APEX - NZ's specialist union for AST professionals

20/07/2026

"...we are too small a country to have 60% to 70% of our laboratory services in the hands of three separate private employers, who don’t talk to each other because they’re in competition.’’

- Dr. Deborah Powell, APEX union National Secretary.

Read the full article (paywalled) here: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/health/plan-pathology-review-welcomed

25/06/2026

Fantastic to see Radiation Therapist Danielle Duff recognised as New Zealand’s first externally credentialled Advanced Practice Radiation Therapist.

This new specialist role is helping Christchurch Hospital cancer patients access faster, more coordinated care, while supporting clinicians across the treatment pathway.

Congratulations Danielle, an important step forward for radiation oncology in Aotearoa.

Read Danielle's story here: https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/news-and-updates/new-specialist-role-speeds-up-cancer-care-at-christchurch-hospital

16/06/2026

APEX Union welcomes the Labour Party policy announcement to introduce universal and free prenatal ultrasound screening. The move is consistent with our calls for this service to be fully funded.

“Maternity care should not come with a price tag, and while those price caps were an important and much needed first step, we are pleased to see political commitment to go all the way and fully fund this essential maternity service,” said Dr Deborah Powell, APEX National Secretary.

Read the full press release here: apex.org.nz/media-releases/free-maternity-ultrasound-policy-good-for-parents-and-good-for-sonographers/

14/06/2026

Dr Deborah Powell, APEX's national secretary, said that outsourcing scans to Everlight, “should only have been a backup”.

“Obviously having reports read here in New Zealand as close to the patient and their clinicians as possible is preferable, for a range of reasons including collegial collaboration.

“Unfortunately, it became seen as ‘easier’ than staffing adequately with radiologists and now we have, in our view, far too much use of it.”

Read the full article here:

An Auckland teacher says she was told her cancer had returned and was terminal - only for follow-up scans to find no trace of the disease.

11/06/2026

"The net outcome of the mergers of both the medical labs and of the DHBs is that, instead of having a singularly powerful lab service provider that can hike prices, we have a singularly exposed and co-dependent relationship between Awanui and Health NZ. Both depend on the other.

The uncomfortable conclusion is that Awanui Labs is too big to be allowed to fail."

Read the full article here:

Nationwide lab firm CEO Anoop Singh: ‘Awanui is operating in a system under pressure from increasing demand, workforce shortages, rising costs and a constrained funding environment.’ Jonathan Milne reports.

26/05/2026

"If we don't have enough medical staffing in the EDs or up on the wards, then patients don't get seen.

Our health workers love working in our rural and community hospitals. They report it's a great place to work, they get a real sense of community, of doing good work.

But that would change unless they were supported.

We need to move away from on-call rosters and start working seven days a week."

— Dr Deborah Powell, APEX National Secretary

Read the full article here:

"If we don't have enough medical staffing in the EDs or up on the wards, then patients don't get seen," says a healthcare worker union.

26/05/2026

A new report from the health unions APEX and NZRDA on the state of New Zealand’s rural and community hospital system has found many are operating well below capacity, even as demand for emergency medical care and diagnostic services rapidly increases.

The report ‘A Great Little Hospital’- Inside New Zealand’s Rural and Community Hospital System, highlights the need for leadership of Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand to pay careful attention to how making better use of capacity in rural hospitals could improve care for rural patients and decompress overcrowded metropolitan hospitals.

Read the report here: apex.org.nz/campaign/a-great-little-hospital

21/05/2026

Over the past few weeks, APEX has settled collective agreements across Te Whatu Ora and the private sector. A huge thank you to everyone involved throughout the bargaining process.

A special congratulations to WellSouth Health Improvement Practitioners, who have ratified their very first collective agreement after 10 months of bargaining.

Te Whatu Ora Radiation Therapists have also secured a new agreement that includes pay increases, a significant boost to CPD funding, and improvements to Long Service Leave and other provisions.

Trades and Dental settlements have also recently been reached and are now moving through implementation.

Kia kaha!

09/04/2026

APEX member Alex Peterson - Specialised Perfusionist at Auckland City Hospital - spoke to Kathryn Ryan this morning about the vital work his team are doing to keep transplant organs healthy during transport:

The work by a small Auckland team to care for organs donated for transplant.

09/04/2026

“We welcome Health New Zealand’s announcement of additional funding and price controls for maternity ultrasound as a step in the right direction. Thousands of expectant parents will no longer have to worry about large bills for required ultra-sounds,” said Dr Deborah Powell, APEX National Secretary.

Read the full press relase on our website, link is in comments.