Whangārei Hospital nurses have been told stickers are a health and safety risk, in the latest move of a bitter industrial dispute between the NZ Nurses Organisation and Health New Zealand.
Union delegates claimed managers were using bullying tactics but Health NZ said it was prioritising the safety of patients and staff.
The NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and Health NZ have been negotiating for about 18 months on a new collective agreement, with a major sticking point being safe staffing levels.
Northland nurses took part in nationwide industrial action, a mega strike in October 2025 and partial strikes where they refused to be moved to other wards, as part of the industrial action.
But Whangārei Hospital delegate Rachel Thorn said NZNO members now felt like they were being scared into not taking industrial action, claiming they faced threats of being reported to the Nursing Council.
Since January, Whangārei Hospital ED union members had taken part in a “uniform strike” to highlight the contract dispute: wearing bright garments instead of their usual scrubs.
The move was about raising visibility of the issues, including short staffing of nurses in the hospital, which could be a risk to public safety, she said.
To help explain the change in uniform to patients, the nurses put up posters and wore stickers saying “striking for safe staffing”.
But Thorn said Health NZ started pushing back when the uniform strike was expanded to other wards on March 1.
She alleged posters were removed from the wards, nurses were told they could not wear stickers and would be reported to the Nursing Council if they did.
“A manager stated basically, ‘if you don’t stop wearing that sticker, I will report you to the Nursing Council and you might lose registration’,” Thorn claimed.
Health NZ was citing infection control because the stickers could not be wiped clean but uniforms also could not be wiped clean, Thorn said.
The organisation also accused nurses of pushing political views but all nurses acted professionally and within the rules of their strike notice, she said.
Thorn believed the heavy-handed tactics came about because Health NZ did not want the public to know safe staffing levels had not been met in the hospital.
Nurse numbers were restricted to save money, with Northland hospitals alone tasked with saving $30 million in staffing costs this year, she said.
The threats were having an impact, with some nurses pulling out of the industrial action over fear of losing their job, Thorn said.
Those persisting with the uniform strike found an added bonus: the bright-coloured clothes made patients feel more comfortable and children less scared of the nurses, she said.
Health NZ Te Tai Tokerau group director operations Alex Pimm said NZNO issued several notices of industrial action over recent weeks.
“These notices involve NZNO members refusing to comply with Health NZ policies, instructions, rules or requirements relating to public statements or actions relating to collective bargaining or strike action.
“This includes requirements prohibiting visual union stickers, badges, clothing, signage, placards or flags.”
Health NZ was required to ensure it could maintain safe services for patients, even when strike notices were given at short notice, Pimm said.
Health NZ continued to prioritise patient safety during industrial action, including ensuring patients, their whānau and kaimahi (staff) were not exposed to unnecessary risks, he said.
“This means taking reasonable precautions to reduce infection prevention, and health and safety risks, in our hospitals and services.
“For example, we have asked staff not to wear stickers on their uniforms or clothes as this can help spread infection or come loose when providing patient care.”
Pimm said there were dedicated noticeboards for union messages, with clinical spaces where patients receive treatment generally kept free of these posters.
When asked about nurses threatened with being reported to the Nursing Council for wearing the stickers, he said kaimahi were reminded of their obligation for safe and professional practice.
“It is important to note that industrial action does not remove an individual healthcare practitioner’s obligation to their regulator, which is separate to their employment obligations. Health NZ has reminded kaimahi of this.”
On safe staffing levels, Pimm said Health NZ continued to prioritise recruitment of nurses in Te Tai Tokerau.
Northland recently implemented more nursing positions as a result of its positive safe staffing programme, he said.
Health NZ remained committed to reaching settlement with the NZNO, Pimm said.
“We value the significant contribution of our nursing and healthcare assistant workforce, and remain dedicated to ensuring we have the right people and skill-mix to deliver quality and safe patient care.”
Denise Piper is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, focusing on health and business. She has more than 20 years in journalism and is passionate about covering stories that make a difference.