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New Zealand
Nursing & midwifery pay — current rates, penalties & allowances
Award / Agreement
Te Whatu Ora / NZNO Nursing & Midwifery MECA (2026–2027)
Current
AnnualHourly
Roles & Wages
| Role | Pay Point | Mar 2026 | Mar 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
Registered Nurse RN | Step 1 (New Graduate) | $77,667 | $79,221 |
| Step 2 | $83,725 | $85,400 | |
| Step 3 | $88,682 | $90,456 | |
| Step 4 | $93,458 | $95,328 | |
| Step 5 | $103,370 | $105,438 | |
| Step 6 | $106,344 | $108,471 | |
| Step 7 | $109,407 | $111,596 | |
Registered Midwife RM | Step 2 | $84,708 | $86,402 |
| Step 3 | $89,726 | $91,521 | |
| Step 4 | $94,561 | $96,453 | |
| Step 5 | $104,597 | $106,689 | |
| Step 6 | $107,642 | $109,795 | |
| Step 7 | $110,708 | $112,922 | |
Community Midwife RM | Step 2 | $85,769 | $87,484 |
| Step 3 | $90,854 | $92,671 | |
| Step 4 | $95,752 | $97,667 | |
| Step 5 | $105,921 | $108,040 | |
| Step 6 | $110,544 | $112,755 | |
| Step 7 | $113,207 | $115,471 | |
| Step 8 | $118,608 | $120,980 | |
Enrolled Nurse EN | Step 1 | $71,682 | $73,116 |
| Step 2 | $74,810 | $76,306 | |
| Step 3 | $80,337 | $81,944 | |
| Step 4 | $82,886 | $84,543 | |
| Step 5 | $87,433 | $89,141 | |
Health Care Assistant HCA | Step 1 | $61,602 | $62,835 |
| Step 2 | $65,073 | $66,375 | |
| Step 3 | $69,013 | $70,394 | |
| Step 4 | $70,148 | $71,551 | |
| Step 5 | $72,117 | $73,559 | |
Mental Health Assistant MHA | Step 1 | $60,500 | $61,710 |
| Step 2 | $65,036 | $66,337 | |
| Step 3 | $69,868 | $71,265 | |
| Step 4 | $74,204 | $75,688 | |
| Step 5 | $76,303 | $77,829 | |
Nurse Practitioner NP | Nurse Practitioner | $140,235 | $143,040 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $147,545 | $150,496 | |
| Nurse Practitioner | $154,856 | $157,953 | |
| Nurse Practitioner | $166,872 | $170,209 | |
Designated Senior Nurse DSN | Grade 1 · step 1 | $116,876 | $119,213 |
| Grade 1 · step 2 | $124,480 | $126,970 | |
| Grade 2 · step 1 | $118,941 | $121,320 | |
| Grade 2 · step 2 | $123,074 | $125,535 | |
| Grade 2 · step 3 | $130,866 | $133,483 | |
| Grade 3 · step 1 | $125,138 | $127,641 | |
| Grade 3 · step 2 | $129,277 | $131,863 | |
| Grade 3 · step 3 | $137,250 | $139,995 | |
| Grade 4 · step 1 | $129,277 | $131,863 | |
| Grade 4 · step 2 | $133,408 | $136,076 | |
| Grade 4 · step 3 | $141,508 | $144,339 | |
| Grade 5 · step 1 | $133,408 | $136,076 | |
| Grade 5 · step 2 | $137,541 | $140,291 | |
| Grade 5 · step 3 | $144,283 | $147,169 | |
| Grade 6 · step 1 | $140,235 | $143,040 | |
| Grade 6 · step 2 | $147,545 | $150,496 | |
| Grade 6 · step 3 | $154,856 | $157,953 | |
| Grade 6 · step 4 | $166,872 | $170,209 | |
Senior Designated Midwife SDM | Grade 3 · step 1 | $118,043 | $120,404 |
| Grade 3 · step 2 | $125,726 | $128,241 | |
| Grade 4 · step 1 | $120,129 | $122,532 | |
| Grade 4 · step 2 | $124,305 | $126,791 | |
| Grade 4 · step 3 | $132,179 | $134,822 | |
| Grade 5 · step 1 | $126,393 | $128,921 | |
| Grade 5 · step 2 | $130,573 | $133,184 | |
| Grade 5 · step 3 | $138,629 | $141,402 | |
| Grade 6 · step 1 | $131,626 | $134,259 | |
