News & Events
Leadership Development Scholarships for Women in Government
19th July, 2023
Women & Leadership New Zealand has announced a new round of scholarships to enable more women in the public sector to undertake career-enhancing leadership development programs. By combining cutting-edge leadership theory with practical application, and a flexible part-time…
Midwives Vote In Favour Of Interim Pay Equity Deal
7th July, 2023
On the back of Tuesdays confirmation of the critical midwifery shortage, 97% of midwives employed by Te Whatu Ora who votedwere in support of an interim pay equity deal. The interim agreement increases the base…
Midwives angry over pay inequity
13th March, 2023
“Completely outraged.” That’s how midwives are feeling after a breakdown in talks with health body Te Whatu Ora. Now, they are threatening action. MERAS Co-leader Jill Ovens told Breakfast’s presenter Jenny-May Clarkson on 7 March…
Midwives’ Union Says Investment in New Zealand Midwives Absolutely Critical
12th December, 2022
Statement from Caroline Conroy, Co-leader, MERAS Whereas we acknowledge recruiting midwives from overseas will assist in alleviating the immediate shortage we are facing, there is a world-wide shortage of midwives because of a lack of…
Southern district well-placed to bounce back from midwife shortage
5th September, 2022
The Southern district is one of the few districts well-placed to bounce back from its midwife shortage, MERAS Co-Leader Caroline Conroy told Stuff reporter Louisa Steyl in an article published on 2 September 2022. But things…
Midwives Welcome Increase In Paid Parental Leave Payments
20th June, 2022
Midwives are celebrating the $40 a week increase in Paid Parental leave entitlements from 1 July as they see daily, new parents struggling to meet rising costs. From Friday 1 July, the maximum weekly rate…
Midwifery sector in downward spiral
8th June, 2022
New Zealand is hundreds of midwives short and there are concerns a new healthcare recruitment drive in New South Wales could make the staff shortage problem worse. On Sunday, New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet…
St George’s Midwives Relieved By Decision to Continue The Maternity Service
31st May, 2022
St George’s Hospital midwives breathed a collective sigh of relief after today’s announcement that the maternity service is to continue at least until the new central city primary maternity unit opens in the middle of…
Jill Ovens speaks to Magic Talk about the risks of an Omicron outbreak
9th February, 2022
MERAS Co-Leader Jill Ovens spoke to Magic Talk on 8 February about the risks posed by an Omicron outbreak to our health service. You can listen to the interview below (approx 7 minutes long) https://meras.midwife.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2022/02/Jill-Ovens-on-Magic-Talk-8-Feb-2022_Omicron-threat.m4a