'It's personal': Striking nurse lost her cousin as healthcare services took 5 hours to respond

Wednesday, 30 July 2025

A Wellington nurse has shared a deeply personal story about working in the health sector, as nearly 40,000 healthcare workers strike over pay and working conditions.

Speaking to Stuff from the picket line, Naomi Waipouri said she was there for “fair pay, safe staffing, and more resources” in order to support patients, but it was also personal for her.

“My cousin passed away last week, she had a heart attack, and it took five hours for healthcare services to respond,” the sixth-year nurse said.

“So I’m here for my whānau, no whānau should be waiting that long for healthcare.”

Waipouri said there are “many others who are in the same position” who are still waiting for healthcare, and keep, for example, getting pushbacks on electives lists.

“This is not unusual. This is just not spoken enough and not heard enough.”

Waipouri said the Government may think it understands the issues healthcare workers face, but it doesn’t.

“They don't come and speak to us, and when they do speak to us, they're speaking at us. They're not listening, this is where we are now,” she said.

“If they don't listen to us, at least the public will.”

Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ says an estimated 4300 planned procedures and specialist appointments will have to be postponed due to the strike action.

Nurses are striking about staffing levels and the pay offer they received. That offer included a 2% wage rise in mid-2025 and 1% in 2026, with $325 lump sum payments.