide information on parenting issues such as breastfeeding, infant nutrition, sleeping and child behaviour.

General Practitioner Rata Hauora

General practitioners care for, diagnose and treat the health problems of people and families in the community. 

Health Care Assistant Kaiāwhina Haumanu Hauora/Kaimahi Atawhai

Health care assistants care for people in aged residential care, private homes, hospitals and disability support.

Midwife Tapuhi ā-Whare

Midwives provide care and support to pregnant people, their partners and family/whānau during pregnancy, labour and birth, and for six weeks following the birth.

Related courses:

Hauora (māori health), job vacancy websites:, view a list of job vacancy and recruitment websites.

Last updated 7 December 2023

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How to Become a Nurse in New Zealand (Guide for Foreign Nurses)

Blog   |  Oct. 15, 2021 by 1NURSE

A Report by 1NURSE.COM PTE LTD, Sep 2021

An Overview of Nursing in New Zealand:

The Career Pathway

Salary of Nurses in New Zealand

Working Conditions

How to Apply as a Nurse in New Zealand

Documents to Comply in CGFNS

Nursing is a rewarding career where you can save lives, and at the same time, be well compensated. As nursing is a skilled profession, it is always in demand globally. Are you a foreign nurse from India, Singapore, China, the Philippines, or any part of the world who wants to live and work as a nurse in New Zealand? 

Are you not sure what are the steps to take and requirements to prepare? Don't worry, here at 1NURSE.com , we have gathered all the information you need to know if you want to become a nurse in New Zealand. We are here to help you reach your goals. Read further to know more.

In a nutshell, if you're a foreign nurse who wants to work in New Zealand, you must have/be:

A nursing degree holder that meets that standard of NCNZ

Work experience as a nurse for two years or 2,500 hours (for the past five years)

A registered nurse in your country of origin

Passed the IELTS/OET 

Reasonably physically fit

Must finish a Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) in NZ

Submit the application via the CGFNS International site

In a nutshell, these are the basic requirements to become a nurse in New Zealand. We will share more information about the specifics of eligibility below. 

As an international nurse, you should meet the requirements set by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) . Can you comply with the requirements? Of course, you can. As long as you have the qualifications and meet the standards of NCNZ, you are a step closer to becoming a nurse in New Zealand.

As for registered nurses from Australia who want to work in New Zealand, there is a different process for you. In this post, we'll particularly talk about the requirements of foreign nurses from India, Singapore, China, and the Philippines. 

Section A: The Career Pathway

In New Zealand, there are three scopes of nursing practice. These are Enrolled Nurse , Registered Nurse , and Nurse practitioners . Each scope of nursing has different education requirements, licensing, and scope of practice. However, in this post, we’ll specifically talk about the process for a Registered Nurse. But so you’ll have an idea, here’s what you need to know about the different scope of nursing practices.

Reference:  Scopes of Practice

1. Enrolled Nurses

Enrolled nurses can provide nursing care in the community, residential, or hospital settings as long as under the delegation or a Registered Nurse or Nurse Practitioner. In some parts of the world, an Enrolled Nurse may be called a Nursing Assistant or Practical Nurse. 

Foreign individuals who want to work as an Enrolled Nurse in New Zealand, need to be registered in the overseas regulatory authority of their country of origin. You need to have an international qualification that meets the standards of the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

2. Registered Nurses

Registered Nurses in New Zealand can work in many areas, this includes: 

Aged Care (Nursing Homes)

Mental Health & Addiction Treatment Centers

Primary Care

Intensive Care 

Ambulatory Surgical Center

Clinics (In-patient/Out-patient)

Doctor's Office

Dialysis Facilities

Imaging and Radiology Centers

Orthopaedic Rehabilitation Centers

Birth Centers

Child & Adolescent Nursing

Registered nurses can also progress into careers in different nursing practices, such as nurse researchers, health management, or teaching in a nursing school. Suppose you're an experienced Registered Nurse in New Zealand and have progressed in your job, even foreign nurses.

In that case, you can be promoted to higher positions such as Clinical Nurse Manager or Clinical Nurse Specialist. Even foreign nurses can pursue post-graduate studies (Masters to Doctorate Degree) to open more opportunities for fulfilling careers. 

