APEX Union have announced their members in Whangarei, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, and the South Island will take industrial action (strike) on Tuesday 25, Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 March 2025.
The strike is a full withdrawal of labour, which means APEX Union members who work in the laboratory, collection centres, and logistics and support staff (in some regions), will strike on these days.
- Most laboratory services across the South Island will be unavailable during these days, with no routine services available across the three-day period.
- All regions will have life preserving services were needed.
- In some regions there are also partial strikes occurring with some services like walk-ins and test adds unavailable on Friday 28, Monday 31 March and Tuesday 1 April.
Our teams have been working closely with Health NZ to manage the impacts to hospital services and the wider health sector. Priority will be ensuring those who are seriously ill still receive the critical, life preserving services they need.
Please click on the region below for more information on what services are impacted in that area. Services do vary across the South Island so if you are in doubt please contact your local laboratory.
Dunedin
Collection Centres:
| Dunedin | |
| Hospital Ward rounds | Unavailable |
| Filleul St Collection Centre | Closed |
| South Dunedin Collection Centre | Closed |
| Marinoto Collection Centre | Closed |
| Mosgiel Collection Centre | Closed |
| Home Visits | Unavailable |
| Dunedin Hospital Collection Centre | Closed |
| Balclutha | |
| Balclutha Collection Centre | Closed |
*Please note that all collection centres are closed on Monday 24 March due to Otago Anniversary Day.
Routine Awanui Courier Services:
- UNAVAILABLE
- Life preserving services only – between 0800 – 1600. Please call 0800 101 444 or 03 470 2919 to arrange.
External Couriers Services
- Will still operate but we expect only LPS tests will be sent in if required. Please do not put any other specimens in these bins as they will not be processed.
Specimen Collection:
- We ask that you do not collect or send in your own specimens during this time. Only life preserving requests will be accepted. Any specimens taken during the industrial action period will not be processed.
- Please plan for these dates and do not hold clinics between Monday 24 and Thursday 27 March that will need any type of laboratory testing sent in, including HPV, immigration, histology, and sexual health clinics.
Laboratory Services:
- 25-27 March – Life preserving services only
Microbiology Services:
- Due to the prolonged nature of microbiology work, including urines, faeces, sputum, swabs, aspirate, routine microbiology samples cannot be sent to the laboratory and will not be processed from Friday 21 March to Friday 28 March 2025.
- Normal services will continue Monday 31 March.
Histology
- Please restrict requests. Turnaround time will be affected by the Industrial Action.
Dunstan
Collection Services Impacted
| Dunstan Collection Centres | |
| Dunstan Hospital Collection Centre | Closed |
| Home Visits | Unavailable |
| Ward Rounds | Critically Urgent Only |
*Please note that all collection centres are closed on Monday 24 March for Otago Anniversary.
Routine Awanui Courier Services:
- UNAVAILABLE
- Critically Urgent services only – Please call 03 440 4305 to arrange a pickup.
External Couriers Services
- Will still operate but we expect only critically urgent tests will be sent in if required. Please do not put any other specimens in these bins as they will not be processed.
Specimen Collection:
- We ask that you do not collect or send in your own specimens during this time. Only critically urgent requests will be accepted. Any specimens taken during the industrial action period that do not meet the criteria will not be processed.
- Please plan for these dates and do not hold clinics between Monday 24 and Thursday 27 March that will need any type of laboratory testing sent in, including HPV, immigration, histology, and sexual health clinics.
Laboratory Services:
- Critically Urgent requests only that can be tested onsite at Dunstan.
- Please call the Dunstan Lab to confirm test list if required. 03 440 4305
Microbiology Services:
- Due to the prolonged nature of microbiology work, including urines, faeces, sputum, swabs, aspirate, routine microbiology samples cannot be sent to the laboratory and will not be processed from Friday 21 March to Friday 28 March 2025.
- Normal services will continue Monday 31 March.
Histology
- Please restrict requests. Turnaround time will be affected by the Industrial Action.
Invercargill
Collection centres:
| Invercargill | |
| Hospital Ward rounds | Unavailable |
| Invercargill Hospital Clinic | Closed |
| South City Collection Centre | Closed |
| Don Street Collection Centre | Closed |
| Windsor Village Collection Centre | Closed |
| Home Visits | Unavailable |
| Gore | |
| Gore Medical Collection Centre | Closed |
| Gore Hospital Collection Centre | Closed |
Please note that on Monday 31 March and Tuesday 1 April Invercargill collection centres will be operating by APPOINTMENT ONLY. No WALK INs will be accepted. Patients can make a booking online.
