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.
June 2025
- 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 April
The CTU has launched a campaign to ban the import, supply and use of engineered stone in an effort to save workers’ lives. Last-ditch mediation between Health NZ and the senior… Read More »Tuesday 29 April - Monday 28 April
Fewer than 50 families are likely to receive National’s full $252 fortnightly tax break, based on the FamilyBoost scheme’s lower than expected uptake. A rare ‘mayday’ call was issued by… Read More »Monday 28 April - Thursday 24 April
The PSA says a settlement with Health New Zealand over the agency’s proposed restructure of its Data and Digital and Pacific Health teams has saved around 200 roles from being… Read More »Thursday 24 April - Wednesday 23 April
370 perioperative nurses working at Auckland City Hospital, Starship Hospital and Greenlane Clinical Centre will strike for two hours on 1 May – the same day senior doctors are striking.… Read More »Wednesday 23 April - Thursday 17 April
Thousands of senior medical doctors have voted to go on strike for 24 hours overpay at the beginning of next month. Callaghan Innovation has confirmed dozens more jobs are on… Read More »Thursday 17 April - Tuesday 15 April
NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff has published an opinion piece which makes the case for a different approach to economic development, as proposed in the CTU’s Aotearoa Reimagined programme. The number… Read More »Tuesday 15 April - Monday 14 April
The PSA surveyed more than 900 of its members, with 55 percent of respondents saying AI is used at their place of work, despite most workers not being in trained… Read More »Monday 14 April - Friday 11 April
The Treaty Principles Bill has been defeated in Parliament with 112 votes in opposition and 11 in favour, but the debate about Te Tiriti and Māori rights looks set to… Read More »Friday 11 April - Thursday 10 April
Te Whatu Ora is proposing to slash jobs from a department that brings in millions of dollars a year and ensures safety in hospitals, rest homes and other community health… Read More »Thursday 10 April - Wednesday 9 April
The NZCTU have launched a new policy programme and are calling on political parties to adopt bold policies in the lead up to the next election. The Government is scrapping… Read More »Wednesday 9 April - Tuesday 8 April
Three billion dollars has been wiped off the value of New Zealand’s share market as the rout of global financial markets caught up with the local market. A Sāmoan national… Read More »Tuesday 8 April - Monday 7 April
Staff at Kāinga Ora are expecting details of another round of job cuts, with the Green Party claiming more than 500 jobs are set to go. The New Zealand Defence… Read More »Monday 7 April - Wednesday 2 April
Aged care workers rallying against potential roster changes say Bupa, which runs retirement homes across the country, needs to focus on care instead of money. More than half of New… Read More »Wednesday 2 April - Tuesday 1 April
Small businesses will be exempt from complying with some of the requirements of health and safety legislation under new reforms proposed by the Government. The living wage will be increased… Read More »Tuesday 1 April
March 2025
- Friday 28 March
Jobs are on the line for back-office staff at the Department of Corrections, as well as at Archives New Zealand and the National Library. A “malicious actor” has accessed and downloaded private information… Read More »Friday 28 March - Thursday 27 March
Kiwis working while physically and mentally unwell is costing businesses $46 billion per year, according to new research. The Tertiary Education Commission is set to lose 22 more jobs, following 28 job cuts… Read More »Thursday 27 March - Wednesday 26 March
Machines will take over more jobs at Immigration New Zealand under a multi-million-dollar upgrade that will mean decisions to approve visas will be automated – decisions to reject applications will continue to be… Read More »Wednesday 26 March - Tuesday 25 March
A new employment survey shows that labour market pessimism has deepened as workers worry about holding to their job, the difficulty in finding jobs, and slowing wage growth. Nurses working in primary care… Read More »Tuesday 25 March - Monday 24 March
Bargaining between the PSA and Oranga Tamariki over the collective agreement is intensifying – with more strike action likely, while the Employment Relations Authority has ordered facilitation. More than 850 laboratory staff are… Read More »Monday 24 March - Friday 21 March
The PSA are calling the Prime Minister a hypocrite for committing to increase defence spending while hundreds of more civilian New Zealand Defence Force jobs are set to be cut as part of… Read More »Friday 21 March - Tuesday 18 March
The Labour Inspectorate could soon be knocking on the door of hundreds of businesses nation-wide, as it launches a major crackdown on those not abiding by the law. NorthTec staff are on edge… Read More »Tuesday 18 March - Monday 17 March
Employers, unions and health and safety advocates are calling for engineered stone to be banned, a day before consultation on regulations closes. On Friday the PSA lodged a pay equity claim for library… Read More »Monday 17 March - Friday 14 March
Woolworths has proposed a major restructure of its New Zealand store operating model, leaving workers worried their hours and pay could be cut. Public servants are being asked how productive their office is,… Read More »Friday 14 March - Thursday 13 March
Nicola Willis has proposed new procurement rules that unions say will lead to pay cuts for already low-paid workers in cleaning, catering and security services that are contracted by government. The Crimes (Theft… Read More »Thursday 13 March - Wednesday 12 March
Māori workers now hold more high-skilled jobs than low-skilled jobs with 46 percent in high-skilled jobs, 14 percent in skilled jobs, and 40 percent in low-skilled jobs. Resource teachers of literacy and Te… Read More »Wednesday 12 March - Tuesday 11 March
The CTU is calling for an apology from Nicola Willis after her office made a false characterisation of CTU statements, which ultimately saw him blocked from future Treasury briefings. New data shows that… Read More »Tuesday 11 March - Friday 7 March
E tū, representing many of NZME’s journalists, says it is “deeply worried” by a billionaire’s plans to take over its board. They are also concerned that NZ Post call centre jobs are gradually… Read More »Friday 7 March - Thursday 6 March
Port workers in Lyttleton are warning that a proposal to cut jobs at the port will lead to more workplace deaths. The Government is doubling the number of nurse practitioners able to train… Read More »Thursday 6 March - Tuesday 4 March
The Commerce Commission is investigating Wellington Water after damning reports into its procurement processes. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says parents who are dissatisfied with the new school lunch programme should “make a marmite… Read More »Tuesday 4 March - Monday 3 March
A new survey of health staff released by the PSA outlines the “immeasurable pain” of restructuring and cost cutting at Health New Zealand, including cancelled surgeries, exploding wait lists and psychologists working reception. Treasury… 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