Anne Nightingale

Jocelyn Peach
Jun 17
3 min read

Retired Midwife Leader

Registered General and Obstetric Nurse [RGON], Registered Midwife. CBE

Anne Therese Nightingale was born 2 March 1932 in Pukekohe, Auckland region, the daughter of Cecil Roderigue Nightingale (1904-1968) and Mary Anastasia Nightingale (née Courtney, 1900-1981). She was educated in Wellsford and at St Mary’s College in Auckland. She prepared as a registered general and obstetric nurse at Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Auckland 1950-1953. She worked as a registered nurse before transferring to St Helens Hospital, Pitt Street, Auckland City in 1957 where she completed her midwifery training [St Helens opened 1906]. She then worked in the Dunedin Maternity Annex as a supervisor from 1957-1962. She then travelled to work in London, part-time at the Forrest Gate Hospital from 1963-1967 and with the Royal College of Midwives 1964-1966. On her return to New Zealand, she worked at St Helens Hospital as a supervisor from 1967-1969 and then a tutor 1969-1972. She was appointed as a Nursing Service Officer at Auckland Hospital 1972-1973. In 1973 she was appointed as Principal Nurse at St Helens in Mt Albert [64 beds. 28A Linwood Ave, Mt Albert, opened 15 February 1968]. The School of Midwifery closed in 1979, having trained 1445 midwives. St Helen’s Hospital closed on 12 June 1990, the last of the seven St Helen’s Hospitals to be closed. Services were transferred to the existing National Women’s Hospital on the Greenlane campus. When St Helens closed, more than 105,500 mothers had given birth there. Three matrons managed this hospital while it was in Mt Albert: Joan Coles (who had been Matron at Pitt St); Win Perkinson; Anne Nightingale (1932-2025).

A significant challenge for Miss Nightingale was in 1987 when she was asked to assume a lead role for St Helens and National Womens Hospital as womens health services manager. The article published in Metro titled ‘An unfortunate experiment at National Women’s Hospital’ required strong and careful management as an inquiry was activated led by Judge Cartwright, relating to into the allegations concerning the treatment of cervical cancer at National Women’s Hospital. Miss Nightingale worked hard with the Board and management team, especially in communication of the actions and addressing the implementation of the recommendations. She also supported the planning, communication and monitoring the transfer of St Helens to the National Womens Hospital building and closure of St Helens.

Miss Nightingale was then confirmed as the Central Auckland Maternity Services district health manager in 1990 [working with Dr Ray Naden from the Auckland Area Health Board (AAHB), Sally Haig from the West, Sam Denny from the North Shore and Anne Nightingale from Central Auckland]. She worked until retirement in this position as maternity services were changed, moving from the Green Lane site to National Women's Health at Auckland City Hospital October 2004.

Anne Nightingale was also actively involved in a range of national professional issues. She was involved with SANS (School of Advanced Nursing Studies) and its influence on the quality of education under the professional vision of Beatrice Salmon. She was on the Auckland Council of New Zealand Nurses Association from 1970-1975 then president from 1971-1975. She was chair of Nursing Council of New Zealand 1975-1984. She contributed to the Maternity Task Force report in 1989. She participated in discussions regarding changes in nursing and midwifery education from hospitals to Polytechnics. Anne assisted with the lobbying and implementation of changes to the Nurses Amendment Act 1990 which reintroduced autonomous midwifery practice in New Zealand. The Act separated midwifery from nursing, reiterating that midwifery is a separate and distinct profession, with specific expertise and training. The Act provided statutory recognition for midwives as “safe and competent practitioners in their own right.” Ann was interviewed for two oral history reflections: Neonatal Nursing Oral History Project [with Penelope Dunkley, 1991]; NZ Nursing Education and Research Foundation: the transfer of nursing education from hospitals to polytechnics [with Louise Rummel, 1994].

On retirement, Miss Nightingale continued to be interested in midwifery issues, was a wonderful aunt and great aunt. She was an active member of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Mt Albert. She died on 14 March, 2025. Her significant lifetime contribution was acknowledged.