Today, May 12th, 2023, we’re celebrating International Nurses Day.

Nurses make up the largest health workforce in the country, with more than 56,000 nurses making a difference to the everyday lives of New Zealanders.

This year’s theme, chosen by The International Council of Nurses which represents millions of nurses worldwide, is “Our nurses, Our future”. As our Chief Nursing Officer, Lorraine Hetaraka, outlines in this video, the theme sets out our goals for nursing in the future, helping to address future health challenges in Aotearoa and improve global health for all.

To all nurses who have worked in Aotearoa New Zealand - both past and present, we’d like to say thank you for the impact you have made, and continue to make to the lives of patients, whānau and communities.