Teachers from Franklin attend rally at Aotea Square

Rallies around New Zealand are underway as joint union strike action continues today.

In Auckland, the rally began at 12pm at Aotea Square and will be followed by a march down Queen Street at 12.30pm. It will conclude around 1.45 pm at Te Komititanga Square on Quay Street.

It comes as more than 100,000 essential workers across the country are striking  in what unions describe as one of the largest coordinated actions in decades, calling on the Coalition Government to properly fund public services.

The action follows stalled collective-agreement negotiations across multiple sectors. Union leaders say the strike reflects growing frustration over staff shortages, pay restraint, and under-resourced services.

Aimee Courtney, a primary school teacher from Franklin told the Franklin Times; “today we rise. Today we strike. Public service workers across Aotearoa are saying enough. Enough of being undervalued, underpaid, and expected to carry impossible loads without recognition.

“As a teacher and leader, I see every day the weight carried by those who keep our communities running, the long hours, the endless demands, the dedication that goes far beyond the job description.

“We show up for our tamariki, our whānau, our people. Now it’s time for our government to show up for us.

“The strength of a nation is measured by how it treats those who hold it together. Right now, that measure is failing  and that’s why we march.

“Kia kaha to everyone standing strong today. This fight is about fairness, dignity, and respect,” Courtney said.

Are you striking? Email: reporter@franklintimes.co.nz to tell your story

“This strike is about more than pay, it’s about protecting the quality of education for our tamariki and rangatahi,” said T. Ihimaera, another primary school teacher from Franklin.

“Kaiako (teachers), principals, and schools are facing constant policy changes, underfunding, and cuts to te reo Māori and education programmes, including the government’s decision to cut funding for RTMāori (Resource Teachers Māori), which will see these roles disestablished from 2026.

“We are committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and ensuring that te reo and tikanga Māori are protected, strengthened, and embedded in education. This strike calls for genuine investment and equitable outcomes, so our language, culture, and the future of learning in Aotearoa are safeguarded,” Ihimaera said.

Public Service Minister Judith Collins has described the strike as “unfair, unproductive and unnecessary.”

“The strike will not help anyone,” she said.

“It is a stunt targeting the Government, but the people paying the price are the thousands of patients who have had appointments and surgeries cancelled, and the hundreds of thousands of kids who will miss another day at school.”

Education Minister Erica Stanford says the latest offer to teachers would see 66 percent of trained primary teachers and 76 percent of secondary teachers earning base salaries of at least $100,000 within the next year.

“Teachers, parents and students all deserve better,” she said. “Unions are letting them down by not bargaining in good faith and spreading misinformation.”

Health Minister Simeon Brown said the union representing senior doctors walked away from an offer that included a 5 percent pay rise over two years and a $40 million workforce fund.

Collins said the Government had made “fair offers at the limits of what is affordable” and urged unions to return to the bargaining table.

Police have advised motorists to expect significant delays in central Auckland, with road closures around Queen Street during the lunchtime march.

Public transport users are encouraged to check Auckland Transport for detours and timetable updates.

Many rallies in the South Island have been cancelled due to severe weather events but at least 20 more are still taking place around the country.