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THE GREAT BETRAYAL
A Promise Broken Under Urgency
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The government changed the law under urgency without consultation, killing the Care & Support Pay Equity claim many had been waiting on for years.
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This was not just policy — it was a lifeline for thousands of low-paid, high-skilled workers.
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They took the work of some of NZ’s hardest-working people, declared it less valuable, and abandoned the commitment to fair pay.
Those ripped off are the people who care for the most vulnerable New Zealanders. They work shifts that never end, in homes, communities, and supported living environments — often for wages barely above the legal minimum. They do the emotional, physical, and skilled labour that holds the social fabric of NZ together.
They are told their work is worth less.
THE REALITY
"When Carers Are Undervalued, Those in Need Suffer"
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Underpaying care workers undermines service quality — experienced staff leave for better pay, turnover skyrockets, continuity of care collapses.
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Vulnerable people lose trusted carers and are forced to adapt to constant change, eroding their safety, trust, and wellbeing.
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This is not just a workforce issue — it’s an indictment on how New Zealand values the people most in need of care and support.
THE REALITY
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Decades ago, New Zealand closed many institutions and moved care into the community.
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That change came with a permanent responsibility: to fund and resource care properly.
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Instead, the government has outsourced the work to NGOs and then underfunded them — expecting charity-level budgets for critical services
THE REALITY
The Government has slammed the door on pay equity for care and support workers — changing the law under urgency, without consultation, and killing the Care & Support Pay Equity claim many of you have been waiting on for years.
This was never just about policy. It was about finally recognising the value of essential work that has been undervalued for decades. Instead, they have decided that caring for the elderly, disabled, and vulnerable is work that can be done on the cheap.
It’s wrong. It’s short-sighted. And it’s a disgrace.
WHAT CAN BE DONE NOW ?
Despite the action of the government to undermine the frontline and impact New Zealands most vulnerable in need of care as well as the staff that care for them, NUPE continues to advocate. In Christchurch, we have initiated bargaining accross multiple organisations where we have membership. We will be renegotiating the collective agreement which includes a call for fair pay. Over the last years of bargaining, there has been a patient hope that the pay equity process would see a fir uplift however four years through that process, it was canned, with urgency, secrecy a clear signal that the government has renegged on its duty of care for New Zealands most down.
In early September 2025, NUPE is taking this fight on the road.
The NUPE Mercy Mission will roll through Christchurch suburb by suburb, visiting the homes and workplaces where care workers keep our communities running.
We’re coming to see you.
We’re coming to thank you.
We’re coming to show those in power the human cost of their betrayal.
We’ll bring morning tea, hear your stories, and record your messages to send straight to the politicians who need to hear them. This is a campaign about being visible, being loud, and being unignorable.
Join Us on FB
Keep in touch with updates, share them, get involved in calls to action. The more people talking about this the better. It must not be another matter that falls into oblivion overshadowed by the next big news item.
Leave a Video Message
Share your views and message of solidarity with frontline staff. Simply use your phone to record a one minute message and get it to us by email officeadmin@nupe.org.nz or post it to the FB page. We will include your contribution in our edited final piece.
Like & Share
Below you will find some resources, posts and images to share. Help us spread the word. Forward the FB posts and resources to your networks and urge they lobby politicians.
Lobby Your MP
Share your views with your local MP and urge them to action. Be passionate in your messaging, encourage that that they take political action to make this right.