Awanui Couriers Services – Unavailable
External Couriers Services – Will still operate but we expect only LPS tests will be sent in if required. Please do not put any other specimens in these bins as they will not be processed.
Specimen Collection: We ask that you do not collect or send in your own specimens during this time. Only life preserving requests will be accepted. Any specimens taken during the industrial action period will not be processed.
Please plan for these dates and do not hold clinics between Monday 24 and Thursday 27 March that will need any type of laboratory testing sent in, including HPV, immigration, histology, and sexual health clinics.
Laboratory Services:
- 25-27March – Life preserving services only
- Please utilise Point of Care (Blood gas) testing where possible.
- NB: POC equipment at Gore Hospital will still be available for testing during the 24hr strike period.
- Please note on Friday 28 March no Test Adds will be available.
Microbiology Services:
- Due to the prolonged nature of microbiology work, including urines, faeces, sputum, swabs, aspirate, routine microbiology samples cannot be sent to the laboratory and will not be processed from Friday 21 March to Friday 28 March 2025.
- Normal services will continue Monday 31 March.
Histology
Please restrict requests. Turnaround time will be affected by the Industrial Action.
Oamaru
Collection Centres:
| Oamaru Collection Centres | |
| Oamaru Hospital Collection Centre | Closed |
| Home Visits | Unavailable |
*Please note that all collection centres are closed on Monday 24 March for Otago Anniversary
Routine Awanui Courier Services: UNAVAILABLE
External Couriers Services – Will still operate but we expect only critically urgent tests will be sent in if required. Please do not put any other specimens in these bins as they will not be processed.
Specimen Collection: We ask that you do not collect or send in your own specimens during this time. Only Life preserving and critically urgent requests will be accepted. Any specimens taken during the industrial action period that do not meet the criteria will not be processed.
Please plan for these dates and do not hold clinics between Monday 24 and Thursday 27 March that will need any type of laboratory testing sent in, including HPV, immigration, histology, and sexual health clinics.
Laboratory Services:
- Critically Urgent Sample Processing OnlyPlease do NOT request any test that is not life preserving or critically urgent.
- Please call 03 433 0263 to arrange critically urgent collections.
- NB: The iSTAT will be available for the hospital to use in the same manner as usual.
Microbiology Services:
- Due to the prolonged nature of microbiology work, including urines, faeces, sputum, swabs, aspirate, routine microbiology samples cannot be sent to the laboratory and will not be processed from Friday 21 March to Friday 28 March 2025.
- Normal services will continue Monday 31 March.
Histology
Please restrict requests. Turnaround time will be affected by the Industrial Action.
Queenstown
Collection Services Impacted:
| Queenstown Collection Centres | |
| Frankton Collection Centre | Closed |
| Queenstown Medical Centre Collection Centre | Closed |
| Hospital Ward Rounds | Unavailable |
| Home Visits | Unavailable |
*Please note that all collection centres are closed on Thursday 6th February for the Waitangi Day public holiday.
Routine Awanui Courier Services: UNAVAILABLE
Life preserving services only – Please call 03 4423875 option 5 to arrange an LPS pickup
External Couriers Services – Will still operate but we expect only LPS tests will be sent in if required. Please do not put any other specimens in these bins as they will not be processed.
Specimen Collection: We ask that you do not collect or send in your own specimens during this time. Only life preserving requests will be accepted. Any specimens taken during the industrial action period will not be processed.
Please plan for these dates and do not hold clinics between Monday 24 and Thursday 27 March that will need any type of laboratory testing sent in, including HPV, immigration, histology, and sexual health clinics
Laboratory Services – Life Preserving Services only.
Please utilize the Abbot ISTAT Point of Care analyser for Blood Gases, Chem 8, Tni, Bni and HCG
Microbiology Services:
Due to the prolonged nature of microbiology work, including urines, faeces, sputum, swabs, aspirate, routine microbiology samples cannot be sent to the laboratory and will not be processed from Friday 21 March to Friday 28 March 2025.
Normal services will continue Monday 31 March.
Histology: Please restrict requests. Turnaround time will be affected by the Industrial Action.