Nursing in New Zealand
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3
Nursing in New Zealand
Hello everybody!
This is my first post. I was wondering whether there were any ex-pat nurses living in NZ who could give me an idea of the current salary available. I am a band 7 Senior Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health. I've heard that salaries are lower than in the U.K. and, if this is true, is this offset by cheaper cost of living?
Thank you!
This is my first post. I was wondering whether there were any ex-pat nurses living in NZ who could give me an idea of the current salary available. I am a band 7 Senior Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health. I've heard that salaries are lower than in the U.K. and, if this is true, is this offset by cheaper cost of living?
Thank you!
#2
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
Hello everybody!
This is my first post. I was wondering whether there were any ex-pat nurses living in NZ who could give me an idea of the current salary available. I am a band 7 Senior Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health. I've heard that salaries are lower than in the U.K. and, if this is true, is this offset by cheaper cost of living?
Thank you!
This is my first post. I was wondering whether there were any ex-pat nurses living in NZ who could give me an idea of the current salary available. I am a band 7 Senior Nurse Practitioner in Mental Health. I've heard that salaries are lower than in the U.K. and, if this is true, is this offset by cheaper cost of living?
Thank you!
http://http://www.nzno.org.nz/groups...on_information
#3
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
Not sure why the hyperlink doesn't work but here is the cut and paste version
http://www.nzno.org.nz/groups/health_sectors/dhb/meca_ratification_information
Also on cost of living there is many threads in here about it (don't mention cucumbers whatever you do) to summise what I've gathered from them (and my mother in law who lives out there) it's expensive for most things
Last edited by inkedneonurse; Jan 26th 2017 at 7:59 am.
#4
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
Hi there,
I found my salary to be slightly better than the UK, but
I worked in specialist palliative care. Cost of living is generally very high - rent, food, power etc, with only petrol cheaper.
I would say, however, that in many cases irrespective of current experience and banding, you end up having to start on a lower grade if you dont have NZ experience. They are particularly hot on this.
I found my salary to be slightly better than the UK, but
I worked in specialist palliative care. Cost of living is generally very high - rent, food, power etc, with only petrol cheaper.
I would say, however, that in many cases irrespective of current experience and banding, you end up having to start on a lower grade if you dont have NZ experience. They are particularly hot on this.
#5
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
Hi there,
I found my salary to be slightly better than the UK, but
I worked in specialist palliative care. Cost of living is generally very high - rent, food, power etc, with only petrol cheaper.
I would say, however, that in many cases irrespective of current experience and banding, you end up having to start on a lower grade if you dont have NZ experience. They are particularly hot on this.
I found my salary to be slightly better than the UK, but
I worked in specialist palliative care. Cost of living is generally very high - rent, food, power etc, with only petrol cheaper.
I would say, however, that in many cases irrespective of current experience and banding, you end up having to start on a lower grade if you dont have NZ experience. They are particularly hot on this.
#6
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
After 15 years of A&e/general surgery, i started back in a nursing home on $26/hr, which was higher than most were paid. Is tough to start with without NZ experience, which isnt needed, they just prefer it � ����
#8
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
You can make it work if you want to. So sometimes you just have to accept the backward moves as part of the process. Sometimes kiwis can be scared of some that have experience and qualifications beyond theirs, but for me was worth the pain. Good luck.
#9
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
Thanks everybody!
I e-mailed the NZNO directly and they sent a link to a 100-page document outlining recent agreements between District Health Boards (it's as exciting as it sounds - a real page-turner!) http://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/yawn.gif
Salaries appear to be fairly similar to current Agenda For Change.
Anyway, here it is...(hope the link works!)
[URL="http://www.nzno.org.nz/Portals/0/Files/Documents/Support/CA/DHB%20MECA%2024%20Aug%202015%20-%2031%20July%202017WEB.pdf"]
I e-mailed the NZNO directly and they sent a link to a 100-page document outlining recent agreements between District Health Boards (it's as exciting as it sounds - a real page-turner!) http://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/yawn.gif
Salaries appear to be fairly similar to current Agenda For Change.
Anyway, here it is...(hope the link works!)
[URL="http://www.nzno.org.nz/Portals/0/Files/Documents/Support/CA/DHB%20MECA%2024%20Aug%202015%20-%2031%20July%202017WEB.pdf"]
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2013
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 570
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
I am an expat nurse who works in Mental Health -when I emigrated I had just under 2 years experience and the DHB I came to work for credited that to me in terms of salary banding so they can do that.
Top salary band for most ward nurses excluding charge nurse managers would be about $66000 a year but that is just base rate. If you include penal rates (time and quarter for anything between 8pm and 7am, double time at weekends and public holidays and for ANY overtime) and you get a pretty decent salary.
You can add to that by completing a PDRP - which is basically a way of proving your level of competence in your speciality. There are various levels, Competent, Proficient, Expert and I think Leadership which each come with additional money on top of your base salary.
If you work in community then you can get additional salary banding on top (Steps 6-9 I think) but I'm unsure of what you need to do to earn those. I'm just about to go into a community job so I should know soon.
I have found almost every nurse to be very welcoming and supportive. The only exception was one snotty new grad who thought that my being qualified in mental health rather than general nursing meant I wasn't as good as she was. Everyone else has been awesome and I feel completely part of my team.
The MECA is due for re-negotiation this year and we will likely secure further pay rises. The Doctors have recently carried out strike action for better conditions so I'm hoping the DHBs will be in a mood to talk.
