This 1 May workers and their unions across Aotearoa will be uniting across the country at May Day hui. We'll be standing together for our schools, hospitals and strong public services.

This year is an election year. NZNO members need to be at these hui alongside other working people to share our collective demands of the next Government:

  • More money in workers’ pockets: restore pay equity and Fair Pay Agreements
  • Good jobs for all and a system that backs workers
  • Public services that work and power we can afford
  • Make the rich pay their fair share

When working people unite and use our collective strength, we bring people together and transform society for the better. Unions and workers have a proud history of creating change and NZNO members joining these hui on 1 May will be an important part of that.

Find out more at the official website: May Day 2026

FAQs for NZNO members

  • NZNO sent notices on 15 and 16 April to some NZNO employers notifying them that these union meetings have been organised and are to be held pursuant to section 26 of the Employment Relations Act 2000. This means that NZNO members who work for those employers are entitled to attend the meeting in their location without loss of pay.
  • A notice was issued to Te Whatu Ora covering all Districts.
  • If you work outside of Te Whatu Ora and a notice has been sent to your employer, you will be sent an email confirming this. If you are unsure, check with your organiser.
  • If you are planning to attend as a paid union meeting you also have the right to half an hour of travel time each side of the one hour meeting.
  • If you are rostered to work at the time of the meeting, and there is a meeting you can access within the allocated travel time, please advise your employer that you are planning to attend the meeting as a paid union meeting.
  • If you are not rostered to work at the time of the meeting you are still encouraged to attend, however, you will not be paid.
  • We will be arranging buses/minivans in some locations, we will let members know where this option is available.

Are there online meetings?
No. This is a CTU event and it was a decision from CTU affiliates collectively not to hold online meetings.

What should I do if the travel time won’t allow me to reach my meeting and return within 2 hours? Eg should I spend 45mins travelling each way and only 30 at the meeting, or just not attend the meeting?
Discuss this with your employer. The obligation is only to be paid for two hours, but the meeting itself can run over and you must return to work “as soon as reasonably practical”. Members should know that if they’re gone for 2 ½ hours (as in this example) the employer only has to pay them for 2 hours.

What if I need less than 2hrs for travel time and meeting?
 You are only permitted to be away from work for travel time and meeting time. If this is less than two hours then you must return to work.

Do I need to sign in at the meeting?
Yes. Unions are required to provide proof of attendance if employers request this. Please make sure to sign in at your meeting.

Do I have to take my lunch break as part of the meeting or during the travel time?
No. This should be arranged at a separate time and is unpaid.

If it was your rostered day off for the stop work meeting would you still get paid?
No. You are still encouraged to attend but you will not be paid if you were not rostered to work.

Staff have been told that they need to find cover to attend S26 meetings
Staff do not need to find cover. However, a delegate is a representative of the Union so the employer may legitimately have a conversation with the delegate about how operations may be maintained. There may be disruption and reduced service/output for the employer.

Can my employer require me to stay at work if it’s busy? Eg I’m a theatre nurse and my manager advises if I go to the meeting patients surgery will be delayed two hours, therefore they are unable to release me.
A delay of service to attend a S26 meeting is reasonable. If the surgery wasn’t able to go ahead at all, then the employer could not release the member.  

Find the full list of May Day 2026 hui here.