Five unions take government to court over pay equity law changes

Monday 18 August 2025 · 6 outlets · 4 reports · updated Mon 18 Aug 2025, 10:22am

In this story Public Service Association, New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Post Primary Teachers' Association, NZEI Te Riu Roa, Tertiary Education Union

Five unions are launching a High Court challenge against the government, arguing that changes to pay equity laws breach the Bill of Rights Act. The legal action follows legislation that cancelled 33 existing claims and made it more difficult for new claims to succeed. The government expects these changes to save $12 billion over four years.

How they headlined it

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1. NewsroomMon 18 Aug 2025, 5:00am

   Unions launch legal action over pay equity changes (opens in new tab)

2. The Press via StuffMon 18 Aug 2025, 5:00am

   Teachers, nurses, ‘down in the dumps’, taking the Government to court over pay (opens in new tab)

   Also on Stuff (opens in new tab)

3. RNZMon 18 Aug 2025, 5:10am

   Pay equity: Five unions to take government to court over law changes (opens in new tab)

   Also on 1News (opens in new tab)

4. Otago Daily TimesMon 18 Aug 2025, 10:22am

   Unions take govt to court over pay equity law changes (opens in new tab)