Ministers kept pay equity law changes secret to protect budget

Friday 1 August 2025 · 4 outlets · 3 reports · updated Fri 1 Aug 2025, 4:58pm

In this story Brooke van Velden

Internal documents show ministers worked to keep sweeping pay equity changes secret until the last minute. The move was intended to prevent a surge in claims and protect the government balance sheet. Changes to the scheme were projected to save $12.8 billion over four years.

How they headlined it

2:02pm4:58pm

1. Stuff via RNZFri 1 Aug 2025, 2:02pm

   Project 10: How the government kept the pay equity law change secret (opens in new tab)

   Also on RNZ (opens in new tab), The Press (opens in new tab)

2. NZ HeraldFri 1 Aug 2025, 2:17pm

   Government’s secret pay equity overhaul bypassed public scrutiny (opens in new tab)

   • Use of urgency to upend pay equity scheme decided after PM’s meeting with senior ministers (opens in new tab) Fri 1 Aug 2025, 4:58pm