Top salary band for most ward nurses excluding charge nurse managers would be about $66000 a year but that is just base rate. If you include penal rates (time and quarter for anything between 8pm and 7am, double time at weekends and public holidays and for ANY overtime) and you get a pretty decent salary.
You can add to that by completing a PDRP - which is basically a way of proving your level of competence in your speciality. There are various levels, Competent, Proficient, Expert and I think Leadership which each come with additional money on top of your base salary.
If you work in community then you can get additional salary banding on top (Steps 6-9 I think) but I'm unsure of what you need to do to earn those. I'm just about to go into a community job so I should know soon.
I have found almost every nurse to be very welcoming and supportive. The only exception was one snotty new grad who thought that my being qualified in mental health rather than general nursing meant I wasn't as good as she was. Everyone else has been awesome and I feel completely part of my team.
The MECA is due for re-negotiation this year and we will likely secure further pay rises. The Doctors have recently carried out strike action for better conditions so I'm hoping the DHBs will be in a mood to talk.
#11
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
I am an expat nurse who works in Mental Health -when I emigrated I had just under 2 years experience and the DHB I came to work for credited that to me in terms of salary banding so they can do that.
Top salary band for most ward nurses excluding charge nurse managers would be about $66000 a year but that is just base rate. If you include penal rates (time and quarter for anything between 8pm and 7am, double time at weekends and public holidays and for ANY overtime) and you get a pretty decent salary.
You can add to that by completing a PDRP - which is basically a way of proving your level of competence in your speciality. There are various levels, Competent, Proficient, Expert and I think Leadership which each come with additional money on top of your base salary.
If you work in community then you can get additional salary banding on top (Steps 6-9 I think) but I'm unsure of what you need to do to earn those. I'm just about to go into a community job so I should know soon.
I have found almost every nurse to be very welcoming and supportive. The only exception was one snotty new grad who thought that my being qualified in mental health rather than general nursing meant I wasn't as good as she was. Everyone else has been awesome and I feel completely part of my team.
The MECA is due for re-negotiation this year and we will likely secure further pay rises. The Doctors have recently carried out strike action for better conditions so I'm hoping the DHBs will be in a mood to talk.
Top salary band for most ward nurses excluding charge nurse managers would be about $66000 a year but that is just base rate. If you include penal rates (time and quarter for anything between 8pm and 7am, double time at weekends and public holidays and for ANY overtime) and you get a pretty decent salary.
You can add to that by completing a PDRP - which is basically a way of proving your level of competence in your speciality. There are various levels, Competent, Proficient, Expert and I think Leadership which each come with additional money on top of your base salary.
If you work in community then you can get additional salary banding on top (Steps 6-9 I think) but I'm unsure of what you need to do to earn those. I'm just about to go into a community job so I should know soon.
I have found almost every nurse to be very welcoming and supportive. The only exception was one snotty new grad who thought that my being qualified in mental health rather than general nursing meant I wasn't as good as she was. Everyone else has been awesome and I feel completely part of my team.
The MECA is due for re-negotiation this year and we will likely secure further pay rises. The Doctors have recently carried out strike action for better conditions so I'm hoping the DHBs will be in a mood to talk.
Thank you for the info
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Somerset
Posts: 39
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
Hey, even if the pay is the same as in the UK, at least with the significantly lower annual leave allowance in NZ there's more scope for unsocial pay hours 😜 Thanks for all the info above, good to know!
Anyone had any experience applying for jobs at ADHB while I'm on a nursing thread? Closing date was 10 days ago, my application status on line still says "active: submissions under review", not sure how long until I go slightly insane waking in the middle of the night to have a cheeky check of my emails or am I just being very impatient?
Anyone had any experience applying for jobs at ADHB while I'm on a nursing thread? Closing date was 10 days ago, my application status on line still says "active: submissions under review", not sure how long until I go slightly insane waking in the middle of the night to have a cheeky check of my emails or am I just being very impatient?
#13
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
Hey, even if the pay is the same as in the UK, at least with the significantly lower annual leave allowance in NZ there's more scope for unsocial pay hours 😜 Thanks for all the info above, good to know!
Anyone had any experience applying for jobs at ADHB while I'm on a nursing thread? Closing date was 10 days ago, my application status on line still says "active: submissions under review", not sure how long until I go slightly insane waking in the middle of the night to have a cheeky check of my emails or am I just being very impatient?
Anyone had any experience applying for jobs at ADHB while I'm on a nursing thread? Closing date was 10 days ago, my application status on line still says "active: submissions under review", not sure how long until I go slightly insane waking in the middle of the night to have a cheeky check of my emails or am I just being very impatient?
I was offered a job by ADHB but that was by interview in the
UK before we moved over. That said application to interview through to offer was speedy. Good luck
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2013
Location: Christchurch
Posts: 570
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
The Annual leave allocation if you work on the wards isn't that bad. If you're full time you get each of the 11 public holidays plus 40 hours of shift leave for anti-social hours plus 4 weeks annual leave.
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2017
Location: Somerset
Posts: 39
Re: Nursing in New Zealand
I was offered a job by ADHB but that was by interview in the
UK before we moved over. That said application to interview through to offer was speedy. Good luck
UK before we moved over. That said application to interview through to offer was speedy. Good luck
bad. If you're full time you get each of the 11 public holidays plus 40 hours of shift leave for anti-social hours plus 4 weeks annual leave.