Please use this link to join - Join PSA here
Time to get on board!
We are really pleased to bring members of the PSA covered by the Policy Advisory Knowledge Specialists (PAKS) collective a proposed settlement from Health NZ. Your bargaining team has made a decision to recommend this offer for ratification by PSA members.
There is a significant advantage for PAKS workers to be PSA members before the new collective agreement goes out for ratification.
During the last round of bargaining, many PAKS workers missed out on the benefits of a collective because they didn’t know about them– please help us prevent this by filling in this short survey click here.
Some key points:
- $500 lump sum payment
- 2.5% pay increase effective 1 December 2025
- A further 2% pay increase effective 7 December 2026
- Non-members receive pay increases 4 months later
- Personal to Holder Process: if you have existing entitlements that are better than in the collective agreement, you keep those better entitlements
- New extended Coverage Clause
- Improved on call rates for Data and Digital
- And more! Click here.
Ratification PowerPoint 2 March 2026 – click here
PAKS Track Change Collective Agreement 1 December 2025 – 31 October 2027 - click here.
PAKS Terms of Settlement – click here.
PAKS Agreement 21 December 2023 –17 February 2025 – click here.
Time in Role Table – click here.
SP10 Banding - click here.
PPAKS Coverage Indication Tool H&SS – click here.
PAKS Coverage Indication Tool National Functions– click here.
Powerpoint 17 February 2026 – click here.
Are you covered by PAKS CA PP – click here.
PAKS Coverage Guide – click here.
PAKS FAQ– click here.
Information for New to PAKS PowerPoint 23 February2026 – click here
PAKS Background
The PSA has been fighting for years to win collective coverage for workers who were previously left out. For the first time, Policy, Advisory, Knowledge and Specialist (PAKS) workers now have their own collective agreement, which was established in March 2024. This is a milestone that brings real protections and fairness where none existed before. For many PAKS members, this is a brand-new experience. You’ve never had union representation or the strength of a collective behind you.
As part of the last bargaining round, we secured agreement to develop a new Job Evaluation and National Pay Structure, an essential step forward towards fixing pay inequities across the country.
In today’s challenging climate, being unionised matters more than ever. The PAKS agreement has already proven invaluable - from the equalisation clause that protects salaries for two years through restructures, to fairer change-management processes when members face uncertainty, and the ability to bargain collectively for pay and conditions even under tighter restrictions.
Now we have a settlement offer that we can recommend. This is a result of our members taking strike action; standing up for safe staffing, fair pay, and conditions so patients receive the quality care they deserve. And getting behind our amazing PSA PAKS bargaining team that had to navigate an extremely tough bargaining environment.
Registration Links for the PSA PAKS Information Webinars
Please register for a meeting. You will receive a calendar appt. once you have registered.
PAKS CA 2025 – Where we are up to
We have been meeting with the employer for the last 6 months to reach an agreement on a new PAKS collective agreement. We have now reached a critical point in the bargaining where the employer wants to make a formal offer.
Prior to this we would like to discuss some aspects of the offer to get feedback from you the membership. To give us clearer direction on our approach to the formal offer.
Newsletters
HNZ Review Docs and SP10 Pay tables
Other Information
Local Orgs contact list - Organiser Contact List.xlsx
You can download a nomination form at the bottom of the page.
Please use this link to join - Join PSA here
✅ Clearly write on the join form or email which CA you belong to – for example:
“New CA”, “PAKS”, “Allied”, “Admin”,or “Nursing” etc
Send completed forms to: psahealthadmin@psa.org.nz
This helps us code members correctly and avoid delays or confusion about which collective they are part of.
Newsletter and Invite to Discussion Webinars - 11 June 2025
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for members and potential members who are not currently covered by a PSA collective agreement with the criteria in the bullet points just below. If this doesn't apply to you, please email psahealthadmin@psa.org.nz to let us know which collective you are covered by so we can update our records.
You're invited to join a new Managers' Collective Agreement!