Also, with the proper qualifications and specialist services, Registered Nurses can prescribe certain medications for some long-term conditions. This is a part of the efforts of the New Zealand government to improve the patient's access to medicine and proper healthcare. Also, to cope with the growing number of New Zealanders who have chronic illnesses. 

3. Nurse Practitioners

To be called a Nurse Practitioner, you need to have four years of continuous work experience in a specific area and complete a clinically-focused Master's degree related to the field. Nurse practitioners have proven their competence and authority beyond the scope of a Registered Nurse. Thus, depending on the field of speciality may work more than the scope of a Registered Nurse, such as:

Differential diagnosis: To order, conduct and interpret diagnostic/laboratory tests

Administer therapies to manage potential or actual patient needs

Prescribe certain medicines within their field of practice

Leadership roles: Consultant, educator, manager, researcher, local and national policy development

Foreign nurses can be Nurse practitioners in New Zealand as long as specific requirements are met as per the standards of the NCNZ. Here is a complete list of academic institutions offering Master of Nursing programs .

Section B: Salary of Nurses in New Zealand

The salary of a Registered Nurse depends on the nurse’s work experience, employer or city where you live in New Zealand. So you can have an idea, here is the estimated annual salary of Registered Nurses in New Zealand, as of 2021.

Section C: Working Conditions

If you work as a Registered Nurse, Enrolled Nurse, or Nurse Practitioner in New Zealand, here’s what you can expect from the working conditions:

Hospital Equipment: Modern and well-equipped hospitals

Working Atmosphere: Friendly and positive working atmosphere

Shifting: Shifts can be 8-12 hours long. This may include nights, weekends, and public holidays just like other nurses globally. 

Immigrant-friendly: New Zealanders are very friendly and hospitable. As of now, 27% of the nurses in the workforce are Internationally Qualified Nurses.

Patient Safety: The patient safety standards of New Zealand is very high. The Health Quality & Safety Commission reported New Zealand for having high standards for patient safety. This is through first-hand patient experiences and surveys. 

Other things to know about the working conditions: You may travel locally to visit some clients, nurses may be on-call (must report to work on short notice), work-life balance. 

Section D: How to Apply as a Nurse in New Zealand

For Internationally Qualified Nurses who wish to work in New Zealand, the first step is to apply the Credentials Verification Service for the Nursing Council of New Zealand (CVS-NCNZ) at CGFNS International, Inc. 

The CGFNS is a secure and direct method for foreign nurses to check if they are eligible and have their requirements verified. The CGFNS then verifies and authenticates all your submitted documents if they satisfy the requirements to become a nurse in New Zealand. 

As soon as all your requirements are verified and authenticated by the CGFNS, the applicant review and authorizes the documents for submission to the NCNZ, it is endorsed to the NCNZ for review. 

Once the NCNZ reviews your eligibility, you are invited to register in the Nursing Council of New Zealand, otherwise known as the Credentials Verification Service for the Nursing Council of New Zealand (CVS–NCNZ).

Remember that application for registration at CVS–NCNZ is required for all foreign nurses educated and licensed outside of New Zealand (except Australia). 

Fees are as follows and what to remember when it comes to payments:

CGFNS Fee: $300 (USD)

NCNZ Registration Application Fee: NZ $485 

CVS Re-activation Order: $120.00 (USD) (If your initial application is not complete within 12 months, your application may expire. You need to reactivate your order.)

Document Translation: $85 USD (per page) . All your documents need to be in English. If your documents are not written in English, you may request CGFNS to facilitate the translation of all your documents to English.

Payment method accepted: Credit card payment (MasterCard, Visa, Discover) 

Note: CGFNS has a no-refund policy. Once your registration is confirmed and payments have been made, the CGFNS does not issue refunds.

To Begin Your Application in CGFNS, click here .

Section E: Documents to Comply in CGFNS

1. identity documents (ids).

You need to submit proof of identity (two valid IDs), one of which must be your passport. So make sure before you apply at CGFNS, you have your passport prepared. You need to submit two clear, scanned, and coloured copies of your ID, which must be notarised, and your IDs must not be expired. The identity documents accepted are:

Passport (required)

Driver’s License(s)

Government-issued ID (with photo)

Birth Certificate

Marriage Certificate

Divorce/Annulment Certificate

2. Employment History / Work Experience

As for your work experience, you should have worked as a nurse for at least two years (or 2,500 hours) for the last five years prior to your registration. If you have not worked for at least two years in the last five years, you can still apply. However, the NCNZ will assess your registration, and this will be subject to approval. 

