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The National Student Unit (NSU) is unique, and exists to serve the interests of all tauira/ student members of NZNO. It is the only nursing tauira/ student representative group in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and is the major political voice for nursing students today.
The NSU committee aims to comprise two student representatives from each school of nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand, including
- One Te Runanga Tauira (TRT) representative and
- One National Student representative.
Tauira/ student representatives on the committee are required to be enrolled in an undergraduate nursing/ midwifery course, or a programme leading to an initial Aotearoa nursing/ midwifery registration. Qualifications can also include Enrolled Nursing.
TRTs contribute a Māori student nursing perspective to the NSU committee, which helps the committee to uphold the kaupapa and objectives of Te Rūnanga O Aotearoa, NZNO.
National Student Unit representatives link into wider NZNO structures in two ways:
- Local Organising Groups and Ngā Hapū
- TRT Chair and Vice Chair represent the voice of tauira through positions on Te Poari.
To learn more about how the NSU works please see:
FREE NZNO membership for full-time students
Nursing students who can enjoy free NZNO membership include:
- Graduate entry nursing programmes leading to nursing registration
- Full-time students in the Bachelor of Nursing, midwifery or enrolled nurse programmes.
Advanced Choice of Employment (ACE)
ACE is the online application process for all NZ nursing graduates to apply for:
- Supported First Year of Practice (SFYP)
- Nurse Entry to Specialist Practice (NESP – Mental Health and Addiction Nursing) graduate programmes nationwide.
- Enrolled Nurse Supported into Practice Programme (ENSIPP)
If you have any queries about these programmes and/ or the ACE application process, please contact your NZNO NSU Rep at your kura/ school of nursing. Alternatively, call NZNO on 0800 28 38 48 to talk with your Professional Nursing Adviser.
For help and more information from ACE see:
National Nursing Student Survey
The 2025 survey covered six areas of interest and concern selected by the NSU committee which were:
- Demographics
- Finances
- Clinical placement and education
- Cultural safety and support
- Future employment
- Health and wellbeing.
Previous survey results
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