Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa NZNO has applauded the Green Party's commitment to restore pay equity and fund a settlement for care and support workers and has urged all other political parties to do the same.
The Green Party today announced it would immediately restore the pay equity framework that existed prior to the 2025 changes, prioritise the Care and Support Workers claim, and move quickly to settle it. The commitment is backed by dedicated funding to support the settlement.
NZNO members joined care and support worker members from E tū and PSA at the announcement in Tāmaki Makaurau today.
Among those who had their pay equity claims gutted last year was NZNO delegate and aged care worker Sabina Lama.
"Aged care workers help older New Zealanders live with dignity, independence and quality of life, while also supporting families and communities. It is skilled, essential work, yet many care workers remain among the lowest-paid people in the health sector," Sabina Lama says.
"Many workers are struggling with the cost of living and supporting their whānau. They shouldn't be undervalued because care work has traditionally been seen as women's work."
The care and support workers' pay equity claim was one of 33 stopped by the Government's law change in May 2025. Unions estimate 65,000 care and support workers had their claim stopped. These workers are typically paid between $23.95 and $31 an hour. Unions estimate the minimum cost of restoring the entire pay equity system is $12.8 billion over four years.
More information about Pay Equity.