Government changes to pay equity – May 2025
On 6 May, the Government announced radical changes to the current Equal Pay Act.
The ramifications of this announcement are widespread and impact thousands across the country.
What does this mean for educators?
1. All current pay equity claims will be discontinued.
This includes the teachers’ claim which is the largest pay equity claim in Aotearoa.
All the work that you have done on this claim has been scrapped by the coalition Government and we will have to start again, working under the new, more rigid requirements.
2. All pay equity reviews (this includes for teacher aides, librarians, science technicians, school administrators, kaiārahi i te reo and therapists) are no longer going ahead.
With reviews removed, groups must wait 10 years to file a new claim and undertake the entire process again.
The review process is a critical element of pay equity to ensure your pay does not fall behind again, but now it is likely that your pay gap will widen.
Who will be affected?
Anyone who had a claim in process or who was due a pay equity review.
This includes primary and area school teachers and principals, ECE teachers, teacher aides, librarians, administration staff, kaiārahi i te reo, and more.
How can you take action?
Your voice on pay equity is being heard across the motu, with members expressing their anger and disappointment at the Government.
Join a rally near you on Friday 9 May or Saturday 10 May
Auckland - Friday 9 May, 1pm
Outside Brooke van Velden's electorate office, 35 St Johns Road, St Johns
Hamilton - Friday 9 May, 1pm
Protest outside Tama Potaka's office, 109 Rostrevor St
Tauranga - Friday 9 May, 12.30pm
Red Square, Spring St
Thames - Friday 9 May, 1.30pm
MP Scott Simpson's office, 614 Pollen St
Feilding - Friday 9 May, 1pm
MP Suze Redmayne's office, 51 Fergusson St
Levin - Friday 9 May, 1pm
MP Tim Costely's electorate office, corner of Bath and Oxford St
Ōtaki - Friday 9 May, 12.30pm
MP Tim Costely’s Ōtaki office, Office 6c/3 Te Roto Drive, Paraparaumu
Nelson - Saturday 10 May, 11am
March meeting at Millers Acre carpark on Halifax St
Rolleston, Canterbury - Friday 9 May, 1pm
Outside Hon Nicola Grigg's (Minister for Women) electorate office, Shop 34, Rolleston Square - 9 Masefield Drive
Timaru - Friday 9th May, 1.00pm
Protest outside MP James Meager’s office, 30 Cannon St, Timaru Central
Dunedin - Friday 9 May, 1.30pm
The Exchange - cnr of Princes & Rattray St
Gore - Friday 9th May, 1.00pm
The Trout
Invercargill - Monday 12th May, 12.30pm
Protest outside Penny Simmonds Office, 22 Kelvin Street
Sign the CTU's petition to Protect Pay Equity
Now's the time to email your MP to let them know what you think of this attack on educators and working women.
Click here to write to your MP.
More action is planned, so watch for updates in the coming weeks.
Your voices in the media
Ally Kingi, teacher aide (RNZ): hthttps://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018986075/nzei-on-changes-to-pay-equity
Kalesha Segetta, primary teacher (RNZ): https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/560146/tightening-of-pay-equity-law-gut-wrenching-brings-advocate-to-tears