New Zealand Braces for Historic 'Mega Strike' on October 23

Nationwide Disruption Anticipated as Over 100,000 Workers Strike

New Zealand is set to experience its most significant industrial action in over four decades on Thursday, October 23, 2025, as an estimated 100,000 to 110,000 public sector workers, including teachers, nurses, and various healthcare professionals, prepare to walk off the job. This large-scale 'mega strike' is expected to cause considerable disruption across the country, impacting essential services such as education and healthcare.

The industrial action stems from deep dissatisfaction over pay, working conditions, and staffing levels, with unions arguing that current government offers fail to keep pace with the rising cost of living and do not adequately address critical sector issues.

Healthcare and Education Sectors Face Significant Impact

The healthcare sector will see substantial disruption, with more than 36,000 nurses striking from 11 am to 3 pm. Additionally, an estimated 11,500 other healthcare workers, including senior doctors, dentists, social workers, and allied health professionals, will participate. Senior doctors' strikes are concentrated in major cities such as Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. Health New Zealand has indicated that over 900 procedures could be cancelled and more than 1,380 first specialist assessments postponed. While emergency departments will remain open, they are advised for emergencies only, and non-urgent cases are likely to face significant delays.

In the education sector, between 40,000 and 50,000 teachers are expected to strike, affecting primary and secondary schools nationwide. This action will result in school closures and an estimated 845,000 students missing class time. Some teachers have also been engaged in rolling strike actions and have another national strike planned for November 5.

Union Demands and Government Response

The striking workers, represented by unions such as the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), the Public Service Association (PSA), the New Zealand Education Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI), the Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA Te Wehengarua), and the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS), are primarily demanding improved pay that reflects the cost of living, safer staffing levels, and better overall working conditions. The PSA, representing nearly 17,000 health members, highlights chronic understaffing and pay offers that are effectively pay cuts. ACC workers, also joining the strike, cite concerns over workplace culture and new working-from-home policies.

The government has criticized the planned industrial action. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described it as 'a shame,' stating that unions are 'prioritising the politics over patients, or kids in education'. Health Minister Simeon Brown accused health workers of 'crossing an ethical line' and walking away from negotiations. Public Service Minister Judith Collins issued an open letter, calling the strikes 'unfair and unwarranted' and 'politically motivated,' pointing to discussions about Palestine in a teachers' union meeting agenda. The government maintains that genuine offers have been made, a claim disputed by the unions who argue the offers are below inflation rates.

Historical Context and Broader Implications

This coordinated strike is being billed as the largest industrial action in New Zealand in over 40 years, underscoring the depth of frustration among public sector workers. While firefighters held a separate one-hour strike on October 17, they have expressed support for the broader action. The Labour Party has voiced support for the striking workers, calling for an investigation into Public Service Commission advertisements that criticized the industrial action. The widespread nature of the strike reflects ongoing challenges in public services and the contentious negotiations between unions and the government over critical employment terms.