Annual return membership reports

Each year the Registrar publishes a report of the annual returns received from registered unions.

View the most recent reports published by the Registrar.

Union membership return report 2023

The Ministry of Business Innovation & Employment (MBIE) and the Registrar of Unions publish this report for the benefit of the government, unions, employers and employees, and the public.

Section 16 of the Employment Relations Act 2000 requires every registered union in New Zealand to file with the Registrar of Unions, by 1 June each year, an annual return of its membership numbers as at 1 March of that year.

Summary

Based on the returns received by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, total union membership as of 1 March 2023 was 373,967. This represents 10.48 percent of employees in the labour force. Total union membership decreased by 4.66 percent compared to the previous year.

Analysis

There were 133 registered unions as at 1 March 2022.

As at 1 March 2023, there are 130 registered unions in New Zealand.

Filers

By 2023, 69 unions had provided their membership returns. Of those:

  • 14 unions (20 percent of those which provided their returns) have fewer than 100 members.
  • Of the unions that provided gender details of their membership, 62 percent of members were women.
  • The 10 largest unions had a combined membership of 290,003.

Non-filers

The Registrar followed a compliance process to remind unions of their filing obligations and to manage those that did not file. This process includes a series of reminder communications which exhausted all contact options. In 2023, 61 registered unions did not submit a return to the Registrar. Of those:

  • Four unions had their registration cancelled or dissolved.
  • One union is in liquidation.
  • The remaining 56 unions will continue to be monitored by the Registrar, including their compliance and any status change of the associated incorporated societies.

These unions have been included in the list below with reference to the notes above.

  2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Number of union members at 1 March 372,551 380,659 393,406 400,309 382,502
% change year-on-year +5.9 +2 +3 +1.75 -4.66
% of employees who are union members 16.31 16.41 16.99 16.73 10.48
% of employed labour force who are union members 14.01 14.29 14.30 14.16 15.03
% change in employed labour force 1.5 1.6 0.3 2.9 2.5

Union membership by industry and gender, 1 March 2023

Industry Females Males Another gender or no gender provided *
Accommodation and food 163 72 11
Administrative and support services 30,381 16,191 138
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 418 1,230 21
Arts and recreation services 2,984 2,117 31
Construction 486 4,362 30
Education and training 65,252 18,892 511
Electricity, gas, water and waste Services 553 3,033 86
Financial and insurance services 2,579 1,181 7
Health care and social assistance 99,645 20,660 8,065
Information media and telecommunications 250 425 9
Manufacturing 6,895 18,430 635
Mining 90 995 14
Other services 4,877 6,443 1,113
Professional, scientific and technical services 878 3,194 11
Public administration and safety 6,894 10,878 26
Rental, hiring and real estate services 11 86 6
Retail trade 9,448 5,026 381
Transport, postal and warehousing 7,970 17,884 148
Wholesale trade 158 225 3

* 4 unions did not provide membership by gender.

