Age Safe news

  • Age Safe training in Hamilton

    Posted by · March 21, 2025 2:09 PM

    Aged care nurses and caregivers met together in Hamilton last week to plan Age Safe campaign action. In particular, they discussed how we can achieve a better funding model in this country for the aged care sector to support better staffing levels and better care for our kaumātua.

    The Government funds private companies to provide aged residential care for elderly New Zealanders who can no longer live independently. Australia has changed their aged care funding model in response to community concerns about conditions for residents and workers. We can do better in New Zealand too.

  • E tū picket at Bupa Head Office

    Posted by · March 21, 2025 2:06 PM

     

    Standing up for kaumātua outside in Auckland yesterday! Kia ora to E tū union for organising this picket outside Bupa head offices in Newmarket, calling on Bupa to stop the proposed cuts to care hours.
    “Safe staffing means proper care,” said E tū member Rosabella Prasad, a care and support worker. “Residents deserve to be showered, fed, and cared for in time. Without enough staff, their safety is at risk—and so is ours.”
    NZNO will be holding another picket outside Bupa head office on Tuesday April 1 from 3.30-4.30pm. Come along and join the fight for safe staffing!

  • Taking action at Bupa Sunset

    Posted by · March 21, 2025 2:03 PM

    Care workers stood alongside community members at Bupa Sunset in Blockhouse Bay on Tuesday this week calling on Bupa to stop the cuts!
    We need safe staffing in aged care. Union members at Bupa have been taking action across the country in response to proposals from Bupa to restructure 17 of its 40 care homes.
    Caregivers, residents, family and community members are deeply concerned at the impact this will have on residents and health workers.

  • Taking action at Bupa Riverstone

    Posted by · March 13, 2025 3:44 PM

    The rain didn't stop supporters turning out at Bupa Riverstone in Palmerston North to protest against proposed cuts to care hours that will affect residents and caregivers.
    Bupa, a global company and one of the country’s largest aged-care providers, has proposed restructures at 17 of its 40 care homes across New Zealand.
    Many include cuts to care hours, with Bupa claiming the need for financial viability. Yet Business Desk NZ reported last year that Bupa’s operating profit had nearly tripled after tax to just under $12 million in the year to December 2023.

  • Taking action at Bupa Northhaven

    Posted by · March 13, 2025 3:41 PM

     

    Standing up for quality care at Bupa Northhaven in Whangaparaoa.
    Bupa has proposed cuts to care hours at 17 of its 40 care homes across New Zealand. At Northhaven alone the proposed cuts are equivalent to 335 care hours a week. Staff are deeply concerned at the impact this will have on both residents and caregivers.
    Bupa, a global company and one of the country’s largest aged-care providers, has proposed the restructures with Bupa claiming the need for financial viability. Yet Business Desk NZ reported last year that Bupa’s operating profit had nearly tripled after tax to just under $12 million in the year to December 2023.

  • Calling for care not cuts at Bupa Remuera

    Posted by · March 13, 2025 3:37 PM

    Supporters again gathered outside Bupa Remuera to call on Bupa for Care Not Cuts.
    Union members at Bupa have been taking action across the country in response to proposals from Bupa to restructure 17 of its 40 care homes. Caregivers, residents, family and community members are deeply concerned on the impact this will have on residents and health workers.
    As one caregiver has said, “This restructure will have a big impact on our residents. We will still be expected to do the same amount of work. But a smaller number of staff will have to carry that load. Caregivers can only do so much during the day."

  • Age Safe training in Auckland

    Posted by · March 13, 2025 3:34 PM

    Caregivers and nurses from aged care worksites in Auckland and Northland met together on 12 March to plan Age Safe campaign action for their regions.
    The Age Safe campaign is about taking action to change the system which results in chronic understaffing in aged care facilities. Unsafe staffing is a critical issue that impacts both care workers and kaumatua/residents. These health workers discussed the urgent need to ensure a better funding model for the sector to support better outcomes for residents and better workplaces for those who care for them.
    If you're interested in organising Age Safe action talk to your delegate or organiser. 

  • Taking action at Bupa Remuera Care Home

    Posted by · March 07, 2025 2:59 PM

    Care not cuts!
    Workers and supporters held a rally outside Bupa Remuera Care Home against proposed cuts to care hours. Residents and staff are deeply concerned that the cuts will lead to bad outcomes for residents and health workers.
    Rallies are being held outside Bupa facilities across Aotearoa in response to Bupa's restructuring proposal.
    Join us in standing together for quality care for Bupa residents.

  • Rally for Bupa Residents 1 April

    Posted by · March 07, 2025 2:54 PM

    Stop the cuts Bupa! 

    Join the Rally for Bupa Residents at 3.30pm on 1 April outside the Bupa head office in Newmarket, Auckland.
    Bupa has proposed restructures at 17 care homes across the motu, including seven in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Many of these restructures have proposed to cut care hours, with Bupa citing flexibility and financial viability as their main goal. We strongly disagree with these cuts, and think they will lead to adverse care for residents and a loss in take home pay for the health workers who care for them.
    Our goal is to have all the cuts withdrawn by the 2nd of April, which is the day that Bupa have given as their final decision. Residents and supporters have been rallying outside care homes over the past few weeks to show their opposition. Join us on 1 April and take the message direct to Bupa head office.

