Source: PSA
Media statement from:
- New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa
- Public Service Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi
- Post-Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua spokesperson
- Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa | New Zealand Tertiary Education Union
- NZEI Te Riu Roa
Five major unions are launching a High Court challenge against the Government over its removal of pay equity rights, arguing the amended pay equity legislation violates fundamental rights and discriminates against women workers.
The NZNO, PSA, PPTA, TEU and NZEI Te Riu Roa have filed proceedings in the High Court seeking a declaration that the amended Equal Pay Act 1972 is inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990.
The legal challenge argues the Coalition Government’s legislation breaches three fundamental rights: freedom from gender-based pay discrimination, the right to natural justice, and the right to fair legal process.
The case gives workers who have been denied their right to challenge gender-based pay discrimination a chance to challenge the Government in court. If successful, a Parliamentary Select Committee must consider the declaration of inconsistency and a Parliamentary debate must occur. The Government is then required to formally respond.
The claim will be formally lodged on August 29 at the High Court in Wellington following a rally by women whose pay equity claims have been cancelled.
NZNO delegate and Plunket nurse Hannah Cook said:
“Nurses and care workers like me are devastated by the scrapping of our pay equity claims. Plunket nurses were so close to finally having our hard work recognised. Nurses and care workers are the backbone of a caring society and the Coalition Government needs to value us. These changes don’t just impact us. They impact our families, our livelihoods and our quality of life.
“The Coalition Government has shown it doesn’t value us nurses and those of us in women dominated workforces. It is 2025 for goodness sake. We shouldn’t still be paid less than those in male dominated occupations.”
PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said:
“We are asking the High Court to declare that the Government’s actions are inconsistent with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 because of the discrimination New Zealand women will face as a result of the Government’s action. The legal action comes after the Government cancelled pay equity claims and gutted the Equal Pay Act 1972 with no prior signalling and without a select committee process. The Government silenced women but we know the High Court will listen to our claims. This is just the start of our campaign for pay equity for New Zealand women and we will be leaving no stone unturned to achieve pay equity.
“The decision to cancel claims that were about to be heard by the Employment Relations Authority is inconsistent with the constitutional foundations of New Zealand which do not provide for the Government to interfere with the judicial system in this way.”
Sandra Grey, Te Pou Ahurei | National Secretary of the TEU said:
“If Brooke van Velden and Christopher Luxon thought avoiding a select committee process would allow them to dodge accountability for stealing $12.8 billion from low paid women workers we’ve got news for them. We look forward to the women of Aotearoa having their day in court to ensure that the government is forced to defend its actions.”
Stephanie Mills, National Secretary of NZEI Te Riu Roa said:
“The scrapping of the teachers claim without consultation and under urgency was a kick in the guts for our teacher members after years of blood, sweat and money getting the claim moving.
“NZEI Te Riu Roa, along with four other unions, has agreed to take the Government to court because they have not followed a democratic process, and because the Government has sent a message to this mainly female profession that their time, expertise and work is not valued.
“Teachers go into their profession knowing the stresses and extra hours involved because they are passionate about young people learning, but they have limits. We’re seeing more teachers looking at other options or teaching in Australia, because they feel their work is not valued in Aotearoa. Teaching is a foundational job for our society, but this Government has shamefully chosen tax cut savings over giving teachers pay equity.”
Chris Abercrombie, PPTA President said:
“This Government’s decision to extinguish our pay equity claim is not only unjust-it is unlawful.
“Our claim was built on years of rigorous, evidence-based work, carried out in good faith under a process agreed with previous governments. To have that work discarded by political decree is a betrayal-not just of teachers, but of every woman in Aotearoa New Zealand whose work has been historically undervalued.
“This is about more than pay. It’s about whether our country honours its commitments to fairness, equity, and the rule of law. We will not stand by while those principles are trampled. Our members deserve better. Our students deserve better. And our democracy deserves better.”
Background
In May 2025, the Coalition Government passed the Equal Pay Amendment Act under parliamentary urgency without consulting unions or affected workers. The legislation effectively
