Number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand

New Zealand: Number of strikes and lockouts was 110 in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
110
Change on year
down 23.1%
World rank
18th
of 99 countries
All-time high
428
in 1975
All-time low
3
in 2016
Years of data
39
1971–2019

Number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand, 1971–2019

01002003004001971199520191971: 3131972: 2661973: 3941974: 3801975: 4281980: 3601981: 2911988: 1721989: 1711990: 1371991: 711992: 541993: 581994: 681995: 691996: 721997: 421998: 351999: 322000: 212001: 422002: 462003: 282004: 342005: 602006: 422007: 312008: 232009: 312010: 172011: 122012: 102013: 62014: 132015: 52016: 32017: 62018: 1432019: 110

Source: International Labour Organization.

Analysis

The most recent figure for number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand is 110, measured in 2019.

That represents a change of down 23.1% on the previous year and up 254.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand peaked at 428 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 3, in 2016.

New Zealand ranks 18th of 99 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand, year by year

Annual values for Number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand, 1971 to 2019.
Year Value Change
1971 313
1972 266 -15.0%
1973 394 +48.1%
1974 380 -3.6%
1975 428 +12.6%
1980 360 -15.9%
1981 291 -19.2%
1988 172 -40.9%
1989 171 -0.6%
1990 137 -19.9%
1991 71 -48.2%
1992 54 -23.9%
1993 58 +7.4%
1994 68 +17.2%
1995 69 +1.5%
1996 72 +4.3%
1997 42 -41.7%
1998 35 -16.7%
1999 32 -8.6%
2000 21 -34.4%
2001 42 +100.0%
2002 46 +9.5%
2003 28 -39.1%
2004 34 +21.4%
2005 60 +76.5%
2006 42 -30.0%
2007 31 -26.2%
2008 23 -25.8%
2009 31 +34.8%
2010 17 -45.2%
2011 12 -29.4%
2012 10 -16.7%
2013 6 -40.0%
2014 13 +116.7%
2015 5 -61.5%
2016 3 -40.0%
2017 6 +100.0%
2018 143 +2283.3%
2019 110 -23.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 356.2 266 428 5
1980s 248.5 171 360 4
1990s 63.8 32 137 10
2000s 35.8 21 60 10
2010s 32.5 3 143 10

Countries ranked near New Zealand

  1. 15 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 174 compare
  2. 16 Uruguay 121 compare
  3. 17 South Africa 114 compare
  4. 19 Chile 106 compare
  5. 20 India 102 compare
  6. 21 Cambodia 95 compare

See the full ranking of 99 places →

More work & labour data for New Zealand

All data for New Zealand →

Frequently asked questions

What is number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand?
Number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand was 110 in 2019, according to International Labour Organization.
What is the highest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in New Zealand?
The highest recorded value was 428 in 1975.
What is the lowest number of strikes and lockouts recorded in New Zealand?
The lowest recorded value was 3 in 2016.
How does New Zealand rank for number of strikes and lockouts?
New Zealand ranks 18th out of 99 countries with data for 2019.
Is number of strikes and lockouts rising or falling in New Zealand?
Over the last ten years it is up 254.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this New Zealand data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Number of strikes and lockouts. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Number of strikes and lockouts in New Zealand. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization. Retrieved 07 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/number-of-strikes-and-lockouts/new-zealand/

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About this data

Indicator
Number of strikes and lockouts
Source
International Labour Organization
Licence
ILO Terms of Use (attribution required)
Coverage
99 places, 2,354 data points, 1969–2024
Last refreshed

A strike is a temporary work stoppage carried out by one or more groups of workers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other workers in their demands or grievances. A lockout is a total or partial temporary closure of one or more places of employment, or the hindering of the normal work activities of employees, by one or more employers with a view to enforcing or resisting demands or expressing grievances, or supporting other employers in their demands or grievances. Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the Industrial Relations data (IRdata) database description.