Strong support for NPTSS at New Zealand’s largest NP gathering

We were proud to have been part of what’s been described as the largest gathering of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) in New Zealand, with around 450 delegates, representing about 40% of the NP workforce at the Nurse Practitioner New Zealand (NPNZ) Conference 2026, in Queenstown.  

Throughout the conference, we had many valuable conversations with NPs, trainee NPs, managers, and nursing leaders. The conference provided an opportunity to deepen connections, share insights, dispel myths, and reinforce the importance of structured support for NPs entering practice. Many experienced NPs reflected that access to a support scheme like NPTSS during the practicum year and then the support post-registration would have significantly eased their transition into practice. This reinforced just how critical structured support is whilst studying and the value of ongoing support following registration. 

We also had the pleasure of connecting with a large Australian delegation, who showed great interest in our approach, particularly given the more fragmented support landscape across states in Australia. 

Events like this reaffirm the role NPTSS plays in strengthening the NP workforce – supporting confident, capable practitioners and contributing to a more sustainable pipeline for the future. 

We look forward to continuing the conversations and connections started at the conference.