Anaesthetic Techs

APEX represents anaesthetic technicians and trainee anaesthetic technicians in both public and private hospitals.

We represent the interests of ATs as health care professionals, and have collective agreements with:

• • Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora
  • Evolution Healthcare NZ Limited
  • Grace Hospital Tauranga
  • Mercy Hospital Dunedin

Anaesthetic technicians join APEX to advance their pay and conditions at work.

APEX is relied on by anaesthetic technicians to keep them safe and protected at work, including during employment processes like complaints, personal grievances and investigations.

Through collective bargaining we keep public and private hospital salaries increasing with inflation.

As a union we have worked to ensure the specific responsibilities anaesthetic technicians hold within our health system are recognised including through rostering, emergency call back and professional development provisions.

ATs scope of practice was expanded from 2023/24 and APEX has been active in negotiating with employers the opportunities that this provides for enhancement to their services and which should be recognised through extra pay steps and merit criteria.

In 2026 we agreed with Health New Zealand to recognise the role of specialist anaesthetic technicians in our collective agreement including those anaesthetic technicians who develop expertise in:

• • PICC line insertion,
  • Post Anaesthesia Care Unit (PACU)
  • Advanced Life Support Trainer
  • Air Transport
  • Advanced Ultrasound Vascular Access
  • Scrub
  • Pre-Operative Anaesthesia Assessment Clinic

Specialist AT roles are band B/C roles within the interim career framework.