Fellows of College of Nursing Taskforce Meeting Notes 24 July 2026

Attended:         

Jenny Carryer, Andrew Jull, Kate Weston, Sandy Bayliss, Jocelyn Peach, Helen Snell

Wendy Blair, Catherine Cook, Jill Wilkinson

Apologies: Josephine Davis, Sanda McDonald

DNA: Nicolette Sheridan, Helen Hamer, Sue Adams, Chelsea, Sue Gasgoine, Rachel Webster, Chelsea Willmott, Mark Jones, Maree Sheard

Discussion

1	New Business
1.1	Revitalising the group Discussion about keeping momentum. Attendance has been variable for some meetings with a core of people involved in group activity only.  Seeking input that is fresh, meaningful and realistic in the current environment. 1.     Increase email circulation of items of interest (ask group to share key documents of relevance). 2.     Remind the group to actively brief all of us or some of us depending on the issue.  Information sharing is critical and the more all of us know the better. Knowledge is power – sharing of context important issues critical to keep ahead of issues in current sociopolitical environment. 3.     Meeting frequency – continue monthly. Try and increase attendance and participation   Some frustration about effort to provide feedback that is not included in final decisions.	Ideas welcome
1.2	Nominations to advisory groups Review of membership on key ministerial advisory groups. Referenced on-line details. No change. No nurses or allied health members, except for Pacific Nurse Practitioner expert. It is not clear how decisions  ·       Health Workforce Committee (HWC) ·       Aged Care Ministerial Advisory Group ·       Primary Care Advisory Group ·       Pacific Expert Advisory Group (MOH) Nominations were made. Four people were contacted but have not been followed through after initial acknowledgement.	Nil further at this point
1.3	Current documents for interest ·       NEA Manifesto – good content and prioritise ·       NCNZ GEN project participation: Research Participants - Advanced Practice Pathways for Graduate Entry Nurses (GEN) project ·       Editorial circulated: ‘Discrediting science as “ideology”: when evidence becomes politically inconvenient’ by Belinda Loring, Papaarangi Reid, Rawiri McKree Jansen, Rhys Jones. New Zealand Medical Journal July 2026.  Kate has had some challenge to the communication of concern about political appointments for NCNZ.
1.4	Kate advised that the College plans a conference in Christchurch in 2027 – May 12th and 13th.  Focus on leadership, wellbeing.
1.5	Names of senior nurses so that we can network – collated list of District Chief Nurses, Polytechnic and University. * below	Jos to collate
2	Matters Arising
2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4	Cultural Safety and Scope of Practice – work continues Specialist Nurse Practitioner – paper highly regarded. Sent to Health NZ CEO and Chief Nurse. Document to be published in Te Puawai. New Graduate funding – no new information. See table below * RN Prescribers – NCNZ is consulting on proposed changes. Concern that notice of feedback given
2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8	RFP and hospital/service Nurse Practitioner programmes – Kate, Chelsea and Helen discussed national issues with Chief Nurse and team - to express concern. Examples given of district issues as variance is not well understood. Advanced practice is under threat – nursing has the power to shape advanced practice. ‘Health is a political issue and ethical practice’. Funding of school nurses and needs of Child and Adolescence – Sue G and Jos to continue to connect with Aged Care – Suggest a small group if meet with Tracey Martin, Chief Executive Aged Care Association. Anna Blackwell to be included. Submission – ·       Removal of ethnicity-based criteria for diabetes medicine – completed ·       HPCAA Bill – waiting for the opportunity. Likely to have a short submission period if before the election. Key points to be circulated so that individuals can put in individual submissions.

NEW GRADUATE FUNDING  Health NZ roles

Target – around 1,800 graduate RNs offered roles by 30 June 2026:

• 1695 offers made to candidates

  • 1660 offers accepted by candidates (475 mid-year, and 1185 end of year)

  • 35 declines

• 105 remaining to target of 1,800 offers made

179 candidates have accepted offers via ACE from private employers across the mid-year and end of year cohorts (including roles in PHOs, ARC, and private hospitals).

In total, 1839 offers have been accepted during the 2025/26 financial year to date. Not including PCTAP

PCTAP:

Employer Funding Approval

·       293 graduate nurses have been employed

·       Of these 246 are Urban 47 are Rural

·       The table below provides a full breakdown of the applications and status’

 Senior Nurse Names: