New Zealand
New Zealand doctors to hold second nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 28 January 2019
Some 3,300 doctors will strike in public hospitals for the second time this year in opposition to major attacks on working conditions overseen by the Labour Party-led government.
New Zealand Labour government entrenches anti-worker measures
By John Braddock, 23 January 2019
The plummeting social position of the working class is an indictment of the Labour-led government and the trade unions.
New Zealand doctors prepare nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 14 January 2019
Some 3,300 doctors will join the strike in opposition to deepening attacks on working conditions in public hospitals under the Labour Party-led government.
New Zealand’s public healthcare crisis worsens
By Tom Peters, 9 January 2019
Reports that thousands of people are being denied hospital treatment expose the fraud of the Labour-led government’s promises to improve the public health system.
Social crisis worsens under New Zealand Labour Party-led government
By Tom Peters, 28 December 2018
The promises of the ruling Labour Party-NZ First-Greens coalition to address poverty and inequality have been exposed as a fraud.
New Zealand government calls for greater US military presence in the Pacific
By Tom Peters, 24 December 2018
The Labour Party-led government’s call for a stronger American military presence in the Pacific region flows from New Zealand’s integration into US war plans against China.
David North addresses New Zealand meeting celebrating 80 years of the Fourth International
By our reporters, 11 December 2018
David North spoke to the meeting in Wellington about the history of the Fourth International, the lessons of the rise of fascism in the 1930s, and the political and theoretical basis for building a socialist leadership in the working class.
New Zealand teachers’ struggle at a crossroads
By Tom Peters, 1 December 2018
Teachers are determined to fight, but the unions are attempting to suppress their struggle by promoting illusions in the Labour-led government.
Intensifying US pressure on New Zealand government over China
By John Braddock, 29 November 2018
The Labour-led coalition is moving toward closer alignment with Washington’s anti-China offensive.
205 Announcement of DN appearances in Australia and NZ
28 November 2018
Anti-Chinese campaign escalates in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 17 November 2018
The media and the Labour Party-led government have painted Chinese investment in the Pacific as a threat to New Zealand.
New Zealand rail union enforces another pro-company pay deal
By our correspondent, 10 November 2018
In 2016, the Labour Party-dominated Greater Wellington Regional Council privatised the region's commuter rail service, to save $NZ100 million over 15 years at the expense of jobs, wages and conditions.
New Zealand: Bus union ends Wellington strike
By Tom Peters, 3 November 2018
The transport unions have sought to divide and demoralise workers and subordinate them to the Labour Party-led government.
New Zealand teachers’ union moves to call off strikes
By John Braddock, 31 October 2018
In order to quash rolling strikes due next month, the primary teachers’ union has joined with the Ministry of Education to seek urgent facilitation to end a long-running pay dispute.
New Zealand opposition tries to shut down scandal over alleged links to Chinese businessman
By Tom Peters, 26 October 2018
Allegations that the National Party failed to disclose a donation from a Chinese businessman have sparked calls for a crackdown on “Chinese influence” from supporters of closer alignment with US imperialism.
New Zealand military covered up killing of Afghan children
By Tom Peters, 23 October 2018
A recent article by journalist Nicky Hager revealed that an elite medic in the SAS combat unit was given a medal after killing two Afghan boys in a firefight.
New Zealand opposition in crisis over links to Chinese businessman
By Tom Peters, 20 October 2018
Allegations that the National Party leader failed to disclose a donation have been seized on by the media and NZ First Party to ramp up the nationalist anti-China campaign.
New Zealand rail union promotes sellout at Wellington meeting
By our reporter, 19 October 2018
Wellington rail workers employed by Transdev and Hyundai Rotem held stopwork meetings called by the Rail and Maritime Transport Union to ratify yet another pro-company agreement.
Meetings in Australia and New Zealand to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Fourth International
19 October 2018
The meetings will take place in Sydney on Sunday, December 2, in Melbourne on Thursday, December 6, and in Wellington, New Zealand on Sunday, December 9.
