Bargaining Team 2022
The following bargaining team members are presented for endorsement by NZNO members who will be covered by the new NZNO/HNZ Te Whatu Ora Collective Agreement.
Benjamin (Ben) Basevi NZNO Delegate (Health NZ Auckland Region)
I have been nursing for nearly 40 years in variety of roles, from staff nurse, resource, business manager, disaster planning, co-ordinator, PACU nurse, but mostly as a duty nurse manager. I have been a safe staffing coordinator (CCDM & TC) for the last five years. I have previously worked as commercial fisherman and fire-fighter.
I am passionate about advocacy and, over the last couple of years, have focussed on utilising health and safety law to improve workplace safety. I am used to dealing with stuff in the too-hard basket.
I am a member of the National Delegates Committee (NDC) for Te Toka Tumai and am currently the NDC chair. I have been a delegate for 35 years.
I joined the bargaining team to help in this round of negotiations and have become increasingly active as a result of health and safety. I want to see some changes happen and help drive that if I can.
Edna Beech
I have been a registered nurse for more than 30 years. I completed my training in Dundee, Scotland and moved to New Zealand 25 years ago where I was employed by Wairarapa DHB. My expertise includes; rehab, medical, surgical, HDU and theatre. My passion has been to empower patients to achieve good outcomes on their planned care journey. With this passion in mind, this has led me into an education role and I was part of the AARC and ALERT trainer team for many years. It is humbling to know I have paid a significant part in Te Whatu Ora – Wairarapa staff training journey.
I believe I have the expertise needed to facilitate a successful bargaining process:
- I have always been a supporter of NZNO, and a delegate for nine years.
- I uphold the values of Te Whatu Ora – Wairarapa and our Periop Charter. I am particularly passionate about the wellbeing of our nurses.
- With recently moving into a leadership role I have gained a wider experience beyond Periop and can appreciate the nursing pressures beyond my department.
- I am passionate about the bargaining process and encourage all members to take part in the future of NZNO and our collective agreement.
- I have an understanding of all of the roles covered by NZNO and know the value of each role and how they all work together to make the dynamic teams required to make Te Whatu Ora a positive experience for patients/clients/staff involved.
Grant Cloughley
Over the last 40 years I have been a medical orderly (forerunner to HCA), EN, RN, DNM and spent 20+ years as a flight nurse. I've worked in geriatrics, plastics, surgical, orthopaedics, for 22 years in ICU, and the last 15 years in paediatrics, so I believe I have a working knowledge of most roles covered in our CA.
I became involved in the New Zealand Nurses Association (NZNA) in the early 90s as a delegate through to Central Regional chair. I was on the NZNA Board when we merged with the Nurses Union to form NZNO. At the same time I was Chair of the National Industrial Services Committee and co-Chair of the National Professional Services Committee.
During the days of CHEs and AHBs I was on the negotiation teams for several local hospital collective agreements. I was on the negotiation team for the very last DHB MECA where I took on the role of communicating to members the events/outcomes of each day of negotiation. I also made it my personal mission to try and negate all the online misinformation, and quell a lot of the anger that had occurred during the previous MECA. I have continued to make myself available to answer members questions and support members as best as able.
Camille Collier
I was born and raised on the beautiful East Coast and am of Ngāti Porou descent. I have been working as a Registered Nurse in the Emergency Department at Te Whatu Ora Tairāwhiti since graduating my Bachelor of Nursing in 2011. I have a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Science with a focus in emergency nursing which I completed in 2017. I took a break from post grad study to focus on balancing my whānau and mahi commitments but anticipate picking this back up in the near future.
I became an NZNO delegate in 2018 and was fortunate enough to join the bargaining team in 2020 during the previous negotiations. I appreciated the experience and remain committed to representing our workforce and advocating for issues that are important to our members.
In our current working climate it is more crucial than ever that we stand together, united to help fight for better and safer working conditions not only because we and our patients are entitled to that but also to safeguard the future of our profession. I look forward to working together with the new team towards these goals.
Al Dietschin
I'm a health care assistant (hospital aide) and delegate in Orthopaedics at Christchurch Hospital. I'm also co-convenor of the workplace organising committee.
In my time as a delegate with NZNO I've organised meetings with health care assistants to determine and attempt to address issues specific to our role. From this several delegates and I formed a committee and met with directors of nursing.
I believe strongly in solidarity, especially across unions and have organised several cross union delegate meetings that were attended by all hospital based health care unions. I've also attended every picket of striking health care workers in the last five years.
Something most memorable was organising with other delegates to pressure the then DHBs to pay the $1000 penalty coming from the last MECA settlement. Waikato, West Coast and Canterbury members weren't going to receive payment until after Xmas/New Year in 2021.