To increase your chances of approval, it is best to have employment experience in a clinical setting of at least two years. If you haven’t worked as a nurse, unfortunately, you can’t apply to the CVS-NCNZ. You need to request your certificate of employment from your previous and present employer.

3. Education History

You need to submit the records of your education documents (e.g. transcripts, diploma, course description, clinical hours). As you gain access at CVS-NCNZ, you need to download and print the forms that need to be accomplished by your academic institution. Submit all your nursing-related education documents; this may include:

Associates Degree in Nursing

Diploma in Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Post-Entry Level Nursing Education (RN to BSN Programs)

Master’s Degree Programs in Nursing (or Nursing Specialty)

Doctoral/Ph.D. Programs in Nursing (or Nursing Specialty)

Post-Graduate Specialty Nursing Programs (e.g. Nursing Leadership, Palliative Care, Cardiac Nursing)

Nursing-Related Tertiary Level Education (Ex. Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners)

Non-Nursing Education with transfer credit

4. License Validation

To apply as a nurse in New Zealand, you need to be a licensed or registered nurse in the country of your education. You need to have an active license from your country’s Nursing governing body such as:

Philippines: Professional Regulation Commission (PRC)

Singapore: Singapore Nursing Board (SNB)

India by the Indian Nursing Council (INC): Nurse Unique Identification Number (NUID)

South Africa: South African Nursing Council (SANC)

UAE: Department of Health (DOH) or Ministry of Health (MOH) or Dubai Health Authority (DHA)

Note: If you’re an NCLEX passer, submit this document too.

5. Language Proficiency

Since New Zealand is an English-speaking country, you need to prove your reading, writing, listening, and English speaking skills. You need to pass an English proficiency test; either of these two tests should be taken in less than two years and 11 months. You can take either of these tests with the minimum scores: 

Occupational English Test (OET): Minimum score of 350 each (for reading, writing, listening, and speaking)

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Academic Module Only: Minimum of 6.5 for each band (reading, writing, listening, and speaking)

However, there is an exemption. Suppose you studied, practised, or have nursing licenses in countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, or Ireland ; in that case, you are exempted from taking the tests mentioned above. You can ask for a waiver of English Language Proficiency Requirements in the CGFNS. This is upon the approval of NCNZ if you don’t need to take English Proficiency tests.

6. Competency Assessment Programme (CAP)

Once you have registered and approved by the NCNZ, you need to complete a Competency Assessment Programme (CAP) in New Zealand before applying for a job. The next step is to apply for a Fee-Paying Student Visa . Under this type of visa, you need to have an offer in place, which in this case is from the NCNZ. You will be paying the full cost of the CAP.

With CAP, you need to prove that you are competent or have the right skills to work as a nurse in New Zealand.  This is a compulsory requirement consisting of 8-12 weeks of theory and clinical courses. CAPs are offered by accredited nursing schools, district health boards, or district health service providers. 

Here is the updated list of Competence Assessment Programmes (CAP) Approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand:

Reference: Competence Assessment Programmes June 2021.pdf

7. Other Requirements

Other requirements may be asked of you, so it’s better to be prepared rather than cramming at the last second. Here are other requirements you can expect to be asked of you: 

Cover Letter (Written statement of your experience and skills)

Updated Curriculum Vitae or resume (Summarized information of your personal information, educational attainment, qualifications, work experience, skills, at least two reference persons) 

Health declaration (immunization status, COVID-19 vaccination)

Police clearance from your country of origin or Criminal History Check (ICHC)

Section F: FAQs

Do i also need to submit my documents to the ncnz if i passed them to the cgfns.

No, if you passed your requirements to the CFGNS, you don’t need to pass your documents to the NCNZ. The CGFNS verifies, authenticates, and can endorse your documents (upon your approval) to the NCNZ. The NCNZ will not accept the documents if not verified or authenticated by the CGFNS.

Can I Apply Directly to the NCNZ?

If you’re a foreign nurse from the Philippines, Singapore, China, India, or any other country (except Australia), you can’t directly apply to the NCNZ. All Internationally Qualified Nurses must complete the application process of CVS-NCNZ first via the CGFNS. The reports of CGFNS must verify, authenticate and endorse your application to the NCNZ. 

