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Nursing Workforce Losses and Barriers to Student Nurse Employment

Hannah H made this Official Information request to Simeon Brown

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From: Hannah H

Dear Simeon Brown,

I am seeking information relating to the nursing workforce, including both registered nurses and student nurses, across Health New Zealand districts over the most recent 12-month period available.

This request is made in the context of ongoing discussion around workforce shortages, training pipelines, and service pressures within the public health system.

Specifically, I would be grateful for:

1. The number of registered nurses who have left employment in each district / former DHB area over the past 12 months (including resignations, retirements, and other separations).

2. The total FTE represented by those departing nurses in each district / former DHB area.

3. The number of new registered nurse appointments in each district / former DHB area over the same period.

4. Any available data comparing nurse departures to new appointments (i.e. net workforce change) by district.

5. The number of student nurses (including final-year students or graduate nurses) employed or placed within each district / former DHB area over the same period, including any structured programmes (e.g. NETP or equivalent).

6. Any internal reporting or analysis summarising trends in nursing workforce attrition, recruitment, or student nurse integration over this period.

Yours faithfully,

Hannah H

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From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Simeon Brown

Thank you for contacting the Hon Simeon Brown, Minister of Health,
Minister for State Owned Enterprises, and Minister for Auckland.

If the topic of your correspondence falls outside of the Minister's
portfolio responsibilities, expresses a personal view, or is copied to
multiple Members of Parliament, then your email will be noted, and it may
be transferred to another Minister’s office, or there may be no further
response to you.

If your correspondence is related to a constituent matter, please get in
touch with the Minister’s electorate team by email
at[1][email address]

 

If it’s a medical emergency – call 111

This can include chest pain or tightness, difficulty breathing, choking,
severe bleeding or bleeding that won’t stop, sudden weakness or difficulty
talking, fainting or unconsciousness.

 

Associate Health Ministers

Please note that all emails are read, however please do not expect a
response from this office if your email relates to the below matters as
these responsibilities are delegated to Associate Ministers of Health.

·       Hon Matt Doocey, Minister for Mental Health and Associate Minister
of Health. If your matter relates to mental health, neurodiversity,
nutrition, or rural health, you can contact Hon Doocey by emailing
[2][email address].

·       Hon Casey Costello, Associate Minister of Health. If your matter
relates to emergency services, women’s health, aged care, or smoking and
vaping, you can contact Hon Costello by emailing
[3][email address].

·       Hon David Seymour, Associate Minister of Health. If your matter
relates to Pharmac, Medsafe, or medicines funding and supply, you can
contact Hon Seymour by emailing [4][email address].

Further delegations details of Associate Ministers of Health can be found
[5]here.

Other health support and services

·       Healthline – call free on 0800 611 116

·       If you’re concerned or not sure about something

·       If you can’t access a GP or you don’t have one

·       For advice about what’s happening for you and next steps

·       If you want advice on finding services near you visit
[6]Healthpoint.

·       If you want information on COVID-19, call the COVID-19 Healthline
on 0800 358 5453.

·       If you are feeling stressed, a bit overwhelmed or just need
someone to talk to Freecall or text 1737 any time for support from a
trained counsellor.

·       Call the Vaccination Healthline for information about COVID-19,
flu, MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), Boostrix (whooping cough) on 0800
28 29 26 8AM – 5:30PM Monday to Friday.

·       You can also visit: [7]bookmyvaccine.health.nz.

·       If you or your family are not happy with public health services
received, you can [8]contact Health New Zealand.

·       If you would like to raise a complaint about a health and
disability service,  you can also [9]contact the Health and Disability
Commissioner.

 

References

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1. mailto:[email address]
2. mailto:[email address]
3. mailto:[email address]
4. mailto:[email address]
5. http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-uni...
6. https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/
7. https://bookmyvaccine.health.nz/
8. https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate...
9. https://www.hdc.org.nz/making-a-complain...