New Zealand to fine travellers who refuse to unlock electronic devices at border
By Tom Peters, 15 October 2018
Under a new law, anyone entering New Zealand can be fined $5,000 for refusing to provide passwords and encryption keys, enabling Customs agents to search their electronic devices.
US ambassador to New Zealand continues public attacks on China
By Tom Peters, 12 October 2018
Scott Brown, the ambassador appointed by Trump, is escalating the anti-Chinese campaign in New Zealand to align the country more closely with US war preparations.
New Zealand government bans “foreigners” from buying houses
By Sam Price, 11 October 2018
The scapegoating of immigrants is an attempt to divert attention from the Labour Party-led government’s refusal to address the housing crisis.
New Zealand prime minister’s false facade of “hope” and “kindness”
By John Braddock, 9 October 2018
Ardern’s platitudinous speech to the UN general assembly was aimed at covering up her Labour-led government’s agenda of austerity and militarism.
New Zealand: Wellington bus drivers vote for indefinite strike
By our correspondent, 4 October 2018
Drivers threaten to walk out against attacks on wages, jobs and conditions.
New Zealand education riven by class inequality
By John Braddock, 2 October 2018
The New Zealand Herald’s investigation found that only one in 100 entrants to top university courses over a five-year period were students from the poorest schools.
New Zealand primary teachers reject sellout pay offer
By Tom Peters, 29 September 2018
The Labour Party-NZ First government’s offer of a meagre 3 percent per year for three years, with no measures to address the staffing crisis, was resoundingly rejected by primary school teachers.
New Zealand government extends troop deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan
By Tom Peters, 21 September 2018
The announcement that troops will remain in Iraq and Afghanistan further demolishes claims that the NZ Labour Party-NZ First-Greens coalition government is a “progressive” alternative.
New Zealand primary teachers’ union presents sellout offer
By Tom Peters and Sam Price, 17 September 2018
The Labour government’s proposal does not begin to address stagnant wages and the staffing crisis afflicting schools.
New Zealand: Unite union applauds ban on migrant workers at Burger King
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 15 September 2018
In a reactionary, nationalist statement the union lauded a decision that will punish immigrant fast food workers by cutting off their employment.
Chelsea Manning speaks in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 13 September 2018
After being denied entry to Australia, Manning spoke to audiences in New Zealand about her decision to leak US military documents, her time in prison and her political activism over the past year.
Following strike wave, New Zealand prime minister appeases the corporate elite
By John Braddock, 8 September 2018
Ardern’s move to reassure business is in response to the leftward shift in the working class.
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) forum reviews lessons of nursing union sellout
By our reporter, 7 September 2018
Participants discussed the need for health workers to rebel against the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, build rank-and-file committees and unite with workers internationally, based on a socialist perspective.
US ambassador praises New Zealand’s Pacific “reset”
By John Braddock, 30 August 2018
Brown’s comments are an enthusiastic endorsement of Labour’s strengthening of New Zealand’s support for Washington’s drive to war against both China and Russia.
National Party seeks to prevent Chelsea Manning from entering New Zealand
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 30 August 2018
The National Party’s attempt to bar Manning, who exposed war crimes committed by the US, is part of a worldwide assault on free speech and other democratic rights.
Auckland nurse denounces union’s sellout deal in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 29 August 2018
A nurses’ union member spoke with the WSWS over worsening conditions at the South Auckland hospital and the growing anger of health workers over the union’s betrayal.
New Zealand transport workers’ jobs and conditions under attack
By our correspondents, 25 August 2018
Rail and bus workers face a sustained assault by companies hired by the Greater Wellington Regional Council to run passenger services.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation lashes out at critics on social media
By Tom Peters, 24 August 2018
The union posted an inflammatory statement on Facebook aimed at intimidating opposition to its sellout of health workers.
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) to hold online forum: Lessons of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s sellout
20 August 2018
The SEG urges health workers to attend this online forum on September 1 to discuss the NZNO’s betrayal and the way forward in the fight against the Labour Party government’s austerity measures.
Lessons of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s sellout: Build rank-and-file committees! Unite the working class against the Labour government!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 18 August 2018
The sellout of the nurses’ struggle by the union bureaucracy raises the need for rank-and-file committees and a fight to unite the working class against austerity and for socialism.