Does CGFNS Decide if I Can Register as a Nurse in New Zealand?

No, CGFNS verifies and authenticates your documents. CGFNS issues a report to the NCNZ and endorses your application. The NCNZ decides if you are an Internationally Qualified Nurse that can work in New Zealand. 

Are You Ready to Work and Live in New Zealand?

Now that you’re aware of the requirements to work as a Registered Nurse in New Zealand, are you ready to change your life? Taking the first step will be the first day of the rest of your life. New Zealand is a beautiful country to live in, work in, start a family, and bring your family. To begin the process, click this link . 

References:

[1] https://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/Nurses/Scopes-of-practice  [2] https://www.jobted.co.nz/salary/registered-nurse [3] https://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/IQN/H4.aspx?WebsiteKey=fa279da8-a3b1-4dad-94af-2a67fe08c81b

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Hundreds of experienced international nurses jobless amid nursing shortage.

Migrant nurses participate in a rally in Palmerston North on 27 April. Photo: Supplied

Hundreds of experienced international nurses from India who are registered to work in New Zealand are reportedly struggling to find jobs amid a nursing shortage.

The nurses, mostly from southern India, are recent graduates of the Competence Assessment Programme (CAP), a mandatory course the Nursing Council formerly asked internationally qualified nurses to complete before working in New Zealand.

In December, the Nursing Council announced that migrants from countries other than the US, UK, Ireland, Singapore, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Ontario would need to pass an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) before working in the country's healthcare sector.

The new assessment, consisting of both theoretical and clinical components, replaced the CAP pathway.

However, internationally qualified nurses who had signed up for a six- to eight-week CAP course at Nursing Council-accredited providers before 4 December were still allowed to be registered via the CAP pathway - even if the course was undertaken during this calendar year.

As a result, hundreds of these registered nurses now find themselves in a bind after failing to secure employment despite graduating from the CAP course.

At the same time, Te Whatu Ora data obtained by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) revealed that more than a quarter of nursing shifts in hospitals fell short of staffing targets in the year leading up to 31 December.

Many of the nurses who are struggling to secure work relocated to New Zealand on a one-year visitor visa to complete the CAP requirements.

"I came to New Zealand with many dreams, but the situation is really bad," said Litty Liju, a nurse with 12 years of experience in the Middle East.

Liju arrived in Palmerston North on a visitor visa to begin a CAP course on 18 February.

"I've applied for more than 500 positions, including hospitals and aged care facilities across both the North and South islands," she said.

Liju said potential employers had declined to sponsor her and, without a work visa, she was stuck in limbo.

She came to New Zealand with her husband and two children aged five and 10, making life especially difficult.

"I cannot send my kids to school and my husband, who is an experienced accountant, is unable to work without a proper visa," Liju said.

Previously employed at the Ministry of Health in Kuwait, Liju said surviving in New Zealand without a job was terrifying.

"I anticipated a short waiting period between finishing the CAP and finding a job, but I never thought it would take this long," she said.

Akhil Venugopal has encountered similar obstacles, with potential employers refusing to offer him work while he is on a visitor visa.

Venugopal, who worked as a surgical nurse for nine years in the Indian city of Bengaluru, also moved to Palmerston North to participate in a CAP course.

"I've applied for more than 400 jobs after finishing the CAP in March," Venugopal said.

He said employers were not willing to sponsor him for work while on a visitor visa.

Venugopal holds a one-year visitor visa but can only stay for six months at a time after entering New Zealand.

"I'm not in a position to buy a ticket home and come back again," he said.

Venugopal has spent about $35,000 on CAP fees, travel costs and living expenses in New Zealand in his bid to secure work.

Saju Cherian is a nurse at Palmerston North Hospital. Photo: Supplied

Although employers have offered Venugopal casual or part-time contracts, he is unable to accept them due to his visitor visa status.

"The biggest challenge for us is the lack of a visa, so we request the authorities to consider giving us at least a short-term job search visa," Venugopal said.

Saju Cherian, a nurse at Palmerston North Hospital and a member of the nurses' organization board, said nurses did not anticipate being without work for four or five months after completing a CAP course.