I established a network via FB messenger, we threatened protest action, Waikato capitulated and after a group of us delegates met with CDHB/WCDHB corporate we forced them to also concede and pay members before Xmas.
I'll do my best to represent all Te Whatu Ora members and in particular help advance the interests of health care assistants as a vital part of the nursing workforce.
Debbie Handisides
I live and work in Christchurch at Burwood Spinal Unit and have been an EN for 18 years. I have been a delegate for 16 years, as well as an active NZNO regional council committee member and member of the NZNO EN Canterbury section. I have completed four years on the NZNO EN National Committee, am on the National delegates committee (NDC) as well as Chair of the Burwood WOC.
I am an enthusiastic, self-motivated, reliable, a good communicator and adaptable to all challenging situations. I am passionate about what is fair and right for all members regarding our collective agreement. I am not afraid to have the hard conversation and seek clarification to ensure the right communication is correct for members including solutions outside the box.
I am enthusiastic to be part of the bargaining team to represent all members with diversity and inclusion to ensure all members’ claims are brought to the table. I will ensure I am present for all discussions raising concerns and reaching consensus for the best outcomes for every member if possible.
Nayda Heays (Te Poari rep)
He uri ahau no Ngai Tuhoe me Ngati Awa. Kei Ahuriri ahau e noho ana. Ko Neehi Māori ahau. Ko Nayda Heays toku ingoa.
I am a registered nurse at Te Whatu Ora Te Matau a Maui Hawke's Bay in the Intensive Care Unit. I have been an active member of Te Runanga o Aotearoa since I was an undergraduate and delegate for 12 years. I am the newly appointed Chairperson of Te Matau a Maui Te Runanga.
I represent Te Poari for this kaupapa to ensure the voices of Māori health professionals are valued in the process. Our focus is to improve the livelihood of our members, our hapū, and our Iwi, through a collective approach.
Noreen McCallan
I started my nursing career in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1981. I have been involved in NZNO delegate work since coming to work in New Zealand in 1989. I am the co-conveyor of Te Mata a Maui Hawke’s Bay (TMMHB) hospital delegates group, I represent TMMHB Regional Council in the NZNO membership committee and I represent NZNO in the Health and Safety committee in TMMHB. I have completed the HSR NZQA unit standard 29315.
Currently I work as an RN in the Dialysis Unit. I have worked in senior nurse and nurse manager roles in community and hospital settings. I am very lucky to work in a well-staffed area. The lack of shift work and relatively newly purpose-built dialysis unit attracts and retains good staffing numbers. However in my delegate/co-convenor role, I am acutely aware that my privileged position is not the norm.
The TMMHB delegate group is an active and engaged group of committed RNs and HCAs. Over the years we have worked hard to achieve meaningful engagement with the senior nurse leaders and decision makers in TMMHB.
Julie Pritchard
I currently work in the perioperative department at Hutt Hospital. I have been a delegate for many years in both private and public hospitals.
I am passionate about the future of nursing in New Zealand and fairness in the workplace, wherever that might be. Nurses are worth more, both in what they are paid and in their places of work.
I was part of the last MECA bargaining team where we were all there for the members and knowing that we were negotiating for all was very humbling. This bargaining will be no different and I am sure we will do the best we can do for all members.
Jennie Rae
I am a registered nurse working as the service co-ordinator with the Community Mental Health Team at Taranaki Base Hospital.
I have been a delegate for more than 20 years and am NZNO Co-Convener here at Te Whatu Ora Taranaki.
I’ve played an active role across many committees both within the workplace and across NZNO during my time as a delegate and was on the 2020 bargaining team.
Rachel Thorn
I have been an ED nurse for the last eight years at Whangarei Hospital and a delegate for the last three years. Prior to that I have been a health care assistant and teacher aide working in special needs support. I am the parent of three grown up daughters and have lived in Northland for most of the last 20 years.
I am passionate about equity and fairness and as a delegate I have determinedly pushed for improved processes and support around bullying and harassment in our workplace; for safer communication in the workplace; and more recently for improved, equitable incentives during the short staffing crisis – as well as more equitable respect and care for our health and wellbeing. I believe in a team approach, respecting all viewpoints, listening well and communicating safely, clearly and with respect at all times.
I am really honoured to join the negotiating team this year and look forward to working for nurses across New Zealand, continuing to improve our contract with Te Whatu Ora and focussing on retaining our nurses already working here – as well as attracting new nurses into the country and into the profession.
I am a strong believer that we are all equal and that everyone should be treated fairly and equitably, whatever their profession, experience, race, gender, ethnicity, age or standing within the organisation. I hope I can bring a new voice to the table and represent nurses and health care assistants with a listening ear.