Today the Employment Relations Authority adjourned the hearing of FENZ’s urgent application for facilitation determining that the Authority was best served to allow bargaining to continue as planned next week and then to have updated evidence on the status of that bargaining.

FENZ filed for their urgent application for facilitation on the 7^th October 2025.

That application was to be heard today.

NZPFU and FENZ appeared before the Authority and NZPFU National Secretary was sworn in and asked to give an update on the current status of bargaining.  It was the Union’s position that there had been positive changes in FENZ’s approach since the change of lead negotiator and the three-day session earlier this month.

The NZPFU emphasised that the Parties had agreed bargaining set down for Monday and Tuesday next week, and in the interim had costings and information provided on a proposal with the first chance to discuss the implications of the proposal next week.

FENZ’s position was that the hearing of the evidence should continue today and continued to press for urgency.

The Authority determined it would hear all evidence at the same hearing which will now occur on the 25^th November 2025.  Post the bargaining next week, both parties are to separately provide updated information on the events in next week’s bargaining.

In unity
Wattie Watson
National Secretary