Workers’ Memorial Day is an international trade union movement that honours working people killed and injured because of their work. We honour all workers, and their whanau, who have been impacted by workplace accidents, illnesses, and injuries in the last year.

Workers’ Memorial Day is also a call for protecting and improving the systems intended to keep workers safe and healthy at work.

In New Zealand, the number of workplace injuries, fatalities, and deaths from work-related health remain unacceptably high. Every week 18 workers are killed as a consequence of their work, every 15 minutes a worker suffers an injury that requires more than week off work.

Every one of these incidents are preventable.

Workers’ Memorial Day Events 2025

Unions will be hosting #IWMD events across the motu, find one near you:
Let us know if you’ll be hosting an event.

Location	Date	Details
Wellington	Monday 28 April 10.30am	VENUE: Workers’ Memorial Stone – Te Papa Waterfront, Followed by morning tea Facebook event page
Manawatu	Monday 28 April  12pm	VENUE: Workers’ Memorial, Memorial Park, Fitzroy Street entrance
Christchurch	Monday 28 April 11.45am	VENUE: Canterbury Workers’ Memorial, Science Alive Reserve Off Gasson Street behind Moorhouse NPD service station.
Otago	Monday 28 April 11.45am	VENUE: Otago Workers’ Memorial, Market Reserve Princes Street

Fight Back for Worker Safety

Workers’ Memorial Day is a call to action to fight for protecting and improving the laws that keep working people safe and healthy at work.

Now more than ever we need to fight for our rights. The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, has recently announced changes to weaken health and safety laws and regulation. We’ve also seen the ongoing lack of decisive action to ban engineered stone, and protect workers from all silica dust.

Rather than being led by the evidence, worker safety is being eroded in the pursuit of Act Party ideology.

What’s worse is that these changes are being driven by a narrative of cutting red tape and economic efficiency. Far too often we see the real cost of a system that fails to protect working people – whānau killed at work, friends lost to the impact of work on their health, and colleagues off injured from accidents at work. It is our communities who are bearing the true costs of preventable tragedy.

Join us on Workers’ Memorial Day 28 April 2025 and fight back for your right to a safe and healthy workplace.

Health and Safety and Artificial Intelligence

The international theme for Workers’ Memorial Day 2025 is the continued push for occupational health and safety as a fundamental right at work. This year there is also a specific focus on the impact of artificial intelligence and digitisation on workplace health and safety.

The introduction of AI in workplaces can create significant health and safety risks for workers (such as intensification of work, and extreme surveillance) which can significantly impact workers’ mental and physical wellbeing. It is critical that unions and workers are involved in any decision to introduce AI so that these risks can be eliminated, and that the benefits and productivity gains are shared with the workforce.

The CTU has developed our Artificial intelligence in the workplace: A resource for New Zealand trade unions to support workers and their unions to ensure that workers benefit from the introduction of AI and are not harmed by it.

Get involved

Unable to make it to an event but still want to get involved?

Use the opportunity to hold a small event at work with a moments silence, a discussion of the importance of good health and safety in your workplace, and why now, more than ever, it’s crucial that we protect workers’ rights to safe and healthy work.

Workers’ Memorial Day Resources

Related work we’ve done

• 
  Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
  The introduction of AI in workplaces can create significant health and safety risks for workers (such as intensification of work, and extreme surveillance) which can significantly impact workers’ mental and… Read More »Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace
• 
  Health and Safety changes driven by ACT party ideology
  Health and Safety changes driven by ACT party ideology, not evidence said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff. Changes to health and safety legislation proposed by the Minister for… Read More »Health and Safety changes driven by ACT party ideology
• 
  Government must act decisively and ban engineered stone
  The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have reiterated their call for Government to protect workers by banning engineered stone in a submission on MBIE’s silica dust consultation. “If Brooke van Velden… Read More »Government must act decisively and ban engineered stone
• 
  Feedback on work with engineered stone and materials containing crystalline silica
  The NZCTU remains strongly committed to banning engineered stone in New Zealand and implementing better occupational health protections for all workers working with silica-containing materials. In this submission to MBIE,… Read More »Feedback on work with engineered stone and materials containing crystalline silica
• 
  NZCTU: Minister needs to listen to the evidence on engineered stone ban
  NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Acting Secretary Erin Polaczuk is welcoming the announcement from Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden that she is opening consultation on engineered stone… Read More »NZCTU: Minister needs to listen to the evidence on engineered stone ban
• 
  NZCTU put Brooke van Velden on notice over WorkSafe cuts
  The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have sent an open letter to Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden, following another round of devastating job cuts at WorkSafe. “Aotearoa… Read More »NZCTU put Brooke van Velden on notice over WorkSafe cuts
• 
  Gendered violence and harassment in the world of work
  International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention 190 (C190) provides a framework for the legal, cultural and industrial changes necessary to eliminate and prevent violence, in all its forms, from the world… Read More »Gendered violence and harassment in the world of work
• 
  Working in high temperatures
  Guidance for workers and union officials regarding high temperatures at work Working in high temperature can be hazardous. Exposure to excessive heat either indoors or outside can pose risks to… Read More »Working in high temperatures
• 
  It’s Time to End Gender-Based Violence at Work
  Everyone Deserves Safety and Respect at Work November 25 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This day reminds us of the urgent need to take… Read More »It’s Time to End Gender-Based Violence at Work
• 
  Submission: Have Your Say on Work Health and Safety
  Health and safety is core union mahi. Unions recognise that health and safety is a fundamental aspect of good work, and that every worker has the right to work that… Read More »Submission: Have Your Say on Work Health and Safety
• 
  Building a Safer Future for Every Worker
  Every New Zealander deserves a workplace that puts safety and wellbeing first. Too often, we’ve seen the real cost of a system that doesn’t fully protect workers. Lives are lost,… Read More »Building a Safer Future for Every Worker
• 
  NZCTU alarmed at further cuts to WorkSafe
  WorkSafe’s announcement that it is planning even further restructuring and cuts just months after losing 15% of its staff has alarmed the NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi. “Our health and safety… Read More »NZCTU alarmed at further cuts to WorkSafe