Cherian conducted an informal survey through social media, which revealed that over 400 nurses were affected similarly in the lower North Island.

"I think there will be at least 1,000 nurses without jobs after their registration in New Zealand right now, if we include the whole country, and more are on the way," he said.

Cherian said it was common for Indian nurses to enter the country on visitor visas to participate in the CAP course.

"CAP is only three months or less, so they don't get any other visas in New Zealand," Cherian said.

The Nursing Council was obligated to register international nurses who have completed a CAP course, regardless of whether they can gain employment in New Zealand, a spokesperson from the council said.

"We acknowledge that it is a very stressful situation for those nurses who have not been able to gain employment after completing a CAP and gaining registration, but it is a situation we have no control over," the spokesperson said.

The Nursing Council said 4084 nurses gained registration after completing a CAP between 1 January and 31 December 2023.

"The council is aware that nurses may complete CAP programmes on a visitor visa," the spokesperson said.

Kerri Nuku, kaiwhakahaere of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation Photo: Nick Tapp

NZNO members rallied across the country on 9 May, calling for additional funds to increase staff numbers.

"The data shows that many shifts fall below targets, indicating that there aren't enough nurses," said Kerri Nuku, kaiwhakahaere of NZNO.

Nuku said reduced staffing levels posed a heightened risk to patient safety and mortality.

Andrew Slater, chief people officer of Health New Zealand, said the figures released by NZNO reflected workforce shortages across New Zealand's health system and overseas.

"The latest data available (as of 31 December 2023) shows we have around 28,200 nursing FTEs (full-time equivalents) across Health NZ," Slater said. "Our vacancy rate for nursing had dropped to 1817 vacancies (or 6.1 percent) as of 31 December 2023.

"These are largely in specific nursing specialist areas, including mental health and addiction services and critical care nurses," he said.

Liju hopes to get a short-term visa to apply for casual jobs so that her family can survive until she gets a permanent job.

"My visa ends in August," she said. "It's a race against time for our family."

• Immigration

Copyright © 2024 , Radio New Zealand

What is IndoNZ?

IndoNZ is a dedicated initiative producing content for and about the diverse Indian community in New Zealand supported by the Public Interest Journalism Fund through NZ On Air. Radio New Zealand is an independent public service multimedia organisation that provides audiences with trusted news and current affairs in accordance with the RNZ Charter . Contact the team by email at [email protected] .

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General election latest: Minister hangs up on Sky's Sam Coates after being told poll has predicted he'll lose his seat

A YouGov poll has predicted an enormous majority for Labour - and several big names Tories to lose their seats. One of them, Grant Shapps, hung up on our deputy political editor Sam Coates after being told live on the phone.

Monday 3 June 2024 19:22, UK

• General Election 2024

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Election news

• Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge is live - watch in stream above
• Bulletin: Catch up on the main news from the campaign trail
• Labour set for biggest majority in 100 years - YouGov poll
• Minister predicted to be voted out hangs up live on Sky News
• The top Tories under threat | Why this poll is a big deal
• Farage to stand at general election | Taking over as Reform leader
• Be in the audience for our election leaders event
• Live reporting by Tim Baker and Brad Young

Expert analysis

• Rob Powell: Farage U-turn is a really significant development
• Adam Boulton: 'Starmtroopers' are purging Labour

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• Trackers: Who's leading polls? | Is PM keeping promises?
• Follow Sky's politics podcasts: Electoral Dysfunction | Politics At Jack And Sam's
• Read more: Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | How to register to vote | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency is changing | Your essential guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

Nigel Farage today announced he was standing to be an MP in Clacton today - his eighth attempt.

Our chief political correspondent Jon Craig has dug out the seven other times Mr Farage has tried to get a seat in Westminster.

The first was in Eastleigh in 1994, then Salisbury in 1997, Bexhill and Battle in 2001, South Thanet in 2005, Bromley and Chislehurst in the 2006 by-election, Buckingham in 2010 and South Thanet in 2015.

He lost all of them.

Clacton, Essex, where he is competing this time, was previously held by UKIP between 2014 and 2017.

Jon says that Mr Farage has made a "canny" choice by picking the seaside to stand, as it's the kind of place Reform should expect to do well.

It has a large population over 65 and not many graduates.

However, the Conservatives do have a majority of close to 25,000 - so it will be a big contest.

