Senior doctors' pay dispute and strikes

The story so far

In early September, Health Minister Simeon Brown urged Health New Zealand and the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists to enter binding arbitration to end a long-running contract dispute, as nurses were striking across the country.^{4 Sep 2025} The association rejected the request, calling the proposal misinformed and accusing the minister of illegal interference in the bargaining process, and an employment law expert said the rejection was expected.^{5, 6 Sep 2025} The strike was expected to affect about 13,000 patients, and a Wellington psychiatrist said he would work extra hours to cover for three missing doctors.^{23, 24 Sep 2025} Members then voted 83 per cent in favour of a four-hour strike, and in mid-October Brown said the industrial action had crossed an ethical line and that he might consider a law change.^{7, 16, 17 Oct 2025}

What's next

A four-hour strike is scheduled for 11am on Thursday 23 October, expected to involve about 4,000 doctors and dentists.^{7 Oct 2025}

Key moments

1. 5 Sep 2025Union rejects binding arbitration, accusing minister of illegal interference
2. 20 Sep 2025Health NZ applies to Employment Relations Authority to set doctors' pay
3. 23 Sep 2025About 6,000 senior doctors and dentists begin 48-hour strike
4. 24 Sep 2025Psychiatrist plans 56-hour week to cover for missing doctors
5. 7 Oct 2025Members vote 83 per cent for four-hour strike on 23 October
6. 16 Oct 2025Minister says senior doctors' strikes have crossed an ethical line
7. 17 Oct 2025Minister says he may consider a law change

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