The Nursing Council at Red Stage Three

28 February 2022

On 12 September 2022 the Government announced that the mandatory vaccination requirements would be lifted for all healthcare professions on 26 September 2022. The Nursing Council is maintaining this page as a historical record only; from September 26 2022 the material listed here no longer applies. Please note that an individual employer might still have vaccination requirements and is permitted to ask about your vaccination status. If you are not vaccinated we recommend that you discuss this with any potential employers.

Aotearoa New Zealand’s COVID-19 response is now at stage three of the Red ‘Traffic Light’ level.

The Nursing Council is committed to our work continuing on as normally as possible during this time. However, we recognise that work and living environments have changed for most of us. We also want to ensure that our own staff are safe and protected from harm. For these reasons, you might notice some changes in how we are working at the moment.

Here are some of the key changes that we have now put in place:

• The Council is still open and working, but we are concentrating efforts on our core registration and fitness to practise functions. This might mean some delays in our non-critical processes, and in our responses to non-urgent queries.
• The Council’s physical office is closed to unscheduled visitors, so if you’re intending to visit please make sure to contact us ahead of time to arrange a meeting. We might also need to delay some kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (in person) meetings, or hold them online instead.
• The Council is reducing how often our staff travel, and is trying to meet virtually whenever it’s possible and practical. This might mean that visits or meetings with our staff are rescheduled, turned into electronic meetings, or otherwise changed.

We realise that both the public and the profession rely on the work we do. Please be assured that we are working very hard to minimise disruption in our services while the country is at stage three.

All our staff are fully vaccinated and in the process of receiving their boosters as they become eligible. Similarly, all visitors to our physical office must be vaccinated unless they have a recognised exemption.

The Nursing Council appreciates that this is a difficult and stressful time for many. We especially recognise the work and dedication of the nurses of Aotearoa New Zealand, who have formed the backbone of our country’s health response to the pandemic. Thank you for your mahi, your care, and your commitment to the wellbeing of all of us.