The other candidates announced for Clacton are:

• Matthew Bensilum, Liberal Democrats;
• Natasha Osben, Green Party;
• Jovan Owusu-Nepaul, Labour Party;
• Giles Watling, Conservatives.

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates says YouGov is "putting its reputation on the line" with the poll we're discussing tonight.

It's projecting a historic majority for Labour, and a devastating result for the Conservatives and SNP.

So what makes it different to the plethora we've had already? 

Well, this one is done with the MRP method.

MRP stands for the somewhat word salad-y "Multi-level Regression and Post-stratification".

In simple terms, this is how it works:

• YouGov asks lots of people, across the country, how they intend to vote. It also asks them questions about who they are so they can paint a picture of the voter;
• The pollsters use these pictures to know which characteristics match with someone voting a certain way - this is the regression bit;
• YouGov then combines this with a second piece of information it has - a breakdown of all the constituencies and the kinds of people who live in each one;
• These portraits of how people vote - based on where they live, gender, age and many other factors - are matched with the descriptions of all the different constituencies to produce an estimate for how each seat intends to vote. This is the stratification;
• From there, YouGov provides the estimate of how the general election could turn out.

A huge number of people are asked for their opinions to build up the pictures used in MRP, which makes it more representative.

It's why tonight's poll has Tory MPs quite so nervous - and you can watch Sam break it down in full below:

Two huge stories from the world of British politics this afternoon will be the focus of tonight's  Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge .

If you need a catch-up before we dive into an hour of interviews and analysis, we've got you covered.

First our deputy political editor Sam Coates reports on Labour's possible historic landslide, with a YouGov poll projecting a 194-seat majority.

It would be the highest number of seats of any party at any election since Stanley Baldwin won a majority of 208 in 1924.

Sam says some Tory MPs are "panicking" about this poll tonight.

And then there's Nigel Farage.

Our political reporter Jennifer Scott has the latest on his decision to run for parliament again - two weeks after saying he wouldn't.

He's also become leader of Reform UK, replacing Richard Tice.

Our weeknight politics show  Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge  is live now on Sky News.

The fast-paced programme dissects the inner workings of Westminster, with interviews, insights, and analysis - bringing you, the audience, into the corridors of power.

Sophy will be hearing from  Defence Secretary Grant Shapps  to offer the Tories' response to Labour's commitment to the UK's nuclear deterrent earlier today.

For Labour, we'll hear from  shadow minister   Nick Thomas-Symonds .

And we'll also get the thoughts of  Sky News' election analyst Professor Michael Trasher  on a landmark YouGov poll predicting a huge Labour majority and crushing Tory wipeout at the election.

On Sophy's panel tonight are:

• Chris Wilkins , former director of strategy for Theresa May;
• Theo Bertram , ex-adviser to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Watch live on Sky News, in the stream at the top of this page, and follow live updates here in the Politics Hub.

Watch  Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge  from Monday to Thursday on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the  Sky News website  and  app  or on  YouTube .

 Our weeknight politics show  Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge  will be live on Sky News from 7pm.

Sophy will be hearing from Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to offer the Tories' response to Labour's commitment to the UK's nuclear deterrent earlier today.

For Labour, we'll hear from shadow minister Nick Thomas-Symonds .

And we'll also get the thoughts of Sky News' election analyst Professor Michael Trasher on a landmark YouGov poll predicting a huge Labour majority and crushing Tory wipeout at the election.

Watch  Politics Hub  from 7pm every night during the election campaign on Sky channel 501, Virgin channel 602, Freeview channel 233, on the  Sky News website  and  app  or on  YouTube .

Patrick English, an expert from YouGov, has spoken to Sophy Ridge about the results of his organisation's poll.

If you missed it, it's predicting Sir Keir Starmer will become prime minister with a majority of 194 seats ( read more ).

It would be a "historic result", says Mr English

Though he notes developments like the announcement of Nigel Farage as a candidate today ( read more here ) - not account for in the polling - will have an impact on the results.

He also highlights the scale of the analysis - with almost 60,000 people having spoken to YouGov in the last week.

And the views of these people lead YouGov to think there will be a "supermajority".

The Conservatives would crash to a "terrible defeat" in the kind of result "we've not seen in British politics for a long, long time".

