Around 1000 ambulance workers to begin strikes today
St John ambulance crews across the country will refuse to attend non-emergency event work in what FIRST Union says is: "Their fight for including shift recognition payments to reflect their unsociable and physically tolling seven-day-a-week, rotating shift pattern." Ambulance staff work a 12-hour shift pattern that rotates over days, nights and weekends. FIRST Union says the ambulance workers previously received shift recognition payments for night and weekend work, similar to other DHB-related services like nurses. However, St John claims this has been incorporated into the hourly rate. FIRST Union transport logistics and manufacturing divisional secretary Jared Abbott says that explaination doesn't fly. "The starting rate is below $20 an hour, if recognition payments for night and weekend work are factored into this, many ambulance professionals would have to be on below the minimum wage," he said. "To claim that the current rates account for shift recognition is incorrect. New Zealand’s ambulance professionals are amongst the lowest paid in the developed world." Mr Abbott says the first strike notice was served on St John this week for a ban on recalls to events, meaning frontline ambulance staff will not cover work where other staff have been removed from duty to do commercial event work. "Our members feel very strongly about ensuring that patient safety is maintained during any industrial action. "Event work, which is commercial income for St John, often gets priority over frontline services, so by refusing to come off the frontline to cover events actually makes more ambulance officers available for the public service."
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Witnesses sought in relation to mass disorder on K-Road Auckland
Police are appealing to the public for any footage they may have of the mass disorder that occurred on Karangahape Road in Auckland in the early hours of Sunday 28 December.
Emergency services were called to the disorder around 3.41am where it is estimated around over 50 people were present.
A Police investigation is underway after there were three serious assaults on and around Karangahape Road during the mass disorder.
A portal has been set up to allow the public to upload any footage they have of the disorder and the serious assaults.
The portal is https://dahr.nc3.govt.nz/
Police have arrested one person but are asking for help to identify and locate others involved.
• Around 4:15am there was a serious assault outside the Crown Bar on Queen Street.
A 33-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4647.
• Around 4:30am there was another serious assault on a Cobden Steet just off Karangahape Road.
A 27-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
The offender is still unknown, and the Police file number is 251228/4462.
• Around 5am there was third serious assault at the Mobil Service Station on the corner or Karangahape Road and Ponsonby Road.
A 46-year-old man received serious injuries and was hospitalised.
A 21-year-old man has been charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He has been bailed to appear in court again on 16 January 2026.
The Police file number is 251228/4774.
Police would like to speak to anyone who has witnessed or filmed the assaults.
Witnesses can call Police directly on 105.
Please quote one of the above file numbers.
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