A new poll commissioned by the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi suggests many New Zealanders would accept delays to government fiscal targets if that helped restore the previous pay equity framework.
The Talbot Mills poll found 49 percent supported delaying the return to surplus by one year to restore pay equity, compared with 28 percent opposed. Another 46 percent supported pushing the Government’s 40 percent net-debt target out by two years, while 29 percent opposed.
According to the PSA, support for delaying the surplus was strongest among Labour, Green and Opportunity voters. National voters were evenly divided at 39 percent support and 39 percent opposition, while ACT voters were the group most clearly opposed.
Women were more supportive of delaying the return to surplus than men, at 53 percent compared with 45 percent.
The poll comes after the Government significantly changed the Equal Pay Act in May 2025, discontinuing existing claims and imposing new requirements for future claims. The Government argued the changes were needed to make the system more robust and financially sustainable.
The PSA and Council of Trade Unions strongly oppose those changes and are campaigning during Election 2026 for the previous framework and claims to be restored.
PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons says the poll challenges the argument that fiscal targets should prevent a future government from restoring pay equity. The union says around 180,000 predominantly female workers were affected by the changes.
The PSA also claims restoring pay equity could increase economic activity, create thousands of jobs and reduce child poverty. Those estimates are PSA analysis and form part of its campaign case for restoring the previous system.
The Government has maintained that pay equity remains available under the amended law, but says claims need stronger evidence of sex-based undervaluation and settlements must be financially sustainable.
With the election approaching, pay equity is now shaping up as another clear dividing line over women’s wages, government spending and how quickly the Crown should return its books to surplus.
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