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.

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