Struggling to keep up with the latest news that matters? We’ve got you covered. Our daily news roundup* is your go-to source for updates that impact the progressive movement in Aotearoa New Zealand. Every morning, we bring you the key stories that impact workers, communities, and our shared future. From union victories to employment challenges, political shifts, Māori rights, and economic trends—stay informed and empowered, five days a week.
*based on availability.
August 2025
- Tuesday 5 August
Teachers’ unions are cautiously optimistic changes to the country’s secondary school qualifications framework will work, provided they are implemented and resourced well. The country’s big four power companies have signed… Read More »Tuesday 5 August - Monday 4 August
Nearly 40,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants took part in strike action to call for safe staffing levels at Te Whatu Ora. The Workplace Relations Minister has announced consultation on… Read More »Monday 4 August
July 2025
- Thursday 31 July
Nearly 40,000 nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants took part in strike action to call for safe staffing levels at Te Whatu Ora. The Workplace Relations Minister has announced consultation on… Read More »Thursday 31 July - Wednesday 30 July
Close to 36,000 nurses, midwives, and healthcare workers will begin a nationwide 24-hour strike today due to being overworked, under-resourced, and understaffed. Meanwhile, Health NZ has admitted that there are… Read More »Wednesday 30 July - Tuesday 29 July
NZEI is taking the Government to court over recent changes to funding for resource teachers. PPTA has rejected a pay offer of 1 percent a year for three years, one… Read More »Tuesday 29 July - Tuesday 22 July
Kmart staff will now be among the highest-paid retail workers after Workers’ First secured a pay deal which they are calling a “gold standard” for the industry. The Defence Force… Read More »Tuesday 22 July - Monday 21 July
The government has released an infrastructure update showing $6 billion of government-funded construction is due to start between now and Christmas, which the opposition has dismissed as a public relations… Read More »Monday 21 July - Friday 18 July
An Auckland mental health programme catering for people with long-standing or chronic problems will shut down. A year’s-long battle over whether a group of elite athletes can collectively bargain has… Read More »Friday 18 July - Thursday 17 July
About 500 lab workers employed by medical testing company – Awanui – have settled on a 9.2 percent salary increase after six months of strike action. The PSA is urging… Read More »Thursday 17 July - Wednesday 16 July
New Zealand’s construction industry is emerging from one of its toughest periods, with more than 17,000 jobs lost over the past 18 months. Penny Simmonds is confident her approach to… Read More »Wednesday 16 July - Tuesday 15 July
The TEU is calling the government’s disestablishment of Te Pūkenga a “disaster for regional New Zealand”. ASMS and NZNO have accused Nelson Hospital of booking patients for appointments that didn’t… Read More »Tuesday 15 July - Monday 14 July
More than 36,000 Te Whatu Ora nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora have voted to strike for 24 hours of what they say is a failure by Health… Read More »Monday 14 July - Friday 11 July
NZ Post is being told to start over on its consultation process for a proposed business reorganisation after the ERA found it failed to meet its obligations to union members.… Read More »Friday 11 July - Thursday 10 July
Foodstuffs has confirmed 180 roles at Victoria Park’s New World supermarket will be disestablished after a fire three weeks ago – Workers First have negotiated an extended redundancy period in… Read More »Thursday 10 July - Wednesday 9 July
CTU president Richard Wagstaff warned the “light touch” approach in the Government’s new AI strategy would do nothing to protect workers from the serious risks from AI. Lawyers representing unions… Read More »Wednesday 9 July - Tuesday 8 July
The Supreme Court has begun hearing arguments on whether it should uphold or overturn previous court rulings that four Uber drivers were entitled to be treated as employees of the… Read More »Tuesday 8 July - Monday 7 July
The PSA are saying that months after commissioning a report into sexual harassment, Corrections has not moved fast enough to address its “old boys club” culture that has impacted a… Read More »Monday 7 July - Friday 4 July
NZNO says Health New Zealand’s latest pay offer is a “massive backward step” for the health system and patients, and there are “very strong indications” members will want to strike.… Read More »Friday 4 July - Wednesday 2 July
The PSA says potential plans to privatise New Zealand’s meat inspection service could put food quality and safety at risk. Industrial action at Napier Port has concluded after one week,… Read More »Wednesday 2 July
June 2025
- Monday 30 June
E tū mill union delegate Ian Farall has spoken about the disappointment felt by workers that Kinleith pulp and paper mill in Tokoroa has closed. The government wants to electronically… Read More »Monday 30 June - Thursday 26 June
