Role of Chief Nursing Officer
The Chief Nursing Officer provides nursing clinical leadership and advice to support the Ministry in ensuring the health system is meeting the current and future needs of New Zealanders.
Key responsibilities
The Chief Nursing Officer:
- provides expert advice on nursing to Government, supporting the development, implementation, and evaluation of health policy – leading nursing policy and strategy aligned with Government's objectives
- provides professional leadership to the nursing profession in New Zealand – working closely with nurse leaders, professional statutory bodies, professional and staff associations and unions, Health New Zealand leaders, and the voluntary and independent sectors
- ensures an effective New Zealand contribution to nursing and health policy in international fora, including the World Health Organization, the Western Pacific Region, and close association with Australian colleagues.
Lorraine Hetaraka: Chief Nursing Officer
Lorraine Hetaraka (Ngāti Kahu, Te Arawa, Ngāiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui) joined the Ministry on 15 March 2021. She is a registered nurse and has held senior and executive leadership roles in secondary and primary healthcare.
Prior to joining the Ministry, Lorraine was Chief Executive of Te Arawa Whānau Ora a Hauora Māori provider in the Te Manawa Taki region. She has also worked in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland and held senior nursing roles in Primary Health Organisations, and was the Associate Director of Nursing at Auckland District Health Board in a joint appointment with the University of Auckland. She was awarded her master’s degree with first class honours from the University of Auckland.
Lorraine has a deep commitment to advancing nursing practice, improving quality of care for all New Zealanders, and achieving equitable health outcomes for populations with the greatest health need.
Brittany Jenkins: Clinical Chief Advisor
Brittany is a registered nurse with experience in clinical, senior leadership, and executive roles across regulation and service deliver in New Zealand’s health system.
Brittany joined the Ministry in 2023. Prior to this she served as a Senior Advisor in the Health Workforce Implementation Team at Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, Director of Professional Standards at the Nursing Council of New Zealand, and Director of Nursing for the then West Coast DHB. Brittany has also held a range of clinical and senior nursing roles in areas including clinical governance consulting, critical care, nursing education, resuscitation, and workforce.
Brittany's masters research explored the experiences of Filipino and Indian qualified registered nurses working in aged residential care in New Zealand; inspired by an academic internship with the Ministry of Health in 2013.
Pam Doole: Clinical Chief Advisor
Pam Doole has held senior nursing leadership roles at the Ministry of Health, Nursing Council of New Zealand and Hutt Valley District Health Board.
Pam joined the Chief Nurses Office, Ministry of Health in 2020. Prior to this she worked for the Nursing Council in a variety of roles. Most recently she was Director of Strategic Programmes and advised the Council on its preparation of registered nurses to meet the health needs of all New Zealanders and the improvements to the registration process for internationally qualified nurses including using an evidence base for English language standards and assessment. Other projects included the Code of Conduct for nurses, the review of the enrolled nurses scope of practice and a framework for expand practice for registered nurses.
Before joining the Council, she was Director of Nursing at Hutt Valley DHB and the professional development and recognition programme coordinator. She has also worked as a nurse in various clinical areas at Wellington Hospital. Pam has a Bachelor of Arts in history, a Diploma in Nursing and a Master’s in philosophy (Nursing) (with Distinction).