New Zealand primary teachers hold nationwide strike
By our reporters, 16 August 2018
Tens of thousands joined rallies across the country to demand better pay and conditions, while the teachers’ trade union used the strike to promote illusions in the Labour Party-led government.
New Zealand government launches sham inquiry into Afghan war crimes
By Sam Price, 16 August 2018
The inquiry into allegations that civilians were killed in a NZSAS raid in Afghanistan in 2010 is destined to be a whitewash.
China set to become largest aid donor to Pacific
By John Braddock, 15 August 2018
The ruling elites in Australia and New Zealand, the local imperialist powers that act in concert with Washington, view China’s rise as a threat to their interests.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation rams through sellout pay deal
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 8 August 2018
The union is trying to present the agreement, which fails to address the crisis in the public health system, as a victory.
New Zealand teachers join growing wages movement
By our reporters, 6 August 2018
In a rebuff to the union leadership, 50,000 primary school teachers voted to strike on August 15.
New Zealand nurses express frustration, anger in union broadcast
By our reporters, 2 August 2018
The union’s online event was a desperate attempt to sell the latest, widely opposed deal and shut down the rebellion among nurses.
New Zealand Defence Force nurses deployed during strike
By John Braddock, 31 July 2018
The Labour government’s military deployment is a sharp warning to the resurgent working class as to what the ruling elite has in store.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation presents fifth sell-out pay offer
By John Braddock, 26 July 2018
The latest offer to public hospital nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives is virtually identical to offers they rejected before the July 12 nationwide strike.
After nationwide strike: The way forward for New Zealand health workers
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 25 July 2018
The SEG calls on health workers to break from the pro-capitalist trade unions and form rank-and-file committees to unite the working class against the Labour-led government’s austerity policies.
New Zealand bus drivers take action over work rosters
By our correspondents, 24 July 2018
Bus drivers are facing attacks on jobs, wages and conditions by private operators contracted by the Labour Party-led Wellington Council.
New Zealand Labour-aligned Daily Blog posts pro-war, anti-China tirade
By John Braddock, 20 July 2018
The on-line blog hails the government’s military upgrade in preparation to join US-led aggression against China.
Intelligence inquiry whitewashes New Zealand’s spying in the Pacific
By John Braddock, 18 July 2018
The inquiry was part of a damage limitation campaign following revelations by Edward Snowden.
New Zealand foreign minister: “Great Power competition is back”
By John Braddock, 17 July 2018
Peters’ speech underscored the strengthening alliance between the Labour-led government and the US in confronting China across the Asia-Pacific.
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) holds online health workers’ meeting
By our reporters, 17 July 2018
The SEG’s forum, which included New Zealand and Australian workers, discussed the political lessons of the July 12 strike by 30,000 nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives.
Growing strike movement in New Zealand
By our reporters, 14 July 2018
The first cross-department public sector strike for over a decade, was held three days before the 24-hour nationwide nurses’ strike.
New Zealand nurses stage first nationwide strike in 30 years
By our reporters, 13 July 2018
Nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives in public hospitals struck for 24 hours yesterday after rejecting a sellout deal backed by the union.
Open letter to NZ nurses’ Facebook group: Reverse the ban on WSWS articles and criticisms of the union
By Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 12 July 2018
In the lead-up to today’s nationwide strike by health workers, the administrators of “New Zealand, please hear our voice” deleted WSWS articles and many comments criticising the union’s attempt to shut down the movement.
040 NZ nurses reject union-backed sellout, prepare national strike
11 July 2018
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) to hold online forum: The way forward for nurses and health workers
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 11 July 2018
The online meeting will discuss a socialist strategy to fight for decent and well-funded public health services, in opposition to the Labour Party-led government and the nurses’ union.
New Zealand defence policy targets China, Russia
By John Braddock, 11 July 2018
In line with the US Trump administration, the NZ Labour-led government is preparing for war abroad and class war at home.
