The Government will invest $2.8 million to fund up to 200 additional training places for nurse graduates next year.

The investment will bring the total number of places available on the Nurse Entry to Practice programme to 1300.

Tony Ryall has announced funding for training placements for graduate nurses.

The Nurse Entry to Practice programme offers professional and educational support for graduate nurses in their first year of practice.

Health Minister Tony Ryall says 160 of the extra training places will be at public hospitals and DHB funded community health services, while the other 40 training places will be at aged residential care facilities across the country.

Of the 200 placements, there is the potential for a further 13 nurses to be employed by the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

BOPDHB director of nursing Julie Robinson says two nurses could also be employed across the district in the Aged Residential Care area.

'This is a very positive move and a wonderful opportunity to employ further nursing graduates.

'The numbers allocated are proportionate to the size of your current employed registered nurse workforce, in both the DHB and the ARC.”

Julie says they would review and assess staffing requirements and consider how to implement additional training places over the next 12 months.