John McKeefry, Employment Relations Specialist & Partnership Lead, shares Three60 Consult’s Wellington office opening and how our new location supports Public Sector Employers. Our
Anna Jones, CEO of Three60 Consult, has extensive experience in employment relations, mediation and workplace dispute resolution. Having supported the resolution of thousands of workplace disputes, Anna shares her perspective on how AI is changing mediation, and why skilled human judgement remains critical to achieving practical outcomes. How AI is changing employment mediation and workplace dispute resolution in New Zealand AI is already changing the way employment relationship problems are being framed and pursued in New Zealand. Most of the
Adrian Tocker draws on his 20 years of extensive experience advising employers across all aspects of employment law, collective bargaining, and workplace relations. In this insight, he provides a practical, balanced, and informed analysis of the proposed Employment Leave Bill, exploring its potential implications for employers, employees, and workplace practices. Adrian offers valuable perspectives on the key changes being proposed, the challenges organisations may face in adapting to them, and the considerations employers should keep in mind as the legislation
With 22 years experience helping organisations resolve complex employment issues, Senior Associate Raymond Wheeler shares his insights into what makes relational based bargaining an important strategic approach for both employers and employees and working with unions. Relational Based Bargaining: Using Good Faith as a Strategic Advantage What is the Nature of Bargaining? Bargaining is not won by clauses alone, nor by coverage, budgets, rosters, hours of work and many other exchanges, or who can hold the strongest position for the
Senior Associate Adrian Tocker shares valuable update on the 2026 collective bargaining landscape and offers insight into why wage negotiations are getting tougher. NZ Collective Bargaining Outlook June 2026: Why Wage Negotiations Are Getting Tougher If we had to describe the current collective bargaining environment in one line, it would be this: employee expectations are being driven by cost-of-living pressure, while employer positions are being driven by affordability and sustainability. That gap is widening. And in practical terms, it means
𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 No-one in the workplace, including the employer signs up for conflict. Most people want to go to work to do the job they are employed to do and go home. Most employers want their employees to succeed and be happy at work because this goes a long way towards a successful business. So how does conflict arise, how does it escalate and what is the impact on employees and employers? In mediation, workplace conflict is
By definition, a conversation is an informal, interactive, and spoken exchange of thoughts, ideas, feelings, or information between two or more people. A true conversation isn’t just one person speaking at another without offering a chance to respond. Difficult conversations demand thoughtful preparation to ensure they are productive and meaningful. These exchanges often involve serious matters, concerns, or allegations that need to be addressed promptly. It’s crucial that both parties have time to prepare and understand the purpose of the
Our guide to an enjoyable xmas event As December comes into view, New Zealand businesses are heading into Christmas functions that promise a well-earned celebration of the year’s achievements. These events help build team morale and recognise staff contributions, but it’s important to keep them professional and prioritise safety. 2025 has brought its share of challenges for businesses and individuals, making the urge to “let our hair down” all the more tempting. While we don’t want to take the shine
Senior Associate Adrian Tocker shares valuable perspectives on the 2025 collective bargaining landscape and offers insight into what for 2026. December 2025 The year 2025 has been marked by a delicate balancing act between economic stability and wage expectations. As we close out December, the labour market reflects a cooling trend with unemployment remaining at 5.2% which many think will be the peak of this current economic cycle. However, pressures from unions and cost-of-living concerns of workers remain palpable. The
Senior Associate Lynn Booker reflects on the trends seen by our team in workplace mediations, including the rise of team conflict, and the growing impact of individual mental health on the employment relationship. As mediators we work with parties in a confidential process. We do not discuss matters with our mediation team but we often talk about themes. What I find interesting is that if one of us has a pattern of similar issues/types of mediations, it is not
Senior Associate and former MBIE Senior Labour Inspector Lynn Booker summarises the changes proposed by the reform of the Holidays Act 2003, and what the new Employment Leave Act could mean for employers. I imagine for a lot of employers it’s a “here we go again” moment. We have been told several times over the past few years that changes are coming that will simplify the Holidays Act 2003 and make it easier for employer to implement and employees