Govt Expands Nurse Practitioner Training to Boost Primary Healthcare Access

New Zealand’s Health Minister, Simeon Brown, has announced a major step forward in strengthening the country’s primary healthcare system, with more than 340 nurses already expressing interest in the Government’s new Nurse Practitioner Training and Support Scheme (NPTSS). The initiative, which opened applications today, aims to support 120 registered nurses each year to complete advanced training and become nurse practitioners in primary care.

Brown hailed the strong early interest as evidence of the nursing workforce’s enthusiasm for advancing their clinical skills and expanding their scope of practice. “This strong, early response shows how motivated nurses are to take on advanced roles and deliver more care in their communities,” he said.

Empowering Nurses to Lead Care

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are registered nurses with advanced clinical training and master’s-level qualifications. They are authorised to assess, diagnose, and treat patients, prescribe medicines, manage long-term conditions, and provide preventive and holistic care. Their ability to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare makes them vital to improving accessibility, particularly in rural, primary, and community settings where doctor shortages are common.

Brown emphasised that the government wants to enable more nurses to step into these leadership roles. “Nurse practitioners are essential to delivering timely, high-quality care across the country. By supporting their professional development, we’re helping ensure patients receive care when and where they need it most,” he said.

Comprehensive Support for Training

The Nurse Practitioner Training and Support Scheme (NPTSS) will fund up to 120 registered nurses annually to complete the final practicum year of their Master of Nursing programme and transition into nurse practitioner roles in primary and community care. An additional 60 training places will be available for nurses working in specialist areas such as mental health, emergency medicine, and chronic disease management.

The scheme provides extensive wraparound support for both nurses and their employers. This includes:

• Full tertiary education cost coverage for the practicum year

• Mentoring and preceptorship from experienced clinicians

• Travel and study leave support for training-related commitments

• Clinical supervision to ensure safe and effective practice

• Employer engagement and backfill funding to maintain service delivery while nurses train

“The scheme is a practical investment in our nursing workforce and in better outcomes for patients across New Zealand,” Brown said. “It makes it easier for nurses to complete advanced training while ensuring employers can continue delivering care without disruption.”

Building a Stronger Health Workforce

This initiative is part of the Government’s broader effort to build a sustainable, skilled, and future-ready nursing workforce. Alongside NPTSS, the government is funding incentives for primary care providers to recruit up to 400 graduate registered nurses and offering support for up to 120 registered nurses to pursue postgraduate studies in prescribing and advanced practice qualifications.

These measures come in response to persistent challenges in New Zealand’s healthcare system, including workforce shortages, an aging population, and increased demand for chronic disease management. By training more nurse practitioners and enabling registered nurses to practice at the top of their scope, the government aims to ease the pressure on general practitioners and hospitals while improving access to primary care.

Improving Access and Patient Outcomes

Health experts say the expansion of nurse practitioner roles is a proven way to enhance health outcomes, particularly in underserved communities. International research has shown that nurse practitioners provide care that is equal to or, in some cases, better than physician-led care in terms of patient satisfaction, chronic disease management, and continuity of care.

Simeon Brown reinforced this vision: “By supporting nurses to work at the top of their scope, we’re expanding access to care, strengthening the frontline of our health system, and ensuring more New Zealanders have access to the care they need, close to home.”

The government expects that the NPTSS will not only help reduce wait times and improve access to services but also enhance career pathways for nurses—ensuring that New Zealand retains its most talented healthcare professionals within the public health system.

As applications open, the early surge of interest suggests a strong appetite among nurses to lead the next generation of community-based, patient-focused healthcare.