The MP for Tāmaki Makaurau Takutai Tarsh Kemp has died at the age of 50, following a diagnosis of kidney disease. A bill that reintroduces the right of employers to… Read More »Thursday 26 June - Wednesday 25 June
RMTU members have started industrial action at Napier Port amid negotiations for better pay for about 185 workers. The draft National Infrastructure Plan is challenging the government to “lift its… Read More »Wednesday 25 June - Tuesday 24 June
About 50 theatre nurses and healthcare assistants at Whangārei Hospital are striking over their ongoing pay dispute with Health New Zealand. Delays in replacing a fire station in Tauranga at… Read More »Tuesday 24 June - Monday 23 June
The TEU estimate that about 300 jobs are under threat at eight of the 16 polytechs, with restructuring plans expected shortly from two more. Three bus drivers in Tauranga have… Read More »Monday 23 June - Tuesday 17 June
The Government is considering cutting sick leave entitlements for part-time workers. Brooke van Velden has introduced a new bill which legislate changes to personal grievances, the 30-day rule and the… Read More »Tuesday 17 June - Thursday 12 June
Council of Trade Unions Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges has taken New Zealand’s pay equity fight to the International Labour Organisation conference in Geneva. Opposition parties say the government should be going… Read More »Thursday 12 June - Tuesday 10 June
290 library workers across Christchurch will get a pay rise to reflect the “true value” of their work, despite the abrupt cancellation of their pay equity claim, due to a… Read More »Tuesday 10 June - Monday 9 June
Parents of New Zealand citizens and residents will be able to access visas, with the government announcing a programme it says will bring families together. Simeon Brown has announced more… Read More »Monday 9 June - Friday 6 June
Te Pāti Māori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Rawiri Waititi have been suspended from Parliament for 21 days for the Treaty Principles haka. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke has been suspended for seven days.… Read More »Friday 6 June - Thursday 5 June
NZNO members are holding stop work meetings to consider industrial action for better pay and higher staff-to-patient ratios. More than 1000 former international rugby players are taking legal action against… Read More »Thursday 5 June - Tuesday 3 June
The Government is shifting WorkSafe’s priorities from enforcement to advice, saying this will help address concerns about underfunding and a “culture of fear”. A new report from the ITUC shows… Read More »Tuesday 3 June
May 2025
- Thursday 29 May
More than 370 theatre nurses at Auckland hospitals have begun a month-long on-call strike, in response to under-staffing concerns. The PSA are calling for stronger whistleblowing laws and more emphasis… Read More »Thursday 29 May - Wednesday 28 May
Some of the country’s leading pay equity specialists may be at risk of losing their jobs following the Government’s overhaul of the system, with one ministry confirming it is examining… Read More »Wednesday 28 May - Tuesday 27 May
Dame Marilyn Waring has worked with a group of former women MPs to form the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity, which will gather evidence on the recent pay equity… Read More »Tuesday 27 May - Thursday 22 May
The Government is set to unveil their Budget, which is expected to lead to further public service cuts and confirm the end of funding for pay equity claims. The RMTU… Read More »Thursday 22 May - Tuesday 20 May
Unions are pointing out that changes to the pay equity system have made it “virtually impossible” for new claims to succeed. The government will spend more than $600 million to… Read More »Tuesday 20 May - Monday 19 May
The PSA says mediation has failed to resolve its conflict with the government over working from home, with the case now heading to the ERA. Food prices have risen at… Read More »Monday 19 May - Friday 16 May
The Council of Trade Unions met with Brooke van Velden and demanded that she reversed the recent pay equity changes. Remaining staff members at polytech UCOL may be expected to… Read More »Friday 16 May - Monday 12 May
Opposition to the Government’s attacks on pay equity are gathering steam, with protests around the country and more than 65,000 people already signed on to a petition calling on the… Read More »Monday 12 May - Tuesday 6 May
New analysis found the clean slate law has no relevant impact on the likelihood of eligible individuals finding work. The New Zealand film sector is keeping calm and carrying on in… Read More »Tuesday 6 May - Monday 5 May
Unions joined forces on May Day to fight back against the ongoing attack on workers’ rights under the current Government. The senior doctors’ union is not ruling out further industrial… Read More »Monday 5 May
April 2025
- Tuesday 29 AprilThe CTU has launched a campaign to ban the import, supply and use of engineered… Read More »Tuesday 29 April
- Monday 28 AprilFewer than 50 families are likely to receive National’s full $252 fortnightly tax break, based… Read More »Monday 28 April
- Thursday 24 AprilThe PSA says a settlement with Health New Zealand over the agency’s proposed restructure of… Read More »Thursday 24 April
