Over 100,000 New Zealand Public Sector Workers Strike Over Pay, Conditions

More than 100,000 public sector workers in New Zealand, including teachers, nurses, doctors, firefighters, and support staff, staged one of the country's largest strikes in decades to demand better pay, resources, and working conditions. The strike, described as a "mega strike," was fueled by dissatisfaction with the conservative coalition government's cuts to public spending and failure to reduce the cost of living while maintaining frontline services. Despite severe weather forcing the cancellation of some events, tens of thousands rallied nationwide, highlighting concerns about understaffing, unsafe conditions, and the impact on patients, students, and workers themselves. Government officials dismissed the strike as a politically motivated stunt, but union leaders and participants emphasized the real and growing challenges in health and education sectors, with many workers leaving their professions or the country. The strike underscores increasing public unease with the government's economic policies amid a struggling economy, inflation concerns, and high emigration rates. Political figures and union representatives called on the government to prioritize investment in essential public services to prevent further deterioration.