Delegate conventions focus on leadership and campaigning.

Six down, three to go--that was the state of play regarding NZNO's regional delegate conventions when Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand went to press. Close to 300 delegates have attended conventions in Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Dunedin, Whangarei and Hamilton, with another 150 expected at the three remaining conventions which were to be held in Auckland, Palmerston North and Hawke's Bay earlier this month.

The theme of this years conventions was Delegates as leaders and at each convention local delegates each gave a presentation on leadership roles they had undertaken. NZNO president Jane O'Malley or vice presidents Marion Guy or Al McDougall have given the keynote address at each convention, outlining NZNO's growth and achievements over the last year. But Annals gave the address to the Nelson convention. He said NZNO was the country's fastest growing union, with membership now close to 40,000. Membership was up in all categories, with registered nurses, caregivers and students all up by more than ten percent over the last year. NZNO's colleges and sections were another area with huge potential for growth.

Each convention planned how delegates could plan and promote collective action around NZNO's Pay Parity for Primary Health Campaign and and its Grow to Win Campaign in the aged-care sector. Delegates also had the opportunity to debate NZNO's 2006-2010 draft strategic plan, Free to Care, Proud to Nurse. The final document, incorporating members' feedback, is to be launched at NZNO's annual conference in September. Annals said there had been a very postive feeling at the conventions he had attended. "I think what we are seeing at the conventions, as we are seeing in other ways within the organisation, is more engagement with more members. I always enjoy the conventions, meeting a wide cross section of members. It is a privilege to be a part of them."