Underpaid Nurses to Deliver Petition

17th November, 2003.

Underpaid Nurses to Deliver Petition

A delegation of members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation will present a petition to the Associate Minister of Health, Ruth Dyson, at Parliament steps on Wednesday 19th November.

The petition calls on the government to allocate money in Budget 2004 to DHBs, specifically targeted to nurses’ pay.

The petition is signed by NZNO members employed in DHBs.

21 NZNO members, representing NZNO members in the 21 DHBs will present the petitions.

- Presentation of NZNO members’ petition
- Parliament Steps
- 1.15pm, Wednesday 19 November
- Attached: Fact Sheet on Nurses’ Pay

For more information: Geoff Annals, CEO, NZNO, (04) 931 6703 or 0274 434 193
or Lyndy McIntyre, NZNO Communications (04) 931 6725 or 027 294 7624

Nurses’ Pay – The Facts
Nurses' Pay compared to Teachers and Police (March 2003)

Entry Fifth Year Top of Scale
Secondary School Teacher Base Pay $37,323 $47,453 $56,393

Registered Nurse Base Pay $31,592 $41,466 $42,826

Registered Nurse Total Base Pay * Penal Payments** $35,509 $47,437 $48,992

Police Constable Total
(base, penal pay and superannuation)
$46,125 $58,392 $66,400

* Base pay is the median of all DHB general nurse agreements
** Penal Payments are based on the average for Auckland District Health Board

New Zealand Nurses' Pay Compared to Overseas
(adjusted for purchasing power)

New Graduate 5th Year Top of scale
Canada $47,086 $54,342 $61,803
UK $42,188 $49,012 $54,596
NZ (median nurse pay, August 2003) $31,592 $41,466 $42,826

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