- Wednesday 23 April370 perioperative nurses working at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre will… Read More »Wednesday 23 April
- Thursday 17 AprilThousands of senior medical doctors have voted to go on strike for 24 hours overpay… Read More »Thursday 17 April
- Tuesday 15 AprilNZCTU President Richard Wagstaff has published an opinion piece which makes the case for a… Read More »Tuesday 15 April
- Monday 14 AprilThe PSA surveyed more than 900 of its members, with 55 percent of respondents saying… Read More »Monday 14 April
- Friday 11 AprilThe Treaty Principles Bill has been defeated in Parliament with 112 votes in opposition and… Read More »Friday 11 April
- Thursday 10 AprilTe Whatu Ora is proposing to slash jobs from a department that brings in millions… Read More »Thursday 10 April
- Wednesday 9 AprilThe NZCTU have launched a new policy programme and are calling on political parties to… Read More »Wednesday 9 April
- Tuesday 8 AprilThree billion dollars has been wiped off the value of New Zealand’s share market as… Read More »Tuesday 8 April
- Monday 7 AprilStaff at Kāinga Ora are expecting details of another round of job cuts, with the… Read More »Monday 7 April
- Wednesday 2 AprilAged care workers rallying against potential roster changes say Bupa, which runs retirement homes across… Read More »Wednesday 2 April
- Tuesday 1 AprilSmall businesses will be exempt from complying with some of the requirements of health and… Read More »Tuesday 1 April
March 2025
- Friday 28 MarchJobs are on the line for back-office staff at the Department of Corrections, as well… Read More »Friday 28 March
- Thursday 27 MarchKiwis working while physically and mentally unwell is costing businesses $46 billion per year, according… Read More »Thursday 27 March
- Wednesday 26 MarchMachines will take over more jobs at Immigration New Zealand under a multi-million-dollar upgrade that… Read More »Wednesday 26 March
- Tuesday 25 MarchA new employment survey shows that labour market pessimism has deepened as workers worry about… Read More »Tuesday 25 March
- Monday 24 MarchBargaining between the PSA and Oranga Tamariki over the collective agreement is intensifying – with… Read More »Monday 24 March
- Friday 21 MarchThe PSA are calling the Prime Minister a hypocrite for committing to increase defence spending… Read More »Friday 21 March
- Tuesday 18 MarchThe Labour Inspectorate could soon be knocking on the door of hundreds of businesses nation-wide,… Read More »Tuesday 18 March
- Monday 17 MarchEmployers, unions and health and safety advocates are calling for engineered stone to be banned,… Read More »Monday 17 March
- Friday 14 MarchWoolworths has proposed a major restructure of its New Zealand store operating model, leaving workers… Read More »Friday 14 March
- Thursday 13 MarchNicola Willis has proposed new procurement rules that unions say will lead to pay cuts… Read More »Thursday 13 March
- Wednesday 12 MarchMāori workers now hold more high-skilled jobs than low-skilled jobs with 46 percent in high-skilled… Read More »Wednesday 12 March
- Tuesday 11 MarchThe CTU is calling for an apology from Nicola Willis after her office made a… Read More »Tuesday 11 March
- Friday 7 MarchE tū, representing many of NZME’s journalists, says it is “deeply worried” by a billionaire’s… Read More »Friday 7 March
- Thursday 6 MarchPort workers in Lyttleton are warning that a proposal to cut jobs at the port… Read More »Thursday 6 March
- Tuesday 4 MarchThe Commerce Commission is investigating Wellington Water after damning reports into its procurement processes. Prime… Read More »Tuesday 4 March
- Monday 3 MarchA new survey of health staff released by the PSA outlines the “immeasurable pain” of… Read More »Monday 3 March
February 2025
- Friday 28 FebruaryThe Government is set to announce a levy system and new rules around housing infrastructure… Read More »Friday 28 February
- Thursday 27 FebruaryFleur Fitzsimons has been appointed as the new National Secretary of the PSA. The Government… Read More »Thursday 27 February
- Tuesday 18 FebruaryThe Prime Minister says the Government would be open to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine if… Read More »Tuesday 18 February
- Monday 17 FebruaryNew reporting highlights how Brooke van Velden refuses to meet with the CTU but is… Read More »Monday 17 February
- Wednesday 12 FebruarySalvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report highlights falling living standards, the highest unemployment… Read More »Wednesday 12 February
- Tuesday 11 FebruaryA Tai Rāwhiti mill that ran for 30 years before it was shut down in… Read More »Tuesday 11 February
- Monday 10 FebruaryHealth New Zealand is proposing to cut almost half of its data and digital positions… Read More »Monday 10 February
- Monday 3 FebruaryThe PSA have released a survey of 4000 public service workers showing that budget cuts… Read More »Monday 3 February
January 2025
- Wednesday 29 JanuaryThe results of the 2025 Mood of the Workforce survey have been released, with working… Read More »Wednesday 29 January
- Thursday 23 JanuaryThe Tertiary Education Union is predicting a “brutal year” for the tertiary sector as 240,000… Read More »Thursday 23 January
- Wednesday 22 JanuaryNZME plans to cut 38 jobs as it reorganises its news operations, including the NZ… Read More »Wednesday 22 January