Returns from individual unions

Name of union Membership as at 1 March 2023
ALTERNATIVE STAFF GROUP INCORPORATED 92
AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 9,115
AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND SOUTHERN INCORPORATED NR
AOTEAROA LEGAL WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED 1,225
AOTEAROA TECH UNION INCORPORATED 113
ARA ACADEMIC STAFF OF CANTERBURY INCORPORATED 307
ASSOCIATED COUNCIL EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 78
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONALS AND EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 5,142
ASSOCIATION OF SALARIED MEDICAL SPECIALISTS INCORPORATED 5,453
AVIATION AND MARINE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 2,862
AVIATION WORKERS UNITED INCORPORATED NR
BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
BORDER OPS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 110
BUREAU STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
CANTERBURY AND REGIONS TOTALISATOR EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
CENTRAL AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR
CENTRAL STAFF COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED NR
CIE WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR
COMBINED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
CORRECTIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 3,060
DIRECTORS AND EDITORS GUILD OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED NR
DTA STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
E TŪ INCORPORATED NR
EASTERN BAY INDEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL WORKERS UNION 1995 INCORPORATED 20
EQUITY NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 977
FEATHERSTON MILL WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED NR [1]
FIRST UNION INCORPORATED 29,841
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 712
FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 651
FREE SPEECH UNION (NEW ZEALAND) INCORPORATED 950
H H B WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 114
HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES SOCIETY INCORPORATED 94
IAG NZ STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 712
INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION 1995 (INCORPORATED) NR
INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL MEDITATION TEACHERS INCORPORATED NR
K UNION INCORPORATED 29
KING'S COLLEGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 98
M.E.U. SOCIETY INCORPORATED 101
MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION WORKERS UNION (INCORP. SHIPWRIGHTS,MOULDER COACHWORKERS,BOILERMAKERS,PULP & PAPER 1,759
MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED NR
MATES UNION INCORPORATED NR
MIDWIFERY EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION AND ADVISORY SERVICE INCORPORATED 1,841
NAPIER CITY COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED NR
NELSON COLLECTIVE UNION INCORPORATED 122
NEW ZEALAND AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED 2,603
NEW ZEALAND AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
NEW ZEALAND CENTRAL BAKING TRADES AND RELATED TRADES EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED NR
NEW ZEALAND DAIRY WORKERS UNION - TE RUNANGA WAI U INCORPORATED 7,966
NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE TE RIU ROA INCORPORATED 49,203
NEW ZEALAND FISHING INDUSTRY GUILD INCORPORATED 581
NEW ZEALAND FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND ASSOCIATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 652
NEW ZEALAND MEAT WORKERS AND RELATED TRADES UNION INCORPORATED NR
NEW ZEALAND MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED 666
NEW ZEALAND NETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 72
NEW ZEALAND POLICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 14,971
NEW ZEALAND POLICE LEADERS' GUILD INCORPORATED 153
NEW ZEALAND POST-PRIMARY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 19,714
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS AND TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 35
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS UNION INCORPORATED NR
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 119
NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION TE PUKENGA HERE TIKANGA MAHI INCORPORATED 84,370
NEW ZEALAND RESIDENT DOCTORS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 2,443
NEW ZEALAND TRAMWAYS AND PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED NR
NEW ZEALAND TRAMWAYS AND PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES' UNION WELLINGTON BRANCH INCORPORATED 351
NEW ZEALAND WRITERS GUILD INCORPORATED NR
NORTH ISLAND MUSSELS EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED NR
NORTHERN AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR [2]
NORTHERN CHEMICAL WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR [3]
NORTHERN TOTALISATOR AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
NUMBER 8 WORKERS UNION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 334
NUMBER ONE MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
NZ NURSES UNITED INCORPORATED NR [4]
NZ TEACHERS' UNITED INCORPORATED NR [5]
OMNIBUS WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR [6]
ONE UNION INCORPORATED NR
PORTPRO INCORPORATED NR
POSTAL WORKERS UNION OF AOTEAROA INCORPORATED 923
PRIMARY PRINCIPALS' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNION INCORPORATED 347
PROFESSIONAL VERIFIERS' INSTITUTE INCORPORATED 185
PROMINA GROUP STAFF ASSOCIATION NZ INCORPORATED NR
QANTAS EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED NR
RAIL AND MARITIME TRANSPORT UNION INCORPORATED 5,517
RAISE THE BAR HOSPITALITY UNION INCORPORATED NR
REUNITED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR [7]
SAINT KENTIGERN TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 171
SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
SECONDARY PRINCIPALS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 200
SHORECARE STAFF SOCIETY INCORPORATED NR
SOUTHERN COASTAL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 135
SOUTHLAND ENTERPRISES UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED NR
SPECIALTY TRAINEES OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 1,836
ST CUTHBERT'S COLLEGE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 136
TARANAKI REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
TASMAN STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
TAXPRO INCORPORATED 512
TE KUITI BEEF WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR
TE UNIANA O NSNZ INCORPORATED 3,786
TERTIARY INSTITUTES ALLIED STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
THE AMALGAMATED STEVEDORES UNION INCORPORATED NR
THE ASSOCIATION OF MARINE PROFESSIONALS INCORPORATED 26
THE ATHLETES' COOPERATIVE INCORPORATED 60
THE CAREGIVERS AND RELATED EMPLOYEES INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OF STAFF INCORPORATED NR
THE CAREGIVERS AND RELATED EMPLOYEES INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OF STAFF INCORPORATED  94
THE CLUTHA DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
THE FEDERATION OF AIR NEW ZEALAND PILOTS INCORPORATED 174
THE GREY DISTRICT COUNCIL UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 38
THE HAWKE'S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF UNION INCORPORATED NR
THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
THE NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 181
THE NEW ZEALAND FIRE EMERGENCY COMMANDERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 145
THE NEW ZEALAND NURSES ORGANISATION INCORPORATED 57,013
THE NEW ZEALAND TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION TE HAUTU KAHURANGI O AOTEAROA INCORPORATED 12,293
THE PULP & PAPER WORKERS UNION - KAWERAU INCORPORATED 340
THE RIGHT UNION INCORPORATED NR
THE RUGBY PLAYERS COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED 680
THE SOUTH WAIKATO DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
THE SURFSIDE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
THE WESTLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 42
TIG-HW INCORPORATED NR
TUIA UNION INCORPORATED NR
UNISON NETWORKS EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 29
UNITE UNION INCORPORATED NR
UNITED FISHERIES WORKPLACE UNION INCORPORATED 162
WAINGAWA WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED NR
WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 158
WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR
WORK & INCOME NORTHLAND STAFF INCORPORATED NR
WSA INCORPORATED 112

 

Footnotes

  1. Dissolved.
  2. Dissolved.
  3. Dissolved.
  4. Will file first return in 2024.
  5. Will file first return in 2024.
  6. In Liquidation.
  7. Dissolved.

Related articles