Health NZ internationally-trained nurses rise by more than 4800 since 2021

Health New Zealand appears to be increasingly reliant on internationally-trained nurses, with new figures showing around four in every 10 registered nurses employed were qualified overseas.

Data from the New Zealand Nursing Council Survey, released to Newstalk ZB, shows as of this year, 39% of registered nurses who report working for Health NZ were trained internationally, up from 30% in 2021. It’s down fractionally from 40% last year.

Over the past five years, the number of internationally-trained nurses employed by Health NZ has increased by more than 4800 – from 10,003 in 2021, to 14,829.

The number of New Zealand-trained nurses was up this year (23,208) compared to last year (21,460) – but is 84 lower than the 23,292 in 2021.

However, Health New Zealand notes not all nurses complete the surveys, especially graduates, and said this year close to 3000 New Zealand trained nurses did not provide any information on their employer.

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation says the figures reflect a significant shift in New Zealand’s nursing workforce.

Kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said internationally qualified nurses have long played an important role in New Zealand’s health system, but the increase is significant.

“Back in 2008, internationally qualified nurses represented about 13% of our workforce, but they mostly came from places like the UK and South Africa,” she said.

“Now we’ve seen this increase in internationally qualified nurses coming from countries like India, Asia and the Philippines.”

Nuku said the growing reliance on internationally trained nurses, many of whom spoke English as a second language, was changing how care was delivered in hospitals.

“This starts to change the models of care and how we communicate that care to patients.”
She said communication was fundamental to safe nursing care.

“I know that the Minister calls cultural safety ‘ideological wokeness’, but in actual fact, understanding and being able to communicate with patients is incredibly important to the quality of care that the patient receives at the bedside.”

“The risk is real. Communication is everything for a nurse. What could be challenging is the language difficulty and the ability to understand, and that places the patients at incredible risk.”

Nuku said the figures reflected a long-term failure by successive governments to plan New Zealand’s nursing workforce.

“It’s been a failure across governments — and their ability to plan workforce long past a three-year term.”

Labour health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall said the figures showed New Zealand’s nursing workforce was moving in the wrong direction.

“It’s out of whack. The numbers are moving in the wrong direction,” she said.

“We know, according to Nursing Council research from December 2025, that 900 graduate nurses who trained in New Zealand can’t get jobs, and yet the data shows it seems that hospitals are increasingly hiring overseas-trained graduates.”

Verrall said internationally-trained nurses made an important contribution to New Zealand’s health system, but local graduates should be given greater priority.

“It’s important that all nurses meet a really high standard. I know there are many internationally-trained nurses who do a great job and communicate really well.

“New Zealand will always need them to some extent, but the balance is out of whack now.”
She said every New Zealand-trained graduate nurse should have the opportunity to work in the public health system.

“We need to prioritise locally-trained nurses. They should all be able to get a job in our health system.”

Health New Zealand said the number of qualified graduate registered nurses recruited by Health New Zealand each year from 2020 to 2025 has ranged from around 1300 to 1666 – and it has committed to offering roles to around 1800 qualified nurse graduates in the current financial year.

The figures come despite Health NZ reporting improved nurse retention, with annual turnover falling from 13.3% in March 2023 to 8.4% in March this year.

It said in the same period the vacancy rate has dropped 9.5% to 5.2%.

Associate Health Minister Matt Doocey said New Zealand has drawn on internationally trained nurses for many years.

“That is not new. Every health system in the world is competing for the same workforce, and international nurses make a valued contribution to caring for New Zealanders,” he said.

“Growing and keeping our locally trained nurses, while welcoming internationally trained ones to our country, is how we build a workforce that is resilient and sustainable for the long term. That is where our focus is.”

Claire Sherwood is the South Island News Director and Newsreader for Newstalk ZB.