5/6/26, 1:06 PM
Update on Industrial Action | The Portal
Update on Industrial Action
Published: 13/03/2026 | Industrial Relations | National
1982 
ACT 
Tēnā koe,
As previously advised, notice of the escalation in industrial action that was received on 4 Mar
INFORMATION  ch
2026 required Fire and Emergency New Zealand to review its response, which directly led to the
decision to exercise its legal right to deduct pay for the partial withdrawal of labour and not to
pay for full stoppages.
I am pleased that the NZPFU has withdrawn its notice of partial strike action which was due to
OFFICIAL 
commence on 23 March 2026. As such, I have confirmed to the Union and its members that the
notice dated 9 March 2026 regarding pay deductions in relation to the partial strike action is
formally withdrawn. To be clear, the 10% deduction to the base salary of those who participated
THE 
in the proposed partial strike action will not proceed.
However, I confirm Fire and Emergency maintains that it intends to exercise its right not to pay
employees for any periods when they withhold their labour in full, with effect from 23 March
2026, as previously advised.
UNDER 
I want to reiterate that the decision to not pay employees for the time they withhold labour from
23 March was a difficult one, and one I thought long and hard about. My view is that it would be
irresponsible not to take this action given the consequences of the ongoing strike action for
public safety together with our duty to levy payers. We have seen the impact of the withdrawal of
labour upon the communities which we serve, most notably in Pakuranga and on Northcote
College already. We have also seen the detrimental effects of strike action in the relationship
RELEASED 
between our paid firefighters and the organisation alongside the added pressure this is placing
on Volunteer Brigades.
Our calls to the Union to cease their industrial action have been repeatedly ignored despite the
danger they present to the public. Our efforts to settle the bargaining by applying to use
mediation and facilitation have been opposed by the NZPFU, and I understand that our offer
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