Impact

A contribution
the sector can use.

National data, research, guidelines and joint advocacy: a record of work for nursing education and the nursing workforce.

A nurse completing notes beside an older patient in a wheelchair.

Our impact

What we have produced.

NETS has contributed research, joint statements and consultation responses to national conversations about nursing education. Explore the work and the original publications behind it.

1992

A national voice established

NETS historical website records
Research

Supporting clinical learning

NETS-funded simulation report · 2014
Partnership

Connecting education and practice

Joint statements and consultation responses

Publications and contributions

Browse all publications
2007

The work-ready new graduate nurse

A joint statement describing graduate readiness, including professional responsibility, communication, teamwork and ongoing learning, alongside the support new graduates need.

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Historical contribution · 2007

2011

Professional boundaries in nursing

Feedback on draft Nursing Council guidelines, highlighting the importance of trust and boundaries in teaching, research, management and relationships with colleagues.

View publication and source

Historical contribution · 2011

2014

What shall we teach?

Research identifying and prioritising learning outcomes for simulation in undergraduate nursing. The report explores clinical judgement, communication, ethical practice and cultural safety.

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Historical contribution · 2014

2019

Social media and the nursing profession

A guide for nurses and nursing students on online professionalism, confidentiality and professional boundaries. NETS contributed to the original 2012 adaptation and the 2019 revision.

View publication and source

Historical contribution · 2019

2020

The nursing education pipeline

Feedback on the “Closing the Gaps” concept paper, calling for education providers to be involved in workforce planning and stronger links between education and employment.

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Historical contribution · 2020

A nurse shares a warm moment with an older couple outdoors.
Our shared purpose

For the people at the heart of care.

Read the work.

Browse the publications, research and joint statements behind the contribution.

Browse publications
Joint statement · July 2026

A United Voice for Nursing Education

WELLINGTON – In a landmark development for healthcare education, three prominent nursing education organisations have formally established a powerful collective voice to advocate for the future of the profession.

At a formal acknowledgement held today at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, a joint commitment to unity and advocacy was affirmed by:

Kawa Whakaruruhau Wharangi Ruamano (KWWR, Māori Nurse academics and clinicians)

Nurse Educators in the Tertiary Sector (NETS)

Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (CDNM, NZ)

The chairs of the three organisations were joined by more than 40 nursing education leaders from across Aotearoa. Guided by the principles of He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the inaugural hui addressed critical challenges in nursing education, including student hardship and placement poverty.

The sector is currently navigating a period of significant reform with new standards of competence, updates to education standards, and threats to the Nursing Council of New Zealand’s status as an independent regulatory body following proposed changes to the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 that will give the Minister of Health the power to overturn their decisions, undermining their clinical and professional autonomy.

In response, the hui also focused on strengthening clinical education and practice with strategies that support the implementation of Kawa Whakaruruhau and cultural safety. Central to this vision is ensuring that Māori nurses are engaged in all levels of decision-making, and nurses are included in governance, on health boards and strategic committees where their expertise can influence patient safety, care quality, equity and health outcomes.

Special thanks to chairs Donna Foxall, Associate Professor Jan Dewar, Josephine Davis (KWWR), Tracey Cook, Dr Judith Honeyfield (NETS) and Professor Nicolette Sheridan (CDNM, NZ).

Since 1992

Our story

NETS was established in 1992 as the National Association of Nurse Education in the Tertiary Sector.

  1. 1973

    Nursing education moves into polytechnics.

  2. 1992

    NETS is founded. The first Bachelor of Nursing degrees begin.

  3. 2003

    Thirty years of tertiary nursing education. NETS records its history.

  4. 2012

    Renamed. Wharangi Ruamano gifts the whakataukī.

  5. 2023

    Fifty years of tertiary nursing education celebrated at Parliament.

  6. 2026

    A united voice with KWWR and the Council of Deans. Incorporation in progress.

Its early records (1990 to 2003) are held in the J C Beaglehole Room at Victoria University of Wellington Library.

NETS

Our partnerships

Kawa Whakaruruhau Wharangi Ruamano

The national group of Māori nurse educators. Wharangi Ruamano has been a member with a seat at every national meeting since at least 2012, and gifted the whakataukī used by NETS.

Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery

The university sector partner. NETS and the Council of Deans have worked together on submissions and, with KWWR, the 2026 united voice for nursing education.

The national nursing table

NETS is listed by the Ministry of Health among New Zealand’s national nursing organisations and is a member of the National Nursing Organisations group.

Records 1990–2003

The NETS archive

NETS records from 1990 to 2003 are held in the J C Beaglehole Room at Victoria University of Wellington Library, accession A2007/04.

The collection occupies 70 linear centimetres. The 2003 history records the development of nursing education and the inaugural heads of nursing schools.

Selected research, submissions and joint statements from the former NETS website are available in the publications library .

Governance · Draft

Constitution

NETS is incorporating under the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

The supplied March 2026 constitution contains suggested changes. It is a draft; the approved constitution and registered society details will be added before launch.

Governance · Publication pending

Meeting minutes

NETS meets nationally three times a year.

Approved, redacted summaries of meetings and discussions will be published on the meeting summaries page . The first approved summaries are still to come.

Governance · Notices

Annual general meeting

The AGM is held at the last national meeting of the year.

An approved AGM notice, meeting details and AGM minutes will be added here. No formal AGM notice has been published in this preview.

Website preview

Privacy

This static preview does not include analytics, advertising cookies, a contact form or a mailing list. It does not collect information through the page.

Fonts are hosted with the website. The preview hosting provider may process access and security information as part of serving this site.

NETS’s full privacy statement will be confirmed before launch, once hosting and contact arrangements are agreed.

Governance · Document pending

Annual report

An approved annual report has not been supplied for this preview.

The document, reporting year and publication date will appear here once available.

Governance · Document pending

Financial statements

Approved financial statements have not been supplied for this preview.

The reporting period and publication date will be added with the approved document.