PSA has initiated bargaining for a new collective agreement covering roles previously excluded from PAKS. If you are in one of the roles listed below and/or not currently covered by a Collective Agreement, this message is directly relevant to you. Your inclusion in this process is essential to building a fair and representative agreement. This is your opportunity to be included, represented, and heard.
- General, Group, Operational and Service Managers
- Clinical Service Managers and Chief Advisors
- Functional Leaders (SP24 and above)
- People & Culture and Finance staff who implement or cost employment terms
- Executive Assistants not already covered under the Admin CA
- Directors and Assistant Directors in Allied, Nursing, and Mental Health
We need to ensure new members are coded to the right collective, please direct any colleagues who want to join and would be potentially eligible for this collective to use this link Join PSA here, send completed forms to psahealthadmin@psa.org.nz, advise on form (new CA)
Why initiate now?
Some employees from the above roles have joined us already and have indicated an interest in having their terms and conditions of employment being governed by a collective agreement rather than the individual employment agreement that they are currently on. To achieve this, we have in the last couple of months, sought to extend the coverage clause of our Policy, Advisory Knowledge and Specialist Collective Agreement (PAKS CA) to accommodate the above roles. HNZ has not agreed to this, hence we have had to initiate for a separate Collective Agreement that will be applicable to more senior roles in Health NZ.
How we secure a collective agreement
It’s important we maximise coverage by ensuring our membership includes the very people this agreement is designed for. To secure coverage and deliver meaningful outcomes, we now need to focus on unionising the rest of your eligible colleagues. Your role in amplifying this message will be essential to us achieving this.
Waiting to join until a Collective Agreement is finalised undermines our ability to secure strong outcomes. Low union density enables the employer to push back on claims, limit coverage, and delay progress. We only succeed when workers are organised and included from the outset.
Join an online session and extend engagement to strengthen representation
- Register to attend an online session. These sessions will provide key information about the new collective agreement and the importance of joining now.
- Invite non-member colleagues to attend. We do not have contact details for non-members, so your support in reaching them is critical.
Registration Links for Webinars
Registration Links for the Discussion about the Initiation of HNZ Managers Collective Agreement Webinars
Please register for a meeting. You will receive a calendar appt. once you have registered.
A series of local meetings and engagement with your local organisers to follow. You can find your local PSA Organiser's contact details here.
What are we aiming to achieve?
It is our aim to create a new Collective Agreement that will be applicable to all the roles that we have initiated for. We will be seeking to ensure that:
- all roles of similar value are paid similarly.
- pay system that allows for annual progression is provided
- annual pay increase is negotiated and that the pay scales maintain their market value.
- terms and conditions such as annual leave, sick leave, long service leave, redundancy and other such conditions are provided for.
- employees who have superior conditions than those in the new CA manage to keep those as “personal to holder”.
You will have other matters that you want included in the CA, let us know.
Why this matters now?
Over many years, the absence of widespread union coverage for this group has contributed to significant inequities across the workforce, both locally and nationally. Up until now there has been no collective mechanism to push for fairness, transparency or equity in pay and conditions.
Over the last few years employees who have remained on Individual Employment Agreements missed out on pay increase. Last year (1 July 24-30 June 25) employees of Collective Agreements received a 3% pay increase as well as an additional $500.
Employees on Individual Employment Agreements have now had a Remuneration Review conducted for the same period. This review has only placed employees on their current Strategic Pay band.
It has not evaluated and placed roles on salary bands that reflect your current job. It has also only moved employees to the minimum (80%) of the band. It has not taken account of your service or experience.
To make matters worse the new Individual Employment Agreements that has been promulgated by HNZ is “draconian”. It will strip any superior condition you have currently and limit you to a sick leave accumulation of only 20 days, irrespective of how many days you may have accumulated currently.
Colleagues that haven’t joined and want to be part of this?
Please direct them to this link Join PSA here.
Please email completed forms to psahealthadmin@psa.org.nz and advise code - New CA in the subject line.
If you have any questions about joining, please contact Growth Specialist Bek Davey at rebecca.davey@psa.org.nz or your local PSA Organiser.
Ngā mihi
PSA Health Team
