New Zealand Strikes October 2025

Read on for a summary of ER events.

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1 Oct

NZPFU Notifies Fire and Emergency New Zealand of One‑Hour Strike on 17 October

The New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union (NZPFU) has formally given notice of a one‑hour full work stoppage from 12 pm to 1 pm on Friday, 17 October 2025. The strike applies across all fire stations, regional offices, district offices, training centres and the Northern, Central and Southern Communications Centres. NZPFU members previously rejected an offer of approximately 5% over five years and say outstanding issues—including staffing ratios, ageing appliances and mental‑health support—remain unresolved.

Fred A The discontent is still brewing. Bigger than the paltry wage offer are claims relating staffing ratios, aging and faulty appliances and growing mental health issues.

9 October

Government Maintains Living Wage Requirement for Contracted Workers

The government has confirmed that workers on contracts for cleaning, catering and security within government agencies will continue to receive at least the New Zealand Living Wage, currently set at $28.95 per hour for 2025/26. This decision protects roughly 5,000 workers from potential cuts following earlier proposals to remove the requirement.

Fred A – the Living Wage has now been entrenched in all government agencies until the end of 2026. What happens after this will be influenced by whether Conservatives or Liberals are in power.

13 Oct

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Blames Unions for Ongoing Strike Action

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has accused unions of prioritising politics over public service, saying that recent strike action—such as the nationwide walk-out by teachers, nurses and other public-service workers—is “a shame” and disproportionately impacts children, patients and families. His comments follow announced strikes by about 21,000 secondary and area school teachers starting in mid-October, and a “mega strike” of over 100,000 public-sector workers scheduled for 23 October. The government maintains it is ready to negotiate, but asserts the unions are not engaging constructively.

Fred A – Luxon blames the unions for the strike. Lets not forget that the current government slashed staffing and wages across the public service creating massive discontent and hardship.

Factory Workers at Resene Paints to Strike Over Living‑Wage Dispute

Workers at Resene’s manufacturing plant in Lower Hutt will strike after rejecting a pay increase of approximately NZ$0.76 per hour and modest increases to allowances, which they say fails to meet the NZ Living Wage rate of NZ$28.95 per hour. The strike, backed by E tū, is the first action by the workers in this dispute. The offer from Resene did not meet the union’s demands for a living‑wage adjustment, prompting industrial action. The local community and supporters have rallied to back the workers, raising funds to cover strike time and demonstrate solidarity during the dispute.

Fred A – the local community is supporting striking workers. Resene is playing hardball offering a low increase when employees are doing it tough.

17 Oct
2,000 Firefighters Hit the Streets for One‑Hour Walk‑Off

On 17 October 2025, around 2,000 members of the New Zealand Professional Firefighters’ Union (NZPFU) walked off the job for one hour from midday. The action involved career firefighters, 111 dispatch staff, volunteer support officers, trainers, community resilience staff and other fire‑service personnel. They took strike action in pursuit of improved pay, conditions and safe systems of work at Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ). The NZPFU issued the walk‑off after failing to make progress in bargaining and notified FENZ in advance of the planned action

Fred A still a red-hot dispute.

Hundreds Protest to Support Living‑Wage Campaign at Resene

Around 200 people gathered outside the head office of Resene Paints in Lower Hutt on 17 October 2025 to support factory workers campaigning for the living wage. The protest included union members from E tū and the Public Service Association, with cars honking in solidarity and community groups raising funds to assist striking workers. The company’s latest pay offer—approximately NZ$0.76 per hour plus small allowance increases—is similar to recent pay rises offered elsewhere in the sector but remains below what workers are seeking to reach the living wage.

Fred A – when the local community gets involved then it becomes a strike of national interest. Some serious mistakes made by Resene management.

19 Oct

Primary Principals Accept Pay Rise After Negotiations

The Primary Principals Collective Bargaining Union has accepted a 2.5% pay rise for 2025, followed by a 2.1% increase in 2026, after four months of negotiations with the Ministry of Education. Of the union’s 515 members, 85% voted on the proposal, with 95% in favour. The agreement includes ongoing discussions about tenure-based pay, allowing principals to be compensated for experience and years in the role. No strike action occurred, as principals understood the constraints and engaged constructively, which enabled the union and Ministry to reach an agreement. NZEI principals are not included in this deal, as they are represented by a separate union.

Fred A – A good outcome all round

MEGA STRIKE

In October 2025, up to 100,000 public sector workers across health, education, and related services took part in a coordinated mega strike. The action targeted pay, staffing, and working conditions, involving teachers, nurses, midwives, senior doctors, ACC staff, and prison healthcare workers, and included school closures, hospital disruptions, and public demonstrations

Members of these unions are participating:

• Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
• New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaikiaki o Aotearoa
• New Zealand Education Institute Te Riu Roa
• Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua.

1. Education Sector

• Secondary school teachers (PPTA): About 21,000 teachers went on strike for one week, impacting schools nationwide. The industrial action was over pay and working conditions, following government offers that were considered insufficient.
• Primary school teachers (NZEI Te Riu Roa): Participated in coordinated strike actions alongside secondary teachers. Both sectors engaged in pickets and protests as part of the wider movement.
• The strikes included rallies and demonstrations, highlighting the public push for better funding, pay, and staffing conditions.

Fred A – pay, resources and staffing remain real problems that wont go away.

2. Health Sector

• Nurses, midwives, and healthcare assistants (NZNO): 11,500+ health workers went on strike, with further workers joining progressively. Participation included public and private hospitals, affecting routine appointments and non-urgent services.
• Senior doctors and dentists (ASMS): Joined the mass strike in late October. Their industrial action followed rejected pay offers and added to the health sector disruption.
• Prison nurses and healthcare assistants: Scheduled strikes on 23 October, coordinated with the wider health strike.

Fred A – the Health Sector across NZ remains in turmoil. These issues have been ongoing for more than a year and underline the governments ideological shift toward privatisation.

3. ACC Workers

• Over 1,200 ACC workers, represented by the PSA, voted to join the mega strike. Their action was in line with health sector strikes, focusing on pay and work conditions.

Fred A – another health sector dispute

Additional Article: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/576476/acc-workers-vote-to-join-mega-strike-action-on-thursday

4. Scale and Coordination

• Up to 100,000 public sector workers were involved, covering health, education, and related public services.
• The strikes were part of a coordinated national effort, including protests, pickets, and public rallies, designed to amplify pressure on the government.

Fred A – the so-called Mega Strike across the public sector is a clear indication that the Government (the employer) is out of step with the needs of its employees. Does this signal a major rift in ideology?

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Image Credit : Christel Yardley / WAIKATO TIMES