New Zealand nurses reject union-backed sellout, prepare nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 10 July 2018
Nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives in public hospitals are preparing for a nationwide strike on Thursday, after rejecting a sellout offer recommended by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.
New Zealand nurses speak to WSWS opposing sellout deal
By Tom Peters, 7 July 2018
Nurses denounced the union-backed proposed agreement, which keeps wages low and maintains severe under-staffing of hospitals.
New Zealand nurses denounce union promotion of sellout deal
By Tom Peters, 6 July 2018
There is widespread anger as the nursing trade union tries to prevent a strike and impose an agreement that maintains low pay and hospital understaffing.
Outrage over union’s cancellation of New Zealand nurses’ strike
By Tom Peters, 3 July 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has cancelled one of two scheduled strikes and is seeking to impose a sell-out deal, virtually identical to that rejected by nurses and other health workers last month.
New Zealand: Staff cuts and library closures at the University of Auckland
By Sam Price, 30 June 2018
University of Auckland authorities have responded to a funding freeze by the Labour government by announcing the shutdown of three specialist libraries and job cuts.
New Zealand’s “First Baby” fuels media frenzy
By John Braddock, 27 June 2018
The orchestrated fawning over the “First Child” is designed to divert attention from the sharpening class struggle within New Zealand and increasing global turmoil.
New Zealand nurses reject third sellout deal, prepare to strike
By Tom Peters, 22 June 2018
The nurses’ union is desperately seeking to avoid two 24-hour strikes scheduled for next month.
New Zealand rally demands freedom for Julian Assange
By our reporters, 20 June 2018
Tom Peters from the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) addressed a rally outside the Australian High Commission in Wellington to demand that the Australian government secure Assange’s freedom.
New Zealand Labour government to extend bans on strikes
By John Braddock, 15 June 2018
The “Fair Pay Agreements” framework, supported by the unions, will outlaw stoppages across entire industries during wage negotiations.
Australian workers and youth back June 17 Sydney rally in defence of Julian Assange
By our reporters, 12 June 2018
“Assange is a symbol of freedom of speech and justice for ordinary people. It is critical that we free him.”
New Zealand Labour government’s budget fails to address health crisis
By Sam Price, 8 June 2018
Patients across the country are suffering because successive governments have starved the healthcare system of funds.
Vote no to sellout of New Zealand nurses! Build rank-and-file committees!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 7 June 2018
The SEG calls on health workers to break from the unions, build new organisations and fight to unite the working class against the Labour government’s pro-business agenda.
Growing tensions over New Zealand’s ties to China
By John Braddock, 31 May 2018
New Zealand governments have sought to maintain an ever-more fraught balancing act between its traditional military alliance with the US and economic reliance on China.
New Zealand nurses vote for nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 30 May 2018
Public hospital nurses and other health workers are fighting an effective wage freeze by the Labour Party-led government.
New Zealand: Labour government’s first budget starves essential services
By Tom Peters, 22 May 2018
The budget drastically underfunds health, education, welfare and housing, while boosting the military, police and prisons.
New Zealand nurses mount nationwide protests
By our reporters, 15 May 2018
Thousands marched in 15 towns and cities to demand better pay and conditions.
New Zealand Labour government makes “left” feint on education
By John Braddock, 14 May 2018
Some 50,000 NZ teachers are set to follow their counterparts in the United States and other countries in the fight for jobs, decent wages and working conditions.
New Zealand government boosts foreign aid for “Pacific Reset”
By John Braddock, 12 May 2018
The increased spending is aimed at pushing back against growing Chinese influence in the region.
The way forward for New Zealand nurses: Break from the unions! Unite the working class against the Labour government!
By Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 10 May 2018
The fight by nurses and other health workers for decent wages and conditions must be consciously directed against the Labour Party government and the pro-capitalist trade unions.
Is The Changeover just Twilight set in New Zealand?
By Tom Peters, 8 May 2018
The Changeover, highly praised in New Zealand, is a formulaic supernatural teen romance imbued with definite class prejudices.
