More than 12,300 Allied Health workers have voted to ratify a new collective agreement with Te Whatu Ora Health NZ.
The new deal covers Allied, Public Health, Scientific and Technical (APHST) members represented by the Public Service Association (PSA).
“Allied, public health, scientific and technical professionals play a critical role in patient care, and this settlement acknowledges their important contribution to the healthcare system,” said Health Minister, Simeon Brown.
Workers will receive a pay increase of 2.5% in year one from December 2025 and a further 2% from December 2026. The agreement also includes a $500 lump sum payment for staff, a new pay scale for Sterile Sciences Technicians, commitments to improve safe staffing, a contractual commitment to advertise vacancies, and a $400,000 national professional development fund to support ongoing training and career progression.
“This ratification follows the recent approval of collective agreements for APEX Pharmacy and APEX Psychologists members, continuing progress on workforce settlements across the health sector. I want to acknowledge Health New Zealand and the unions for their work as these agreements are reached,” said Mr Brown.
National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, Fleur Fitzsimons said the agreement was reached as a result of “PSA Allied Health workers who showed up, stood strong and held the line in the face of unrealistic initial pay offers”.
“We didn’t get everything we wanted with the settlement but members have ratified these agreements after the Allied Health bargaining team recommended that they support it on the basis that it is the best offer the union is able to achieve at this time,” said Ms Fitzsimons.
“These workers went on strike during the Mega Strike on 23 October 2025 as well as a further strike late last year and their actions have made a difference. This outcome after seven months of bargaining shows what workers can achieve when they stand together.”
The Allied, Public Health, Scientific and Technical collective covers a wide range of health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, Māori health specialists, anaesthetic technicians, and scientists.
“Allied Health workers deliver essential care to New Zealanders every day. This settlement is recognition of that contribution and a reminder that in a health system under significant strain, the workers who keep it running need fair terms and conditions,” Ms Fitzsimons said.
Voting is now underway on a union-supported settlement for two other collectives that cover more than 4,000 other PSA members, including mental health and public health nurses, policy, advisory, knowledge and specialist workers. The PSA represents more than 26,000 workers employed by Health NZ.
