Health NZ delays staffing in Wellington, sparking a Nov. 28 strike by 17,000 workers over pay and funding.

Health NZ is delaying clinical staff recruitment in the Wellington region by up to 30 weeks, with 219 hiring requests taking over two months to approve between March and May 2025, according to Official Information Act data. Critical roles, including medical imaging technologists, remain unfilled, worsening staffing shortages. The Public Service Association blames constrained health funding and government priorities favoring tax relief for landlords, citing increased burnout, longer patient wait times, and staff leaving for overseas opportunities. As a result, about 17,000 PSA health workers are set to strike on November 28, demanding fair pay, safer staffing levels, and urgent government action to address systemic underfunding.