Workplace Relations and Safety

people and communities

Green Party calls for union membership as default setting for new employees

 The Green Party is backing unions through the Automatic Union Membership Members' Bill, which would make union membership the default setting for new employees.  "Workers are the backbone of our economy and this country. Unions give workers a voice in their workplace and help fight for their rights and best interests," says Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson.  “This will also be a policy we will be taking into the election, but we want to act now if the current government...

Posted at July 16, 2026 9:18 AM by Marama Davidson and Teanau Tuiono

New Zealand Government sides with the US against workers’ rights and loses

The Luxon Government has once again shown its disdain for low paid working people, voting alongside the United States against a global treaty to protect gig-workers’ rights. Despite New Zealand's vote, the International Labour Organisation’s Standard Setting Committee voted to expand protections for workers in the ‘platform’ or gig economy, such as Uber drivers. "Brooke Van Velden and the Luxon Government have just embarrassed NZ internationally by lining up with the US and big global tech companies and against almost every...

Posted at July 08, 2026 4:10 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Luxon must act after Peters caught making false claims on employment bill

The Green Party is calling on Christopher Luxon to hold Winston Peters accountable for making false claims about union engagement on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill."Winston Peters' behaviour following the passing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is a disgrace," says Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono.   "He has falsely claimed that unions didn't raise their concerns with NZ First early enough. That is simply not true.   "We fully back unions' calls for Luxon to step in and act.  ...

Posted at February 23, 2026 7:00 AM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Government rams through law attacking workers

“The passing of the Employment Relations Amendment Bill is a dark day for Aotearoa, and shows this government is on the side of big corporates and against the workers.” says Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson Teanau Tuiono.  “Workers have a basic right to seek remedies for unjustifiable and unlawful dismissal. This law effectively destroys that right, leaving workers completely exposed to abuses of power by their employers.”   “This law also makes it easier to dismiss workers and gives bosses the ability to mischaracterise employees as contractors, meaning that...

Posted at February 17, 2026 4:45 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Govt’s Christmas gift to workers: An effective pay cut

The Government’s announcement today of a measly two per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers.“This is just a sour cherry on top of a terrible year for our workers, who have been under constant attack under this Government,” says Green Party spokesperson for Workplace Relations, Teanau Tuiono. “With inflation projected to exceed the increase, a two per cent ‘raise’ is as good as snake oil. Once again, the people who stand to lose out are predominantly...

Posted at December 12, 2025 1:18 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Greens to protect employee status of Uber Drivers

The Green Party is committed to protecting the employee status of Uber Drivers, especially after the Supreme Court echoed the rulings of lower courts and upheld their rights.“A Green Government will honour the Supreme Court ruling and protect uber drivers from any legislation that seeks to take their employee status,” says the Green Party’s Workplace Relations & Safety spokesperson Teanau Tuiono. “Uber drivers face increasingly precarious conditions at a time of a cost of living crisis, while Uber continues to...

Posted at November 17, 2025 3:57 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Women to bear the brunt of sick pay changes

The Government’s move to strip back sick leave from part-time workers is yet another blow to women across Aotearoa.“Stripping back sick leave for part-time workers means women will, inevitably, shoulder more unpaid labour,” says the Green Party’s Workplace Relations and Safety spokesperson, Teanau Tuiono. “We can and must ensure that women are paid fairly, are treated with respect and are safe - things this Government is actively undermining. “Getting sick doesn't depend on whether you’re full or part-time. Under these...

Posted at September 23, 2025 3:47 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Greens stand with our teachers in fight for fair pay

The Green Party supports the thousands of teachers striking for better pay and conditions today.“The working conditions of our teachers are the learning conditions of our kids. It’s time to support our teachers so they can support the next generation,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Workplace Relations, Teanau Tuiono.  “We can, and must, ensure teachers in this country are paid fairly. We have everything we need to ensure our teachers are properly supported and that our students have what...

Posted at August 20, 2025 1:30 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

People need opportunities not punishment to find jobs

The Green Party is calling on the Government to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to helping people into jobs following a new report, ‘The Pipeline of Potential,’ that highlights how people out of work need opportunities, not punishment, to find employment. “Instead of punishing people for being unemployed when there is no work, we can build a workforce with good jobs that support the common good,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Workforce Planning, Ricardo Menéndez...

Posted at July 24, 2025 8:46 AM by Ricardo Menéndez March

culture and innovation

ERA changes hurt workers, pander to big business

The Green Party says proposed changes to the Employment Relations Act announced today by the Government will further undermine workers’ rights while pandering to big business.“This cruel Bill will cut off our most vulnerable workers from the rights that belong to them,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety, Teanau Tuiono. "Our economy has been built by our workers - supporting them means supporting ourselves. For generations, workers’ rights have been hard-won and should be protected as...

Posted at June 17, 2025 12:13 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Concern over signs Govt will reduce sick leave for workers

The Green Party is calling on the Prime Minister to stand up for workers’ rights for once and rule out reducing sick leave entitlements.“This Government for the wealthy keeps finding new ways of eviscerating workers’ rights and tilting power to employers,” says the Green Party spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety, Teanau Tuiono. “Our economy is built upon the backs of our workers, so to erode their rights to sick leave is nothing short of an attack on the morale...

