Nelson.

WHAREAMA (NEW Zealand Life Care): An agreement has been ratified, which gives pay increases of between 2.5 percent and eight percent on base rates, depending on placement on the pay scale. Members had voted to strike for 24 hours and the settlement was reached at mediation.

Nelson Hospice: Negotiations have started and the claims are to be taken to the board for its input. The next meeting was scheduled for the middle of this month.

Manuka Hospital (Nelson): Negotiations have started and members' claims have been taken back to the board for its input. The next meeting was scheduled for the middle of this month.

Lakewoods Hospital (Blenheim): The first set of negotiations for a collective agreement was scheduled for early this month.

Allan Bryant and Plymouth Court Resthome and Hospital (Hokitika): Members have written to their employer in the hope of getting negotiations started again, after they rejected a settlement reached before new aged-care funding was announced.

Sterile Supplies staff in Blenheim have ratified a new agreement, as have staff at Green Gables owned by Qualcare in Nelson.

Village Care negotiations have struck a problem, with all the sites now under new ownership. There are two sites in Blenheim--Abbeyleigh and Fairview. It was known for some time the Village Care sites were on the market. The priority for these negotiations was to provide a smooth transition to the new owners. At the time of writing, we are still trying to achieve this.

With the South Island Multi-Employer Collective Agreement now settled, I am trying to catch up on work that has been backing up in other areas. I am also taking two weeks' holiday to recharge the batteries.

My thanks for the patience many of you have shown and my thanks for all the hard work of NZNO delegates. Nurses' commitment to achieving better pay in public and private sectors is heartening. With such commitment we will achieve better pay, because we all know we are certainly worth it.