APEX is the union for sonographers.

For over 40 years, APEX has represented the employment and professional interests of sonographers in both public and private sector.

Sonography is a small and critical health workforce. Through the years APEX has kept the focus on a sustainable training pipeline and attractive public sector working conditions.

In 2024 we consolidated three collective agreements into the National Sonographers Collective Agreement, covering over 300 sonographers across Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora.

The NSCA sets out the essential terms and conditions for sonographers including:

• Salaries and Allowances
• Hours of Work and Rosters
• Leave and Holidays

Our collective agreement includes provisions which are tailored to the unique parts of sonographer employment including:

• CPD allowances for registered sonographers;
• Trainee sonographer provisions;
• Guidelines on Reducing MSI hazards;
• Pay rates for specialist and reporting sonographers;
• Fatigue management clauses.

APEX sonographers are also covered by collective agreements when employed by Wakefield Heart Centre, Central Otago Health Service, and RHCNZ.

In 2026 we released a major report, Prenatal Ultrasound in Aotearoa: An Image of Inequalities, highlighting inconsistent access to pre-natal ultrasound, which led to significant improvements in how ultrasounds are funded.