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From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Simeon Brown

Dear Hannah,

Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 19th March 2026, in which you requested the following information:

"1. The number of registered nurses who have left employment in each district / former DHB area over the past 12 months (including resignations, retirements, and other separations).

2. The total FTE represented by those departing nurses in each district / former DHB area.

3. The number of new registered nurse appointments in each district / former DHB area over the same period.

4. Any available data comparing nurse departures to new appointments (i.e. net workforce change) by district.

5. The number of student nurses (including final-year students or graduate nurses) employed or placed within each district / former DHB area over the same period, including any structured programmes (e.g. NETP or equivalent).

6. Any internal reporting or analysis summarising trends in nursing workforce attrition, recruitment, or student nurse integration over this period."

Your request will be answered within the provisions of the Official Information Act.

Kind regards,
Office of Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Health, Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Minister for Auckland

Email: [email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

show quoted sections

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From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Simeon Brown

Dear Hannah

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act), received by this Office on 19 March 2026.

I am writing to advise you that the information you have requested is not held by this Office but is believed to be held by Health New Zealand. Accordingly, your request is being transferred to Health New Zealand under section 14(b)(i) of the Act. You can expect to receive a response from Health New Zealand in due course.

Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review this decision. The Ombudsman may be contacted by email at [email address] or by calling 0800 802 602.

Kind regards,

Office of Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Health, Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Minister for Auckland
Email: [email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

show quoted sections

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From: hnzOIA

Tçnâ koe,

 

Thank you for your email. 

 

Under the Official Information Act (OIA), agencies are required to respond
to requests for official information as soon as reasonably practicable and
no later than 20 working days after receiving them.

If your request is for data that Health NZ holds, have you checked
[1]Lighthouse first to see if the data you are seeking is already
published?

 

Lighthouse is a searchable catalogue that makes a range of data and
analytics products available to New Zealanders to enable easier, faster
access to insights about health services.

 

You can find further information about how OIA timeframes are calculated,
including the Ombudsman’s OIA calculator, at the link below:
[2]Official information calculators | Ombudsman New Zealand

 

We will provide a response to your request in line with the statutory
timeframes set out in the OIA.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

 

Ngâ mihi,
Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora

Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message

References

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https://www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/for-healt...
2. https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlo...
https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/agen...

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From: Hannah H

Dear Simeon Brown,

I am seeking information relating to advice and information provided to you regarding the nursing workforce, including workforce losses and barriers to student nurse employment, during the 2026 calendar year to date.

Specifically, I request

1. Copies of any briefings, reports, memos, or aide-mémoires provided to you by Health New Zealand during 2026 relating to:
- nursing workforce attrition or shortages
- recruitment of registered nurses
- employment or placement of student nurses or graduate nurses

2. Any advice provided to you in 2026 regarding barriers to employing or placing student nurses or graduate nurses within Health New Zealand.

3. Any information provided to you in 2026 regarding mismatches between nursing workforce shortages and the availability of trained or training nurses.

4. Any briefings or reports provided to you in 2026 that identify risks, constraints, or system pressures relating to nursing workforce capacity.

5. Any Cabinet papers, briefings, or summaries you have received in 2026 relating to nursing workforce planning or pipeline issues.

Yours sincerely,
Hannah H

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From: hnzOIA


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Attachment HNZ00202004 Response 16 04 2026.pdf
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Attachment HNZ00202004 Appendix one.xlsx
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Attachment HNZ00202004 Appendix two.xlsx
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Kia ora Hannah 
 
Thank you for your email on 19 March 2026 which was transferred to us on
25 March 2026 from the office of Hon. Simeon Brown requesting information
regarding the nursing workforce. 
 
Please find attached our response to your request.
 
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][email address]
 
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
 
 

Ngā mihi

Kathleen
Government Services
[3][email address]   

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

Statement of confidentiality: This email message and any accompanying
attachments may contain information that is IN-CONFIDENCE and subject to
legal privilege. If you are not the intended recipient, do not read, use,
disseminate, distribute or copy this message or attachments. If you have
received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and
delete this message

References

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3. mailto:[email address]

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