Public Support Grows for Restoring Pay Equity Framework as Election 2026 Approaches

A new poll commissioned by the Public Service Association (PSA) Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi indicates significant public support for prioritising pay equity over strict government fiscal targets. As the 2026 election nears, the Talbot Mills poll suggests many New Zealanders are open to delaying the return to a budget surplus if it ensures the restoration of the previous pay equity framework. According to the poll results released on Saturday 26 September 2026, 49 percent of respondents support delaying the return to surplus by one year to restore pay equity, while only 28 percent remain opposed. Furthermore, 46 percent of those surveyed supported extending the Government’s 40 percent net-debt target by two years to accommodate the framework. PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons noted that the results challenge the narrative that fiscal constraints should prevent the restoration of pay equity for the estimated 180,000 predominantly female workers affected. The push for restoration follows legislative changes made in May 2025, where the Government amended the Equal Pay Act. Those changes discontinued existing claims and introduced new requirements to ensure financial sustainability. While the Government maintains that pay equity remains accessible under the amended law with stronger evidence of sex-based undervaluation, the PSA and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi remain in strong opposition. The PSA analysis suggests that restoring the previous pay equity system could stimulate economic activity, create thousands of jobs, and play a role in reducing child poverty. Support for the delay was notably strong among Labour, Green, and Opportunity party voters, while National Party voters were evenly split. The data highlights a clear gender divide, with 53 percent of women supporting a delayed surplus compared to 45 percent of men, positioning pay equity as a central issue for wāhine in the upcoming election.