Nurses' pay equity
Interim pay equity rates have been rolled out increasing pay for most nurses by more than 14% putting NZ nurses on rates comparable with Australia.
Pātiki and Waharua Kōpito patterns
On this page
- Background and interim pay equity changes
- Download the ERA's decision
- Download the Agreement in Principle and the new pay scales
- Interim Pay Equity Payment Application Form for Previous Employees
- FAQs
- Examples of Agreement in Principle pay rates
- How the new pay rates compare to Australia
- Australia pay rates in 2023
Background and interim pay equity changes
Te Whatu Ora reached a Pay Equity Agreement in Principle with the NZNO in March 2022, however the agreement has now been challenged in the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) and the Employment Court.
When it became clear the court and authority action could take until 2024 to resolve, Te Whatu Ora applied to the ERA to fix interim rates, based on the 2021 Agreement in Principle. The ERA provided Te Whatu Ora with the Order to pay the interim rates in December of 2022.
As a result the interim pay rates have been implemented (with the effective date of 7 March 2022) for around 34,000 registered and enrolled nurses and health care assistants in New Zealand.
Download: Download the ERA's decision - PDF, 1.2 MB
The Employment Relations Authority's Interim fixing determination dated 14 December 2022
Download: Download the Agreement in Principle and the new pay scales - PDF, 521 KB
Nurses pay equity bargaining Agreement in Principle 22 December 2021 between the NZNO, NZPSA, and DHBs
FAQs
Read our latest FAQs. These are updated regularly, so check back often.
Examples of Agreement in Principle pay rates
At the time of implementation, the top rates in the Agreement in Principle for the different nursing pay scales. A copy of the Agreement in Principle and this information can be found here.
The table below sets out the top rates in the Agreement in Principle for the different nursing pay scales. A copy of the Agreement in Principle and this information can be found here.
How the new pay rates compare to Australia
At the time of implementation, the new pay rates will make NZNO pay rates for Te Whatu Ora-employed public hospital nursing staff comparable to the rates in Australian state-level awards or enterprise agreements.
The new pay rates will make NZNO pay rates for Te Whatu Ora-employed public hospital nursing staff on a par with the rates in Australian state-level awards or enterprise agreements.
Australia pay rates in 2023
We’ve updated this comparison to compare the rates against current Australian salary rates.
Registered Nurse Salary Rates
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand ($NZD) | Victoria ($AUD) | New South Wales ($AUD) | Queensland ($AUD) | ||
| Source | Interim Pay Equity Order (Dec 2022) | Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Sector) (Single Interest Employer) Enterprise Agreement 2020-2024 | Public Health System Nurses' and Midwives' (State) Award 2022 | Nurses & Midwives (Queensland Health & Dept. of Education) Certified Agreement (EB11) | ||
| Effective date | from 7 March 2022 | from 1 December 2022 | from 1 July 2022 | from 1 April 2023 | ||
| annual | weekly | annual | weekly | annual | annual | |
| Step 1 (Entry) | $66,570 | $1,298.60 | $67,713 | $1,290.90 | $67,311 | $80,342 |
| Step 2 | $72,061 | $1,371.80 | $71,530 | $1,360.90 | $70,961 | $84,120 |
| Step 3 | $76,554 | $1,444.90 | $75,341 | $1,431.20 | $74,627 | $87,903 |
| Step 4 | $80,883 | $1,523.30 | $79,429 | $1,506.50 | $78,553 | $91,680 |
| Step 5 | $89,868 | $1,601.20 | $83,491 | $1,581.30 | $82,454 | $95,469 |
| Step 6 | $92,563 | $1,677.00 | $87,444 | $1,655.70 | $86,333 | $99,265 |
| Step 7 | $95,340 | $1,762.70 | $91,912 | $1,740.90 | $90,776 | $103,053 |
| Step 8 | $1,834.30 | $95,646 | $1,812.40 | $94,504 | ||