Gisborne nurses part of mass nationwide health workers and teachers strikes on October 23

A nurses' strike in Gisborne, across from the hospital, in July this year. They will strike again later this month, along with primary school teachers and health workers. Photo / Gisborne Herald

Nurses from Gisborne Hospital and around the country will join primary school teachers and PSA Allied Health workers in one of New Zealand’s biggest strikes in decades on October 23.

More than 36,000 nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and kaimahi hauora who are members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) have voted to strike from 11am to 3pm on Thursday, October 23.

Gisborne Hospital nurses last took industrial action on September 1 as part of a campaign they say is about safe staffing levels and pay rises which meet cost-of-living increases.

NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter said the NZNO negotiating team had held 31 days of meetings with Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora since collective bargaining began in September 2024.

“The vote shows NZNO’s Health NZ – Te Whatu Ora members are frustrated that one year on, their concerns about safe staffing levels not being enforced and the risks that creates for patient safety are still not being heard.

“Our members are telling Health NZ they are understaffed and overworked. Te Whatu Ora’s own figures show that New Zealand’s hospitals were, on average, 587 nurses short every shift last year.”

More than 11,500 Allied Health workers will strike for 24 hours on October 23 in support of their claim for safe staffing levels and better pay and conditions.

Allied Health workers cover over 60 professions that help keep the public health service functioning, including social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, scientists, anaesthetic technicians, Māori health specialists, clinical support workers and health assistants.

In a historic first, 40,000 primary school teachers, primary principals, school support staff and Ministry of Education specialist staff will strike together for 24 hours on October 23 after rejecting a pay rise offer.

Senior doctors who are members of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASM) and Post Primary Teachers’ Association members are voting this week on whether to strike on October 23, reported Radio New Zealand.

Firefighters across New Zealand will be on strike for one hour on October 17, over a dispute about pay and conditions.

The Council of Trade Unions said October 23 was shaping up to be the country’s largest strike in decades.

Health Minister Simeon Brown has called the strikes “deliberate politicking by our unions”.

“The fact that they’re all doing this on same date ... this is politics ahead of actually public service, which is what they should be about.”