Pay equity law changes

The story so far

Internal documents show ministers worked to keep sweeping changes to the pay equity scheme secret until the last minute, to prevent a surge in claims and protect the government's balance sheet.^{1 Aug 2025} The changes were projected to save $12.8 billion over four years, and the government has since expected savings of about $12 billion over that period.^{1, 18 Aug 2025} The legislation cancelled 33 existing pay equity claims and made it harder for new claims to succeed.^{18 Aug 2025} The Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa has asked the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women to urgently investigate the changes, which affect claims involving 180,000 workers.^{13 Aug 2025} Opposition has come from political figures, human rights leaders and a relative of New Zealand's first female MP, who criticised the changes at a People's Select Committee hearing.^{11 Aug 2025}

Latest

Five unions have launched a High Court challenge, arguing the changes breach the Bill of Rights Act.^{18 Aug 2025}

What's next

The unions' challenge will go before the High Court, but the stories give no hearing date.^{18 Aug 2025}

Key moments

1. 1 Aug 2025Ministers kept pay equity changes secret to protect the budget.
2. 11 Aug 2025Relative of first female MP criticises changes at select committee hearing.
3. 13 Aug 2025Coalition asks UN to investigate changes affecting 180,000 workers.
4. 18 Aug 2025Five unions take government to High Court over Bill of Rights breach.

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.