  • Standing up for quality aged care in Levin

    Posted by · March 06, 2025 1:11 PM

    Standing up for quality care for our seniors in Levin.
    Bupa has announced it is restructuring 17 sites — a move which would reduce the total number of nursing and caregiving hours and has led to pickets outside Bupa facilities across Aotearoa.
    We're calling on Bupa to stop the cuts - our seniors deserve better!

  • 87-year-old resident takes to Bupa picket line in South Auckland

    Posted by · March 04, 2025 8:54 AM

    Read the Kaitiaki story: 87-year-old resident takes to Bupa picket line in South Auckland

  • Bupa Sunset petition

    Posted by · February 28, 2025 5:07 PM

    NZNO members from Bupa Sunset delivered a petition today to Bupa head office in central Auckland calling on the company to stop recently announced cuts.
    Bupa is one of the largest aged care providers in New Zealand and has said it will be restructuring 17 of its sites. As well as the Bupa Sunset petition, nurses and care workers at some sites have been picketing to show their concerns at the impacts that cuts will have on residents and care workers. Bupa employs about 3000 workers. Bupa’s operating profit was reported at just under $12 million in the year to December 2023.

  • Bupa Wattle Downs picket 27 February

    Posted by · February 28, 2025 4:33 PM

    On Thursday care workers and residents protested outside Bupa Wattle Downs care facility in South Auckland to express their concern and opposition to proposed staffing cuts and roster changes.
    Unions have been notified that Bupa, one of the biggest aged care companies in New Zealand, will be restructuring 17 of its sites all at once. These changes will reduce total hours for many care workers who are deeply concerned about the impact these cuts will have on their livelihoods and the standard of care for residents.

  • Taking action at Bupa Wattle Downs

    Posted by · February 25, 2025 12:30 PM

    On 21 February around 50 workers and residents protested outside the front Bupa Wattle Downs care facility to express their concern and opposition to proposed staffing cuts and roster changes. They are planning to continue with another picket on Thursday the 27th February at 430pm, come and join the Wattle Downs community staff as they fight to protect their hours and their time with residents.

  • Taking action at Bupa Lady Allum

    Posted by · February 25, 2025 12:22 PM

    NZNO members and residents have been standing up for elderly residents at Oceania Lady Allum Retirement Village in Auckland.
    They have been taking action for safe staffing in response to proposed roster changes made by Oceania. Similar changes are being made in other Oceania facilities as well.
    Caregivers are extremely concerned about the proposals as they involve changes to staffing levels and roles at Oceania.
    As well as impacting take home pay and workload for caregivers, who earn just over the minimum wage, the proposed changes could lead to fewer experienced staff being available to provide care including timely responses to calls and emergencies as well as adequate support for daily activities such as meals, hygiene, and mobility. 

    Slashed staffing hours trigger protest at Auckland aged care home - RNZ

  • 17 Bupa change proposals

    Posted by · February 25, 2025 11:34 AM

    Bupa Change Proposals – Consultation Period Open Until 19 March 

    We have now been notified of 17 more change proposals at Bupa, affecting the following care homes: 

    Northern Region: 

    • Erin Park 
    • Glenburn 
    • Hugh Green 
    • Merrivale 
    • Northhaven 
    • Remuera 
    • Sunset 
    • Totara Gardens 
    • Wattle Downs 

    Central Region: 

    • Crofton Downs 
    • Fergusson 
    • Riverstone 
    • Stokeswood 
    • Te Whānau 
    • Whitby 
    • Winara 

    Midlands Region: 

    • The Booms 

    Members at Erin Park and Wattle Downs have already taken action, holding pickets outside their facilities to show their opposition to the proposals. We have to 19 March to submit feedback. 

  • Oceania change proposal

    Posted by · February 25, 2025 11:26 AM

    The board of directors for the country's largest rest-home company Oceania Healthcare Ltd boasts in their latest financial report upward arrows on all key economic outputs from total comprehensive income to operating cashflow to assets. Every output has a good story for its directors and big shareholders. But on the ground at many of their 38 aged-care facilities throughout the country the stories are in stark contrast for hundreds of nurses and health care workers who care for the company’s elderly clients on the daily.

  • Taking action at George Manning Lifecare and Village

    Posted by · February 25, 2025 11:13 AM

    At least 30 caregivers and residents at a Christchurch rest home have protested a proposal to cut hundreds of hours of staff shifts in what they say is a threat to health and safety. The group gathered outside George Manning Lifecare and Village in Spreydon in September 2024 after an email, seen by The Press, proposed cutting caregiver shifts by 479 hours. 

    Rest home wants to cut caregiver shifts by 479 hours - The Press 

  • Handing in the health and safety form at Bupa Sunset

    Posted by · February 25, 2025 11:05 AM

    On 30 May 2024, NZNO delegates Nancy Chandra and Epenesa Mutimuti at BUPA Sunset presented collectively signed health and safety recommendations to their employer. These members are taking action on behalf of each other and their residents.  

  • Age Safe training in Christchurch

    Posted by · February 25, 2025 11:00 AM

    On 27 November NZNO delegates and activists from the South Island got together to undertake EREL in Christchurch. A key theme for our delegates from the sector was staffing. Delegates shared stories about the stress that they feel when there is not enough time in the day to give everyone the care they need, and they end up care rationing things like showers.  

  • Age Safe training in Wellington

    Posted by · February 25, 2025 10:47 AM

    On 26 November delegates in Wellington from the aged care sector in the region attended EREL training. We quickly realized that the key issue in each of the facilities where they worked was staffing. We had long-serving participants who told us that the problem had never been worse. Everyone is committed to working together to create minimum standards.