| Grade 6 · step 2 | $134,749 | $137,444 | |
| Grade 6 · step 3 | $142,934 | $145,793 | |
| Grade 7 · step 1 | $135,707 | $138,421 | |
| Grade 7 · step 2 | $140,049 | $142,850 | |
| Grade 7 · step 3 | $145,737 | $148,651 | |
| Grade 8 · step 1 | $140,235 | $143,040 | |
| Grade 8 · step 2 | $147,545 | $150,496 | |
| Grade 8 · step 3 | $154,856 | $157,953 | |
| Grade 8 · step 4 | $166,872 | $170,209 | |
Caseload Midwife RM | Step 1 | $134,136 | $136,818 |
| Step 2 | $136,265 | $138,990 |
Showing annual salary rates
Allowances
| Allowance | Unit | Amount |
|---|---|---|
On-call allowance Per hour on call during off-duty hours. Clause 10.1. | per hour | $8.00 |
On-call (public holiday) On-call rate on public holidays. Clause 10.1. | per hour | $10.00 |
Higher duties Performing a higher position/grade for a qualifying shift. Clause 10.2. | per hour | $3.00 |
Shift coordination RN/RM acting as shift coordinator for a shift of 8+ hours. Clause 10.3. | per shift | $24.00 |
Meal allowance Qualifying shift worked more than an hour beyond the roster. Clause 10.7. | per occasion | $7.95 |
Nurse Practitioner PD allowance Professional-development allowance, lifted to $6,000 under the 2026 settlement (accruable to $10,000 / 2 yrs). | per year | $6,000.00 |
PDRP — RN Expert / Puna Rahi Added to base pay; attracts penal & overtime. Clause 28.2. | per year | $4,500.00 |
PDRP — RN Proficient / Puna Whakatau Added to base pay; attracts penal & overtime. Clause 28.2. | per year | $3,000.00 |
HCA/MHA Merit 1 / Merit 2 $1,000 (Merit 1) or $2,000 (Merit 2), added to base pay. | per year | $1,000–$2,000 |
Penalty Rates
Weekend penal+50%
Extra 0.5× on ordinary hours from midnight Fri/Sat to midnight Sun/Mon. Clause 8.2.3(a).
Public holiday penal+100%
Extra 1.0× on ordinary hours worked on a public holiday, plus an alternative holiday. Clause 8.2.3(b).
Night penal+25%
Extra 0.25× on ordinary night hours (2000–end of rostered night duty). Clause 8.2.3(c).
Overtime — first 3 hrs150%
Time and a half for the first three hours of overtime (weekdays). Clause 8.2.2(c).
Overtime — after 3 hrs200%
Double time beyond three hours, and all night/weekend/public-holiday overtime. Clause 8.2.2(c)/(d).
Call-backOvertime, min 3 hrs
Paid at the overtime rate for a minimum of three hours. Clause 9.1.
Notes
- •Rates are the in-force Te Whatu Ora / NZNO Nursing & Midwifery MECA (1 Mar 2026 – 31 Oct 2027): +2.5% from 2 March 2026, then +2.0% from 2 March 2027.
- •The confirmed 1-Apr-2024 base rates were increased to produce the columns shown; the signed collective agreement on nzno.org.nz is the authoritative per-step source. New rates roll out Jul–Sep 2026, backdated to 2 March 2026.
- •The enrolled-nurse top step includes the +$2,000 expanded-scope uplift from the settlement.
- •Ordinary hourly rate = annual salary ÷ 2086 (CA cl. 8.2.2(a)); the hourly toggle here uses a 40-hour week as an approximation.
- •All figures are in New Zealand dollars (NZD). Lump sums ($1,000, or $1,300 for designated senior nurses) are paid separately under the settlement.
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