Posted at June 16, 2025 10:49 AM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Ban on engineered stone essential to protect workers

The Green Party has renewed its call for the Government to ban the use, supply, and manufacture of engineered stone products, as the CTU launches a petition for the implementation of a full ban.“Let’s put people before profits and protect our workers by banning this dangerous product,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety, Teanau Tuiono. “Workers are the backbone of our economy, and their safety must be protected from dangerous practices including the use of engineered...

Posted at April 28, 2025 10:54 AM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Govt’s miserly 1.5% minimum wage will take workers backwards

The Government’s announcement today of a 1.5 per cent increase to minimum wage is another blow for workers, with inflation projected to exceed the increase, meaning it’s a real terms pay reduction for many.“This adds insult to injury for our workers who have been under constant attack under this Government,” says Green Party spokesperson for Workplace Relations, Teanau Tuiono. “The Green Party’s Income Guarantee provides a clear alternative, a commitment to every New Zealander that no matter what, you will...

Posted at December 17, 2024 10:40 AM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation

The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. “This is dire, draconian and outright disgraceful even by the Government’s own standards,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Workplace Relations, Teanau Tuiono.  “The ability to strike, organise and collectively bargain is a democratic right. These are critical tools that have empowered workers to contest and challenge unfair working conditions in the uneven playing field between them...

Posted at December 09, 2024 6:33 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Govt attacks workers’ rights once again

Today’s announcement from the Minister of Workplace Relations emphasises how deep in the pocket of big business this Government really is. “This is the latest episode in a series of assaults on workers' rights,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for Workplace Relations, Teanau Tuiono.  “Our economy has been built upon the backs of our workers, by supporting our workers we support ourselves. Across generations and over many decades, the rights of workers have been hard fought for and should be celebrated...

Posted at September 15, 2024 6:35 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Government must respect Court’s Uber employee decision

Today’s court ruling upholding the rights of Uber drivers is a message to the Government that it must not tamper with employment protections. “This decision is a monumental win for workers’ rights. We call on the Prime Minister to rule out and refrain from pushing policies that undermine today’s decision and the rights of our workers,” says the Green Party’s Workplace Relations & Safety spokesperson Teanau Tuiono. “The judgement couldn’t be clearer - maintaining the status quo means upholding the rights...

Posted at August 26, 2024 2:54 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Government sets out to undermine workplace safety

The Government’s announcement of a roadshow consultation on work health and safety is a smokescreen for its plan to throw out regulations which keep workers safe.“More workers are going to die as a result of this move - it’s that simple,” says Teanau Tuiono, the Green Party’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson. “The Government’s decision to cut funding to the tune of $10 million from an already under-staffed Worksafe NZ was the entree. The main course will be sweeping cuts...

Posted at June 14, 2024 11:23 AM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Workers’ rights must be respected in review of Holidays Act

The Government must ensure workers’ rights are at the core of any changes made to the Holidays Act 2003. “An erosion of workers’ rights and a decay in the balance between employer and employee will become core to the legacy of this Government if it continues on its current trajectory,” says Green Party spokesperson for Workplace Relations and Safety, Teanau Tuiono. “The Government’s tampering with the Holidays Act looks set to complicate leave entitlements and leave workers with less - especially...

Posted at June 05, 2024 2:58 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Knowingly cruel, Govt makes Aotearoa a more precarious place for working people

Just days after axing Fair Pay Agreements, this Government is once again trampling over people’s working rights by making it possible for bosses to fire new staff without reason. “Today National has made Aotearoa a more cruel and precarious place for thousands of working people,” says the Green Party’s spokesperson for workplace relations and safety, Teanau Tuiono.  “Building a healthier, more prosperous and better future for Aotearoa means addressing the problem of low-paid and precarious employment.  “Over the last seven days,...

Posted at December 21, 2023 9:57 AM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Government turning its back on working people

The Green Party stands with unions and working people in defense of Fair Pay Agreements.“Fair Payment Agreements would have put more money in the pockets of people teaching our mokopuna, keeping our hospitals  clean and safe, stocking the supermarket shelves, and getting us around on the bus. It takes a particularly cruel government to turn its back on the people who do so much for our communities,” says the Green Party’s workplace relations spokesperson, Teanau Tuiono. “There are thousands of...

Posted at December 13, 2023 11:44 AM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Government knowingly making life harder for people

Leaked government documents confirm this government will consciously do serious harm to the lives of working people and their whānau.“Our lowest paid people deserve a pay increase, not a government that is deliberately deciding to put the profits of big businesses ahead of making sure working people are paid what they deserve,” says the Green Party’s workplace relations and safety spokesperson, Teanau Tuiono. “For many people, the cost of paying the bills and putting food on the table has been...

Posted at December 04, 2023 6:07 PM by Teanau Tuiono

culture and innovation

Green Party confirms plan for five weeks annual leave

Speaking at the E Tū Election Launch in Auckland today, Green Party co leader Marama Davidson outlined the Green Party’s manifesto commitment to ensure everyone has five weeks of annual leave. “Everyone should be able to spend quality time with their whānau and friends, but right now Aoteroa is not working for all working people. Tens of thousands of people are working two, sometimes three, jobs just to make ends meet. This leaves hardly any time in the day for people...

Posted at September 16, 2023 1:21 PM by Marama Davidson