He notes the impact not just of a Labour revival in the Red Wall, but Reform in other Leave-voting areas and the Lib Dems in traditionally safe Tory seats in the south of England.

Our deputy political editor Sam Coates has a stacked contacts book - and was interrupted on air just now by none other than the defence secretary, Grant Shapps. 

The timing couldn't have been better - it came just as Sam was reporting on a YouGov poll predicting a huge majority for Labour and several Tory big beasts losing their seats, including Mr Shapps. 

"Hello Grant Shapps, you're live on Sky News - I'm in the studio with Sophy Ridge," said Sam. 

He revealed he was on course to lose his seat - and Mr Shapps promptly hung up. 

Fear not, we'll be hearing from him properly later - he's a guest on tonight's Politics Hub With Sophy Ridge from 7pm.

It's just about dinner time - and wow have we had a busy day today.

You can catch up with the latest Daily Podcast here - it's all about a landmark election poll predicting a huge majority for Labour: 

Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

If you want a fuller rundown, here is today's main news:

• A YouGov poll predicted Labour will win a supermajority of 194 seats - with the Conservatives routed to just 140 MPs;
• Tory ministers are among those who could lose their seat - including the defence secretary, Grant Shapps, who hung up on our deputy political editor Sam Coates when he was told live on air ;
• Just before this poll was published, Nigel Farage announced he was standing to be an MP for Reform UK - U-turning on his previous stance of not contesting;
• As political correspondent Rob Powell says, Mr Farage doesn't just have his eye on this election but the years ahead ;
• This morning, Labour  was pitching itself as the "party of defence"   as it pledged to build new nuclear submarines;
• And the Conservatives were campaigning on reforming the Equalities Act, including wanting to protect single sex toilets;
• Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch also said trans athletes may have to compete with their biological sex ;
• In slightly lighter news, the prime minister revealed his preferred Nando's order - with a surprise inclusion in the sides .
• Elsewhere, the SNP said there was no need for the UK to have a nuclear deterrent , in response to the Labour announcement;
• The Liberal Democrats sabotaged Rishi Sunak as he held a campaign event;
• Meanwhile, political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh outlined the difficulties facing Sir Keir Starmer over Jeremy Corbyn; 

Here are a couple of other stories that may interest you:

Our essential political podcast,  Politics At Jack And Sam's , is going out every week day through the election campaign to bring a short burst of everything you need to know about the day ahead as this election unfolds - here is today's edition .

Tap here to follow Politics At Jack At Sam's wherever you get your podcasts .

Stick with us for all the latest throughout the afternoon.

Nigel Farage's bid to become MP for Clacton, Essex, "could not have been much worse for the Conservatives" and may have a significant impact beyond the election, says political correspondent  Rob Powell.

His profile "is only bad for the Tories, and frankly, only good for Labour".

But Mr Farage appeared to have his eyes not only on the next four weeks when announcing his candidacy, but on the next five years.

Should Labour win, and the Tories endure a "crushing defeat", but Farage himself ends up in parliament, there could be a "loud and controversial, but also influential, voice on the right of politics".

That could then end up shaping what the Tory party ends up looking like post-election, potentially shifting further to the right.

Farage's influence set to grow

As for the next four weeks, Mr Farage's announcement will increase his influence during the election campaign.

"Not only is he announcing that he will run for a Westminster seat, he is announcing that he will take over as Reform leader as well, which clearly gives him a lot more media exposure," says Rob.

"It means he will be involved in debates and in people's newspapers and on people's TV screens.

"I think this is a really significant development."

With YouGov predicting a rout of the Conservative Party, it is worth digging into which famous faces could be finished.

They could follow in the footsteps of Michael Portillo, who was famously unseated in 1997.

He was a Tory cabinet minister, beaten by Labour's candidate in Enfield as Tony Blair swept to power.

Below is who is at risk this time:

• Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor;
• Grant Shapps, the defence secretary;
• Penny Mordaunt, the Commons leader;
• Victoria Prentis, the attorney general;
• Alex Chalk, the justice secretary;
• David TC Davies, the Welsh secretary;
• Johnny Mercer, the veterans minister;
• Steve Baker, the Northern Ireland minister;
• Bim Afolami, a Treasury minister;
• Lee Rowley, a housing minister.

Our deputy political editor  Sam Coates   takes us through the potential results:

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