New Zealand's paid firefighters struck for one hour on Dec. 26, 2025, over pay and working conditions, delaying non-urgent responses.

Paid firefighters in New Zealand conducted a one-hour strike on December 26, 2025, from noon to 1 pm, disrupting emergency services in urban areas as negotiations with Fire and Emergency New Zealand broke down. The strike, which followed the referral of the dispute to facilitation by the Employment Relations Authority, led to delayed response times for non-urgent incidents, though 111 calls and life-threatening emergencies were still addressed. Volunteer firefighters assisted, but the public was urged to exercise caution with fire safety, especially amid high winds. The strike was called off for Boxing Day by the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union, allowing staff to spend time with families, but further strikes are planned for January 2 and 9. The underlying dispute centers on pay and working conditions, with Fire and Emergency offering a 6.2% increase over three years, while the union seeks a significantly higher raise.