12 Aug 2013

Maori agency nurses paid less than DHB colleagues

6:32 am on 12 August 2013

The Maori arm of the Nurses Organisation say it is still fighting pay inequalities which see some nurses at iwi agencies paid 25% less than those at district health boards.

Te Runanga o Aotearoa held a symposium on Friday as part of the organisation's annual general hui in Wellington.

Runanga chair Kerri Nuku said Maori nurses and nursing students were among the 140 people that attended the hui.

She said one of the biggest challenges in the workforce is pay inequalities, with some nurses at Maori providers paid up to 25% less than those at DHBs.

Ms Nuku said many Maori nurses have the same skills as those working at DHBs but are paid much less.

She said the group has been told that is because there is no new money and the funding arrangement for providers is complex.

Ms Nuku said the group will continue to put these questions to the Government.