Decision not to prosecute over New Zealand building collapse ignored crucial evidence
By Sam Price, 4 May 2018
The police and judicial system is shielding those responsible for the Canterbury Television crash during the 2011 earthquake.
New Zealand nurses begin voting on nationwide strikes
By Tom Peters, 3 May 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is seeking to reach a sellout deal with the Labour Party government to avoid any campaign for better wages and conditions.
New Zealand prime minister strengthens military ties with France
By Tom Peters, 28 April 2018
Jacinda Ardern sought increased military cooperation with France and Britain in the Pacific, to push back against China’s strategic and economic influence.
New Zealand rail union rams through pro-company collective agreement
By our correspondent, 26 April 2018
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union has imposed a deal that attacks wages, jobs and conditions.
New Zealand: IYSSE and SEG meeting opposes Internet censorship
By our reporter, 24 April 2018
The speaker explained that censorship and the persecution of WikiLeaks was the response to opposition to war and social inequality.
British Commonwealth summit sees line up against China and Russia
By Mike Head, 23 April 2018
The CHOGM gathering saw a concerted drive to transform the 53-member grouping, long regarded as an imperial relic, into a confrontational vehicle.
Union seeks to derail New Zealand nurses’ struggle
By Tom Peters, 18 April 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is working with the Labour Party-led government to prevent a strike after nurses rejected a sellout deal.
New Zealand government supports imperialist assault on Syria
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 17 April 2018
The Ardern government’s response underscores that it is prepared to take the country into a catastrophic war instigated by its US and European allies.
New Zealand barrister defends principle of presumption of innocence
By John Braddock, 11 April 2018
Michael Bott said that an automatic “believe the victim” starting point in a prosecution “can and must have no place in criminal trials.”
New Zealand government under pressure to expel Russian diplomats
By Tom Peters, 5 April 2018
NZ’s Labour Party-led government is under pressure from the opposition National Party, the media and Australia to fully line up with war preparations against Russia.
New Zealand: Labour government hit by sexual assault allegations
By John Braddock, 31 March 2018
The media has deliberately inflated an apparently minor incident into a major national issue as a warning to Labour to press ahead with an agenda of austerity and war preparations.
New Zealand: Nurses reject sellout pay deal
By Tom Peters, 30 March 2018
Public health nurses have voted against a 2 percent pay increase, an effective wage freeze, negotiated by their trade union.
Britain pressures New Zealand government to join anti-Russian sanctions
By John Braddock, 26 March 2018
Britain’s High Commissioner to NZ has successfully pushed the Ardern government to cancel planned free trade talks with Russia.
New Zealand: No end in sight for Christchurch earthquake rebuild
By Tom Peters, 21 March 2018
Seven years after the 2011 earthquake, thousands of houses are still damaged and insurance claims unresolved.
New Zealand: Reject the union sellout of Wellington rail workers!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 16 March 2018
The RMTU, private companies Transdev and Hyundai Rotem, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council want to impose a pro-business deal that freezes wages and paves the way for job cuts.
New Zealand’s “Pacific reset” aims to reassert imperialist dominance
By Tom Peters, 12 March 2018
Prime Minister Ardern’s government has outlined a strategy to reassert neo-colonial hegemony over the South Pacific and push back Chinese influence.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
10 March 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
New Zealand opposition leadership change reflects tensions over social unrest and drive to war
By Tom Peters, 7 March 2018
National Party leader Bill English’s resignation followed criticism from the US ambassador of his government’s refusal to fully endorse Trump’s warmongering against North Korea.
Obituary: Jim Anderton, a pivotal defender of New Zealand capitalism
By John Braddock, 3 March 2018
As leader of NewLabour and the Alliance, Anderton played a critical role defending the capitalist order by blocking any rebellion against the Labour government.
New Zealand governments lied about “non-combat” role in Iraq
By Sam Price, 2 March 2018
Successive governments falsely claimed that New Zealand soldiers in Iraq are engaged in a training capacity.
New Zealand government intensifies campaign against Chinese “interference”
By John Braddock, 1 March 2018
The government’s investigation into claims of Chinese “intimidation” of an academic points to a state intelligence operation.
Follow the WSWS