On October 23, 2025, the streets of New Zealand’s major cities thrummed with the voices and footsteps of tens of thousands of striking public sector workers. Teachers, nurses, doctors, and other staff—an estimated 110,000 in all—walked off the job in what’s been dubbed the country’s largest “mega strike” since 1979, according to multiple media outlets including The Guardian, 1News, and WSWS. For a nation of around five million, the numbers were staggering: about 3.5 percent of the workforce took part, underscoring a wave of frustration that’s been building for years.
The strike, coordinated by a coalition of unions such as the Post-Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA), NZEI Te Riu Roa, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), the Public Service Association, and the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), brought together more than 60,000 teachers, over 30,000 nurses, 5,000 doctors, and 20,000 other healthcare workers. Their demands? Better pay, safer staffing levels, and improved working conditions—issues that have become flashpoints as inflation, housing costs, and the pressures of public service work have outpaced government support.
“It looks like we’re well-paid on paper, but when you factor in housing, workload and unpaid hours, it doesn’t feel like a six-figure job,” an Auckland-based teacher told Radio New Zealand (RNZ). Official Ministry of Education data confirms that teacher salaries range from NZ$61,239 for new entrants to NZ$103,086 for those at the top of the scale. Yet, the average remuneration—NZ$94,354 for primary teachers, NZ$100,933 for secondary, and NZ$99,155 for area-school teachers—belies the reality for many, especially those just starting out or shouldering heavy workloads without additional compensation.
This was never just about pay. Teachers and other public sector workers have repeatedly highlighted the strain caused by understaffing, large class sizes, and the expectation to cover roles outside their expertise. According to a PPTA Te Wehengarua media release, the government’s latest offer—a 1 percent annual pay rise over three years for secondary teachers, and similar deals for others—was “well below inflation” and “disrespectful to the profession.” Primary and area-school teachers rejected a 2.7 percent offer for similar reasons.
“The Government’s offer fails to address the issues that are at the heart of our claims,” the PPTA stated. These issues include “increasing teacher shortages, thousands of students being taught by teachers who are not subject specialists, and the need for more pastoral staffing to support the increasing number of students struggling with learning.” The NZEI echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for secure employment, pay that keeps up with the cost of living, and more classroom support for children.
The October 23 strike was not only broad in participation but also national in scope. In Auckland, around 20,000 people rallied in Aotea Square before marching down Queen Street to Te Komititanga Square, according to WSWS. Ten thousand more gathered in Hamilton, and thousands joined events in cities and towns across the country—Whangarei, Tauranga, Napier, Rotorua, Gisborne, and beyond. Even wild weather, with strong winds and rain sweeping parts of New Zealand, couldn’t completely dampen the action. While some outdoor events were canceled, many rallies pressed on, their message undeterred by the elements.
Hospitals, emergency departments, and essential community services remained open, with Health New Zealand chief executive Dr. Dale Bramley assuring the public that patient safety would remain paramount. “Hospitals, emergency departments, mental health units and some community services will remain open during the strikes, with union members supporting our non-striking staff in providing life-preserving services,” Bramley said, as reported by 1News. Routine clinics and most home visits, however, were closed or postponed, and patients with non-urgent needs faced longer waits.
The government, for its part, maintained a firm stance. Public Service Minister Judith Collins labeled the strike “politically motivated,” insisting that the government had acted in good faith and offered pay increases in line with inflation. “While the Government valued public sector workers… it must also manage finances responsibly amid tight budgets and growing demands,” she argued. Health Minister Simeon Brown went further, calling strike action by medical professionals “crossing an ethical line” and suggesting doctors were hurting patients. Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche described the strikes as “avoidable” and urged unions to “come back to the table” to negotiate a reasonable solution.
On the other side of the political aisle, Labour leader Chris Hipkins criticized the Public Service Commission for running Facebook ads about the strike, calling it an “absolutely unbelievable decision to weaponise the Public Service Commission against striking workers.” Hipkins also accused the current Education Minister of being “invisible” during the crisis, contrasting his own approach as a former Minister of Education, when he said he “fronted up” to striking teachers.
Amid the heated rhetoric, the underlying issues remain stubbornly unresolved. The government’s proposed pay offers—ranging from 1 to just over 2 percent per year—fall short of both the 3 percent annual inflation rate and the 4.6 percent increase in food prices, according to WSWS. Healthcare workers, teachers, and firefighters have all rejected these offers, arguing that they not only fail to keep pace with the cost of living but also do little to address chronic underfunding and staff shortages. Across the country’s public schools, a shortage of roughly 1,250 teachers has resulted in overcrowded classrooms and mounting stress for both staff and students.
Public sentiment appears to back the strikers. A poll cited by WSWS found that 65 percent of New Zealanders supported the strike, with only 25 percent opposed. Many supporters, including students, retired workers, and families, joined the rallies, lending further weight to the workers’ demands for dignity and sustainability in public service professions.
Yet, as the dust settles, questions linger about what comes next. Union leaders have signaled a willingness to accept a pay rise matching inflation—around 3 percent—even though this would amount to a real-terms pay cut given the rising cost of living. Their speeches at the Auckland rally were heavy on calls for solidarity but light on concrete demands, with a vaguely-worded resolution urging the government to fund public services “at a level necessary to meet the needs of our communities” and to settle collective agreements “on just and reasonable terms, including improved conditions.”
Despite the scale and passion of the strike, no further joint actions have been scheduled. Instead, unions plan to return to the negotiating table, hoping to secure a deal that balances fiscal constraints with the urgent needs of their members. For many on the picket lines, however, the fight is about more than numbers on a paycheck—it’s about restoring the dignity of their professions, ensuring safe and supportive working environments, and securing a sustainable future for New Zealand’s public services.
As policymakers, union leaders, and workers brace for the next round of talks, the echoes of October’s “mega strike” serve as a potent reminder: the resolve of New Zealand’s public servants remains unbroken, and their call for respect and resources is one the nation cannot afford to ignore.