President and Kaiwhakahaere
These NZNO leadership positions are based on partnership, with shared oversight responsibilities. This includes such areas as policy and strategy, NZNO’s external relationships, membership groups and networks, co-chairing meetings and being the public face of the board and members.
Kerri Nuku, Kaiwhakahaere
Raised in Napier and of Ngāti Kahungunu and Tainui descent, Kerri Nuku is the Kaiwhakahaere for the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO).
Her professional career started as an enrolled nurse before completing her registered comprehensive nurse training through the Hawkes Bay Polytechnic. Having worked in the maternity area after graduating, Kerri went on to complete her midwifery training in Wellington and eventually took on senior leadership positions including a role as a clinical nurse specialist/team leader. Kerri finally left the security of the District Health Board and went on to work in the private sector as the New Zealand Director for an International Research Organisation and with another college establishing an independent nursing service before becoming the Kaiwhakahaere.
Kerri believes that nursing is such an exciting profession which offers multiple opportunities for every member to contribute towards achieving optimal health outcomes for individuals, families’ whānau, communities and populations, while also providing nurses with the best opportunity to advocate for our populations.
Kerri lives in the Hawke’s Bay with her whānau and is an active member within her hapū development.
Anne Daniels, President
Anne’s life began in Opotiki, Bay of Plenty. Her mother Jean was a nurse and encouraged Anne to consider the same career. At 18, Anne was accepted into the Thames Hospital nursing training programme and after completing training started work in the acute medical and coronary care unit. Practice nursing, nurse education, and leadership positions as a Clinical Charge Nurse in Outpatients and Emergency Nursing followed.
Early in her nursing journey Anne’s strong sense of justice led her to become an NZNO delegate, then Convenor for Thames Hospital/Hauraki Plains NZNO members, leading nurses through strikes and restructuring. She worked with the Thames Hospital Clinical Director, a local Councillor and the community to fight the reduction of many health services under the National Government. Throughout this time, Anne also successfully completed her Masters in Health Science (Hons) in 2005 which focused on why nurses were leaving the profession.
Supporting nurses (midwives/health care assistants), to take up nursing as a career and stay nursing in New Zealand, has been a lifelong commitment for Anne. Her commitment to nursing, was always in collaboration with NZNO in its many facets, including working on the Nurses and Midwifery Advisory Committee and the Nursing Research Group as a member, Conference Convenor then Chair.
Since moving to Dunedin Anne became an ED delegate in the Southern DHB. More recently she took up the role of Health and Safety Representative, and then joined the Regional Council, to continue the fight for fair pay and conditions in many campaigns over the last 11 years. Seeing and experiencing the incredible difference nurses make to the lives of the people they care for and the people nurses work with, has engendered an enduring respect for nurses in our communities. Anne believes it is this respect that will support NZNO members to stand together in strength to make the changes that need to happen now and in the future for nurses and nursing.
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