# Web Capture: Home Support Workers Lose $27,728 Each — Pay Equity Gap Deepens

**Source:** Waatea News (Māori news service)
**Original URL:** https://waateanews.com/2026/05/07/home-support-workers-lose-nearly-28000-each-as-pay-equity-gap-deepens/
**Date accessed:** 10 June 2026
**Capture type:** Summary from search results (article paywalled/not fully extracted)

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## Headline Finding

Home support workers have lost an estimated **$27,728 each** in foregone wages one year on from the Government's decision to scrap their pay equity claim.

## Context

- The 2017 pay equity settlement (arising from the Kristine Bartlett case) increased care workers' pay to 21% above minimum wage.
- The settlement **expired in June 2022**.
- The National-led Government **scrapped the pay equity claim in May 2025**, effectively returning workers to near-minimum-wage levels.
- Workers are now losing approximately **$145/week** ($18,662/year) each due to the absence of a settlement.
- **1,000 days** have passed since the landmark deal expired (as of mid-2026).
- The Government subsequently **legislated a 10-year bar** on new pay equity claims from care workers.

## Significance

This is the largest single-year loss figure published since the pay equity claim was scrapped. It provides a concrete dollar figure for campaign messaging on the home care workforce crisis.

## Related Coverage

- [1000 days since landmark pay equity deal expired — workers losing $145 a week](https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/1000-days-landmark-pay-equity-deal-expired-workers-losing-145-week) – New Zealand Doctor
- PSA campaign: [Protect Pay Equity](https://www.psa.org.nz) — Month of Action for Care and Support Workers

## Cross-References

- `04_Home_Care_Support_and_Informal_Carers`
- `05_Funding_and_Subsidies`
- `04_Home_Care_and_Community_Support`
- Party Position Matrix: Home Care, Carers and Community Support

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_Part of the NZ Seniors Knowledge Base — automated capture_