Public sector industrial action

17 October 2025

On Thursday 23 October 2025, multiple unions across the public sector are planning a significant, coordinated strike. Here is some important information about the upcoming industrial action in the public sector. 

Information about the current bargaining

The Public Service Commissioner is responsible for collective employment bargaining with school teachers and principals in the education sector and has oversight over the bargaining for Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Health New Zealand. 

On 17 October, Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche concluded pay negotiations with the Primary Principals’ Collective Bargaining Union (PPCBU), other unions have rejected offers to date and have elected to strike.

“This strike is regrettable, and we know it will affect many people. But our respect for the public service workforce has not changed. We are still at the table, ready to talk, and hopeful that we can find a way forward together.” – Sir Brian Roche, Public Service Commissioner 

For more information about the current offers, see: 

Collective Agreement negotiations | Education Workforce 

Employment agreements – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora 

Collective Employment Agreements | Fire and Emergency New Zealand 

Media releases from the Commission 

Commissioner says PPTA is choosing disruption over dialogue – 12 September 2025 

Commissioner says teachers’ union is choosing strikes over students – 12 September 2025 

Commissioner urges teachers to avoid strike action – 8 September 2025 

Revised offer for primary school teachers – 6 September 2025 

Commissioner committed to realistic solution with secondary teachers’ union – 20 August 2025 

Commissioner says secondary teachers’ union is choosing grandstanding and strikes over constructive dialogue – 13 August 2025 

Public Service Commissioner says primary teachers’ union not telling the whole story – 8 August 2025 

Commissioner disappointed teachers’ union reject pay offer – 24 July 2025 

Commissioner to lead bargaining with education sector – 2 May 2025 

Upcoming industrial action

Secondary teachers – 14-17 October 

  • Secondary teachers of years 7 to 12 who are members of the PPTA are partially striking between 14 and 17 October. 

Career firefighters – 17 October 

  • Career firefighters who are members of The New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU) will be stopping work for one hour on Friday 17 October from 12pm to 1pm.  

Health professionals – 23 to 24 October  

  • Members of a number of health unions are planning to strike on Thursday 23 October and Friday 24 October.  
  • NZNO nurses, midwives, health care assistants and kaimahi hauora who are employed by Te Whatu Ora will be stopping work from 11am to 3pm.  
  • NZNO nurses and health care assistants who are employed by the Department of Corrections will be stopping work from 6am to 10pm.  
  • ASMS members who are senior doctors and dentists will be stopping work from 11am to 3pm in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. 
  • PSA members covered by the Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand PSA Allied, Public Health, Scientific and Technical collective bargaining will be stopping work from midnight to midnight. 
  • PSA members covered by the PSA Mental Health and Public Health Nursing bargaining – the Auckland Region and the Rest of New Zealand (RONZ) collective bargaining will be stopping work from 7am on Thursday 23 October to 6.59am on Friday 24 October.  

Primary principals and teachers – 23 October  

  • NZEI Te Riu Roa members including primary school teachers, primary principals, area school teachers, school support staff, and Ministry of Education specialist staff will be stopping work on Thursday 23 October. 
  • PPTA Te Wehengarua members who teach in secondary and area schools will be stopping work Thursday 23 October. 
  • Secondary and area school teachers – 5 November 
  • PPTA Te Wehengarua members who teach in secondary and area schools will be stopping work from 1.15pm to 3.15pm. 

Information on affected services 

Information on affected services can be found on the websites below. 

Information for affected public servants 

If you are a public servant affected by the disruption to education or health services, please discuss these with your manager in the first instance. 

Strikes – Employment New Zealand 

Guidance: Public servants’ personal use of social media 

Guidance: Political neutrality for public servants as individuals