1800 Graduate Nurses to Join NZ Health Workforce in Major Boost for Hospitals

“A sustainable health system relies on a steady pipeline of skilled New Zealand-trained nurses entering the workforce,” said Mr Brown.

In a major step to strengthen New Zealand’s healthcare workforce, around 1800 graduate registered nurses are set to begin roles across the country in the current financial year, according to Health New Zealand. Health Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed the announcement as a critical move toward ensuring the sustainability and resilience of the nation’s health system.

“A sustainable health system relies on a steady pipeline of skilled New Zealand-trained nurses entering the workforce,” said Mr Brown. “This is a significant step in strengthening our workforce and ensuring locally trained nurses are supported into frontline roles.”

Majority of Graduate Nurses to Join Hospitals

Health New Zealand will offer around 1400 hospital-based positions to the 2025 end-of-year cohort of nursing graduates. This means more than 80% of graduates who pass their final exams will be placed directly into hospital roles.

These new hires will begin receiving formal offers from 1 December, with placements occurring throughout public hospitals around the country. This follows the 400+ graduate nurse positions that were already offered during the mid-year intake, bringing the total to approximately 1800 new graduate nurses entering the system in one year.

This large-scale intake reflects a concerted push by the Government to grow the health workforce rapidly and ensure that staffing levels meet patient care needs across all regions.

Investment in Primary and Community Care Roles

While hospitals remain a core focus, the Government is also investing in graduate placements outside of Health New Zealand, particularly in primary and community care settings.

Through dedicated funding:

• Up to 400 graduate nurses annually will be supported into primary care roles

• $20,000 per graduate will be provided to rural primary and community providers

• $15,000 per graduate will be provided to urban primary care employers

This funding aims to incentivize hiring in smaller communities and under-resourced areas, helping distribute new nursing talent more equitably across the health sector.

“These positions will help hospitals across the country maintain the staff needed to deliver timely, quality care,” said Minister Brown. “We are also focused on ensuring access to care in primary and rural settings.”

Structured Support and Professional Growth

One of the key strengths of the programme is that it does more than just provide jobs. New graduate nurses are offered:

• Structured mentoring and supervision

• Ongoing professional development opportunities

• A clear transition pathway into full clinical practice

These foundational supports are critical to helping new nurses not only survive but thrive in their first years on the job—ultimately increasing retention, confidence, and job satisfaction.

Building a Resilient Workforce

Since the Government took office, Minister Brown says around 2,000 additional nurses have already joined the health system. This graduate intake builds on that momentum and is part of a broader strategy to:

• Address staffing shortages

• Reduce patient wait times

• Boost overall care quality

• Improve workforce morale

With healthcare systems under strain worldwide, New Zealand’s investment in homegrown nursing talent is seen as an essential element of long-term system sustainability.

A Message of Congratulations

Minister Brown concluded his announcement with a message of appreciation for the incoming nursing cohort:

“I want to congratulate all nurses on completing their studies and look forward to welcoming them to the health workforce in the coming months as they begin their careers caring for New Zealanders.”

As the country prepares for 2026 and beyond, the bolstering of the nursing workforce is expected to bring welcome relief to hospitals, clinics, and communities nationwide.