On International Nurses Day 2026, health leaders are calling on New Zealanders to recognise and celebrate the extraordinary contribution primary care nurses make to our health and wellbeing. Across GP clinics, kaupapa Māori and Pacific providers, school-based services and rural communities, these nurses are the trusted faces supporting tamariki, parents and entire whānau through every stage of life.

"Primary care nurses do an enormous amount of the heavy lifting," says Tania Page, General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ) Nurse Leaders rōpū Co-chair and Health Hawke's Bay Service Provider Development and Nurse Lead. "They support prevention, long-term condition management, vaccinations, education and ongoing whānau wellbeing – often building relationships with patients over many years. They're also trusted people in their communities, helping whānau navigate the health system, understand their health needs and access care early before things become more serious."

Celebrated globally every 12 May, International Nurses Day recognises the vital role nurses play in sustaining healthcare systems and improving lives. This year’s theme, Our nurses. Our future. Empowered nurses save lives, highlights the importance of investing in and empowering the nursing workforce to meet growing healthcare needs now and for generations to come.

Tania says the potential to grow and strengthen the primary care nursing workforce is vast – and key to building a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system.

“There’s significant opportunity to further develop primary care nursing roles, expand nurse practitioner services, and invest in culturally grounded models of care that reflect the needs of diverse communities,” she explains. “We’re seeing growing recognition of the value of nurses working at the top of their scope. As nurses move into advanced practice and prescribing roles, communities benefit from greater access to timely, affordable care close to home.”

In Northland, GPNZ Nurse Leaders rōpū Co-chair and Director of Nursing, Primary Care at Mahitahi Hauora, Angela Keung-Hobson, thinks of primary care nurses as “the backbone of our health system”.

“Primary care nurses are often the first point of contact for people seeking healthcare, and the relationships they build with patients and whānau are incredibly powerful. They work alongside communities every day, supporting people to manage complex conditions, improving access to care and advocating for culturally safe person and whānau-centred services.”

As Angela explains, they are uniquely placed to respond to the social and cultural factors that influence health outcomes, particularly for Māori, Pacific peoples and other priority populations.

“Primary care nursing is about more than treating illness. It’s about prevention, early intervention, health education and empowering people to live healthier lives. That work has a huge impact not only on individuals, but on the strength and resilience of entire communities.”

Leadership within primary care continues to grow, with nurses increasingly shaping service delivery, influencing policy and helping lead health system transformation across Aotearoa. Continued investment in workforce development, leadership pathways and role expansion will be critical to ensuring nurses can practise to the full extent of their skills and expertise.

Dr Claire Isham, Chair of GPNZ’s Clinical Leaders rōpū and Clinical Director at Western Bay of Plenty PHO, says collectively nurses “deliver compassionate, continuous, team-based care that builds trusted relationships, improves outcomes, and strengthens the heart of general practice”.

“Primary care nurses are a vital part of the partnership between patients, their whānau and communities, GPs, and the evolving multidisciplinary primary care team,” explains Claire. “The continued evolution of their role in coordinating care, alongside opportunities to work at the top of their scope, will be essential to supporting more connected, place-based care within our communities.”

While recent gains have been made in training and development investment, significant gaps remain – most notably the lack of pay equity for primary care nurses compared with their secondary care counterparts. On International Nurses Day, GPNZ is calling on the government to invest in both remuneration and workforce development. That is how we strengthen the profession and the care it delivers to communities across Aotearoa.

About General Practice New Zealand: 

General Practice New Zealand (GPNZ) is the national voice for primary care organisations in New Zealand. It advocates for the wellbeing of New Zealanders by supporting high quality general practice and community-based services. Its PHO member networks represent the majority of New Zealand general practices and cover an enrolled population of more than 4.4 million New Zealanders, including more than 80 per cent of the enrolled Māori population. www.gpnz.org.nz

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