Regional conventions well attended.

Well over 200 NZNO delegates have attended the six regional conventions held up to the time Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand went to press early this month. Conventions have been held in Whangarei, Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Christchurch and Dunedin, with the last two conventions scheduled for Palmerston North and Nelson in mid-June.

This year's theme is "Members make a difference" and the opening address focused on the success of the Fair Pay Campaign and the importance of members' activism in achieving fair pay goals. July I is the date of the final installment of the fair pay settlement in district health boards. It also focused on NZNO's current campaigns, all of which are underpinned by four key principles: recruitment; delegate leadership; external leverage, ie building community support and influencing decision makers; and member activity.

Before 2000, NZNO had fewer than 30,000 members but a membership target of 40,000 is now within reach. Membership of colleges and sections has exploded to 10,000 over the last couple of years. NZNO's goals are fair pay for all members; fair conditions for all members; safe staffing across all sectors; and training, support and respect.

The opening address was delivered by different people at the conventions, as NZNO's president Marion Guy was at the International Council of Nurses' forum in Geneva.

Other presentations included one on PAUA (Positively Action in Unity and Aroha) by policy analyst Maori Sharon Clair, which outlined its history, objectives and progress; and one on community politics, by industrial adviser Rob Haultain, which explored ways members could get their communities to support member campaigns.

Delegates were updated on NZNO campaigns and on the Committee of Inquiry into Safe Staffing and Healthy Workplaces. At each convention a professional nursing adviser (PNA) gave a presentation, "Meeting the professional and medicolegal challenges for members", which informed members of how the PNAs work alongside organisers to meet member needs; identified key principles in managing professional and medicolegal risk; and highlighted key regional and national professional developments. Organiser Andrea Kelleher, who facilitated the four North Island conventions, said feedback showed delegates felt more confident about involving members in union issues and about encouraging them to own their part in NZNO. Delegates had also found the PAUA and PNA presentations valuable.