Kiwi-Indian Nurses Struggling To Sustain Amid Hiring Freeze

Shaurya (name changed) sounds anxious over the phone, his nervous quips at the end of every sentence reveal the uncertainty weighing on him as he awaits his recruitment. He is a graduate nurse in New Zealand.

“Without any notice, because of the hiring freeze by the government, people like us were left out,” Shaurya shares with The Indian Weekender.

“Some of my classmates and I nearly got a job. The offer letters were supposed to be handed in July. Later we were told we will not be getting jobs at the moment.”

Hailing from South India, nursing student Shaurya came to New Zealand in 2018 on a student visa, and three years ago he enrolled into a nursing course post COVID-19, hoping for a secure future. 

“I spent approximately NZ$80,000 over three years as course fee. How will I ever recover that money without a job in hand?” Shaurya says.

About 20-30 per cent of the graduates along with him, according to Shaurya, were shifted to the talent pool, a recruiting category for a group of potential candidates for a company or organisation to fill future vacancies. 

“80 per cent of talent pool vacancies are filled within two to three weeks. As of now, only two-three people have received a job offer since July.”

According to industry data, at least 7,000 people are training to be nurses, with 535 having completed their final July this year–160 have not yet found work through the centralised staffing portal.

Graduate nurse Kritika (name changed), who moved to New Zealand nine years ago, is also in the talent pool waiting for a job. A New Zealand resident, Kritika’s chances of securing a nursing job seemed relatively higher.

“I was interviewed and the administration seemed positive in their response in hiring me. They even appreciated my work experience,” she says.

However, she says her application was declined at the last minute because she was told “we are giving preference to graduates with permanent residency and citizenship due to budget restraints”.

“People with PR and citizenship were given a chance over my work experience of one-and-a-half years.”

Kritika is barely managing her part time job. Working only 15 hours a week, the financial crunch is now beginning to affect her personal life.

“I do not want my husband to bear the financial burden all by himself. He should also have the time to sit and relax at home.”

Many Indian graduate nurses like Shaurya and Kritika decided to study nursing because of a staff shortage. But the uncertainty looming large for these students has made them consider if they should move to other jobs. 

Why the hiring freeze?

Health New Zealand ordered an immediate hiring freeze on all non-frontline roles in June 2024, RNZ reported. The directive was laid out in a leaked email. Chief executive Margie Apa told staff the recruitment freeze applied to all hospital roles that did not deal directly with patients and all public health jobs that did not deal directly with the community.

Chief executive Margie Apa said the recruitment freeze applied to all hospital roles that did not deal directly with patients and all public health jobs that did not deal directly with the community. Apa said the measures were aimed at reducing overspending.

However, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) raised concerns over Health NZ Te Whatu Ora's latest cost-cutting measures. In April, regions were directed to save NZ$105 million by July through methods like banning double shifts, not replacing sick staff, and pausing recruitment for non-patient-facing hospital roles.

Health NZ insisted frontline services won’t be affected, but NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter highlights the lack of consultation with staff, particularly nurses, about these changes.

The freeze is expected to be in place until, at least, when the budgets are set for the next financial year.