NZ Workplace Relations April 2026
Read on for a summary of ER events.
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2 April
The government has announced a temporary 30 percent increase to mileage reimbursement rates for around 23,000 home and community support workers, raising the rate from 63.5 cents to 82.5 cents per kilometre. The increase will remain in place for up to 12 months or until 91 octane petrol falls below $3 a litre for four consecutive weeks. The PSA and E tū, who had filed an Employment Relations Authority claim against Health New Zealand over the previous rate, said the increase still fell well short of the IRD’s actual cost-of-running-a-vehicle rate of $1.17 per kilometre, and described it as inadequate. A subsequent RNZ report noted that MPs are entitled to claim mileage at the full IRD rate of $1.17 per kilometre for petrol vehicles, prompting criticism from workers about a double standard.
Fred A – Assistance with travel/fuel cost for employees who need to use their own vehicle to perform their work in sensible. I’m surprised that employees and unions have not pushed for travel allowances in CEA bargaining to cover the steep increase in getting to and from work.
9 April
Woolworths New Zealand is trialling the closure of in-store butchery departments across the South Island, proposing to replace them with prepackaged meat only. The company said the move was driven by difficulty recruiting butchers. Workers First Union said butchers were leaving because they could see the closures coming, and described the trial as effectively a foregone conclusion for affected staff. The number of roles at risk has not been disclosed.
10 April
Whangārei Hospital nurses taking part in a uniform strike as part of the NZNO’s 18-month collective bargaining dispute with Health NZ were told they could not wear stickers saying “striking for safe staffing,” with some reportedly threatened with referral to the Nursing Council and loss of registration if they did so. Health NZ cited infection control, saying stickers could not be wiped clean and could come loose during procedures. The NZNO said the threats caused some nurses to withdraw from the industrial action. Health NZ subsequently encouraged clinicians who received flu vaccinations to wear “I’ve had a flu jab” stickers in patient areas. Health NZ defended the distinction, saying flu jab stickers carried public health messaging and were generally only worn on the day of vaccination, not during close patient care.
Fred A – Long standing dispute between nuses and Health NZ becomes farcicle! However they seem to be inching toward settlement.
15 April
E tū members rallied outside Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington calling for the museum to abandon a restructure proposal that would axe 14 roles and realign dozens more. The restructure is part of a two-stage review announced in October 2025 to address a forecast cash shortfall of $4.3 million, rising annually, against a backdrop of $43 million in Crown funding and the need to raise a further $38 million commercially. E tū said savings should come from elsewhere, and called on senior leadership — on salaries of $470,000 and $370,000 respectively — to take pay cuts in solidarity with affected staff. Te Papa said the review was necessary to ensure its long-term financial sustainability.
https://etu.nz/e-tu-members-will-rally-to-save-jobs-at-te-papa/
Fred A – more restructureing/cost cutting in Wellington Te Papa.
14 April
The NZEI and the Ministry of Education signed a new Primary Teachers’ Collective Agreement on 14 April, ending a dispute that had involved strikes, ERA intervention, and controversy over the Public Service Commissioner offering individual pay rises to non-union teachers. The 30-month agreement runs from 2 April 2026 to October 2028, with teachers on the top steps of the salary scale receiving a cumulative pay increase of 4.7 percent by January next year, and those moving up the scale receiving 4.6 percent. The deal also includes an increase in the management unit allowance from $4,500 to $5,250 by October 2028, achieving parity with secondary school teachers, and a $3 million Professional Learning and Development fund for relief teachers. NZEI said the gains in the final deal were meaningful, though noted a settlement could have been reached sooner had the Ministry made its final offer earlier.
Fred A – settled
15 April
The CTU has written an open letter to political leaders calling for the government to involve unions, businesses and community groups — not just selected businesses — in its response to the fuel crisis. The CTU said discussions to date had been conducted in an opaque manner without reference to the needs of workers, who were bearing the brunt of rising fuel costs. It called on all political parties to set aside differences and work toward solutions in the interests of all New Zealanders, and said the country urgently needed a long-term plan to reduce reliance on petrol, gas and diesel.
Fred A – A reasonable request! In a real democracy leaders would be engaging with a broad spectrum of New Zealanders regarding the impact of the oil/fuel cost on the population. What are the alternatives? Then plan for the future.
17 April
The Save Science Coalition says around 700 science roles have been lost and hundreds of millions of dollars withdrawn from the sector since the 2023 election. The coalition’s new report argues New Zealand spends around 1.4 percent of GDP on science and research, well below the OECD benchmark of 3 percent, and is calling for funding to be increased to 2 percent of GDP. Advocates say displaced scientists are struggling to find work, with some taking pay cuts of up to a third, relocating overseas, or facing serious financial hardship. The coalition is also calling for legislation to recognise the public good value of scientific research alongside commercial returns.
23 April
Health New Zealand has tabled a proposed terms of settlement to the NZNO — its first offer since June 2025 — covering around 36,000 nurses, midwives and health care assistants who have been in bargaining since September 2024. The NZNO said it would not reveal the details of the offer until after a membership ballot, with the bargaining team spending the coming weeks consulting members. Members will decide collectively whether to accept the offer or continue industrial action.
Fred A – After 20 months of negotiations are we seeing a possible settlement? Bargaining fatigue may be the driver for getting this done!
24 April
Firefighters in Timaru are into their sixth month of weekly one-hour strikes as part of the nationwide NZPFU dispute with FENZ, with no new offer yet tabled despite FENZ indicating in March it was working one up. Facilitated bargaining resumed on 30–31 March but the NZPFU said progress remained limited. The dispute has been further complicated by FENZ deducting pay for strikes yet to occur, which the union described as wage theft and said it would pursue through legal action and Labour Inspectors. FENZ maintained the deductions were lawful under partial strike legislation. Firefighters have had no pay increase since July 2023.
Fred A – The issues are becoming absurd and petty. Both sides are finding creative ways not to settle their dispute.
29 April
The Education and Workforce Select Committee heard submissions on the Employment Leave Bill, with PSA members and employment lawyers warning the proposed shift to hours-based leave accrual would leave some workers significantly worse off. One worker said she would take a $2,700 annual pay cut because her shift and overtime allowances would not be factored into leave payments under the new system. The CTU said the bill was unworkable and poorly drafted, and would disproportionately affect part-time workers, young people, Māori, Pasifika, migrants and women. Concern was also raised that the bill would encourage casualisation of the workforce. The Minister said it had proven impossible to draft a bill that left no worker worse off without creating a regime worse than the current Holidays Act, and described the bill as a balanced proposition. The select committee is due to report back to Parliament by 13 July.
Fred A – oh no not another badly drafted Bill! The current Holidays Act is a shocker! And now the new, improved Employment Leave Bill makes employees worse off! What next!
29 April
Specialty Trainees of New Zealand (STONZ) has reached a pay deal with Health New Zealand covering around 1,800 junior doctors, following three months of negotiations. The agreement includes a 2.5 percent pay rise in the first year and a further 2.5 percent in year two, plus a one-off payment of $3,000. The deal also includes improved rates for additional shifts, better support for parents returning from parental leave, and assistance for doctors relocating between hospitals for training. STONZ said reaching a settlement without industrial action was a significant outcome. The second junior doctors’ union, NZRDA, is due to begin its own collective bargaining in June.
Fred A – deal done! 2.5% each year for 2 yrs, plus a one time payment of $3k.
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