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 (the Act) requires every registered union in New Zealand to file with the Registrar of Unions (the Registrar), 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 2017 was 355,511. This represents 17.2% of employees in the labour force. Total union membership decreased by -0.45% compared to the previous year.
Analysis
As at 1 March 2017, there were 131 registered unions in New Zealand. During the 2016/17 years, two new unions were registered and six unions were wound up.
Filers
By 30 August 2017, 124 unions had provided their membership returns. Of those:
- 56 unions (45.16% of those which provided their returns) have fewer than 100 members. Four unions had no members and two unions had less than ten members. The Registrar will make contact with these unions to determine their future registration status. This may lead to the unions applying to the Registrar to cancel their registrations under section 17(1)(a) of the Act or the Registrar referring them to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to seek an order directing the Registrar to cancel their registrations.
- Of the unions that provided gender details of their membership, 56.8% of members were women.
- The ten largest unions had a combined membership of 289,596.
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. Nine registered unions did not submit a return to the Registrar. Of those:
- One labour union is in liquidation; and
- Two labour unions have merged with other labour unions but are still registered as labour unions; and
- Three labour unions voluntarily cancelled their registration; and
- The remaining three unions will continue to be monitored by the Registrar. As noted above, the Registrar will make contact with these unions to determine their future registration status.
These unions have been included in the list below with reference to the notes above.
Trends in union membership 2012-2017 (March quarters)
| 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of union members at 1 March | 379,185 | 371,613 | 364,846 | 359,782 | 357,120 | 355,511 |
| % change year on year | -1.4 | -2.0 | -1.8 | -1.4 | -0.7 | -0.45 |
| % of employees who are union members | 20.5 | 20.1 | 18.6 | 18.3 | 17.7 | 17.2 |
| % of employed labour force who are union members | 17.0 | 16.6 | 15.7 | 15.5 | 15.2 | 14.0 |
| Number of employees in the labour force | 2,230,000 | 2,234,000 | 2,318,000 | 2,355,000 | 2,399,000 | 2,539,000 |
| % change in employed labour force | +0.7 | +0.3 | +1.4 | +3.2 | +2.0 | +5.8 |
Union membership by industry and gender, 1 March 2017
| Industry | Female | Male | Not known * | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing | 446 | 1,526 | - | 1,972 |
| Communication Services | 1,812 | 1,914 | 113 | 3,839 |
| Construction & Trade Services | 352 | 4,610 | 122 | 5,084 |
| Cultural and Recreational | 3,574 | 3,430 | 6 | 7,010 |
| Education | 56,424 | 22,232 | 3 | 78,659 |
| Electricity, Gas & Water Services | 452 | 2,761 | 23 | 3,236 |
| Finance, Insurance & Business Services | 4,680 | 3,281 | 19 | 7,980 |
| Government Administration & Defence | 24,293 | 21,656 | 1 | 45,950 |
| Health & Community Services | 81,227 | 17,187 | 7,410 | 105,824 |
| Manufacturing | 10,639 | 34,651 | 97 | 45,387 |
| Mining | 88 | 1,041 | 3 | 1,132 |
| Others | 30 | 600 | - | 630 |
| Restaurants & Accommodation | 2,442 | 2,006 | 3 | 4,451 |
| Transport & Storage | 6,967 | 22,876 | 46 | 29,889 |
| Wholesale & Retail | 8,742 | 5,716 | 10 | 14,468 |
| Total | 202,168 | 145,487 | 7,856 | 355,511 |
* Five unions did not provide a full breakdown of their membership by gender.
Returns from individual unions
N/R denotes a union that had not filed its annual return by 31 August 2017.
| Name of union | Membership as at 1 March 2017 |
|---|---|
| ALTERNATIVE STAFF GROUP INCORPORATED | 107 |
| AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED | 24 |
| AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND SOUTHERN INCORPORATED | 3,928 |
| AMBULANCE OFFICER'S WORKPLACE UNION INCORPORATED | 01 |
| ARA ACADEMIC STAFF OF CANTERBURY INCORPORATED | 214 |
| ASSOCIATED COUNCIL EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED | 46 |
| ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONALS AND EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED | 2,765 |
| ASSOCIATION OF SALARIED MEDICAL SPECIALISTS INCORPORATED | 4,485 |
| AVIATION AND MARINE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 2,446 |
| BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 215 |
| BORDER OPS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 20 |
| BUREAU STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 102 |
| CANTERBURY AND REGIONS TOTALISATOR EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 129 |
| CAPE FOULWIND DRIVERS,OPERATORS AND GENERAL WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | NR2 |
| CENTRAL AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | 2,277 |
| CENTRAL STAFF COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED | 175 |
| CHRIST'S COLLEGE ACADEMIC STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 61 |
| CIE WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | 2 |
| COMBINED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 471 |
| COMBINED HOSPITAL INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT UNION INCORPORATED | 39 |
| CORRECTIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED | 2,998 |
| DTA STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 48 |
| E TU INCORPORATED | 53,865 |
| EASTERN BAY INDEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL WORKERS UNION 1995 INCORPORATED | 57 |
| EASTERN CIVIL ENGINEERS UNION INCORPORATED | NR3 |
| ELECTRICAL UNION 2001 INCORPORATED | 110 |
| FEATHERSTON MILL WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED | 18 |
| FIRST UNION INCORPORATED | 26,765 |
| FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND RELATED SERVICES (NZ) ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | NR4 |
| FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 473 |
| H H B WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | 107 |
| HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES SOCIETY INCORPORATED | 112 |
| HAWKES BAY WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | NR5 |
| HUTT VALLEY SOCIETY OF INDEPENDENT BUS DRIVERS INCORPORATED | 30 |
| IAG NZ STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 525 |
| INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION 1995 (INCORPORATED) | 36 |
| J BALLANTYNE STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 125 |
| KING'S COLLEGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 86 |
| LEGAL WORKERS UNION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED | 25 |
| M.E.U. SOCIETY INCORPORATED | 20 |
| MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION WORKERS UNION (INCORP. SHIPWRIGHTS,MOULDER COACHWORKERS,BOILERMAKERS,PULP & PAPER | 1,530 |
| MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED | 2,514 |
| MATES UNION INCORPORATED | 575 |
| MEDIA, ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS ALLIANCE (NEW ZEALAND) INCORPORATED | 855 |
| MIDWIFERY EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION AND ADVISORY SERVICE INCORPORATED | 868 |
| NAPIER CITY COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 165 |
| NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED | 1,288 |
| NELSON COLLECTIVE UNION INCORPORATED | 118 |
| NEW ZEALAND AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED | 2,322 |
| NEW ZEALAND AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 233 |
| NEW ZEALAND BAKERS PASTRYCOOKS AND RELATED EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED | 500 |
| NEW ZEALAND BUILDING TRADES UNION INCORPORATED | 06 |
| NEW ZEALAND CENTRAL BAKING TRADES AND RELATED TRADES EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED | 17 |
| NEW ZEALAND DAIRY WORKERS UNION - TE RUNANGA WAI U INCORPORATED | 7,718 |
| NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE TE RIU ROA INCORPORATED | 45,699 |
| NEW ZEALAND FISHING INDUSTRY GUILD INCORPORATED | 583 |
| NEW ZEALAND FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND ASSOCIATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | 168 |
| NEW ZEALAND MEAT WORKERS AND RELATED TRADES UNION INCORPORATED | 13,995 |
| NEW ZEALAND MEDICAL LABORATORY WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | 1,188 |
| NEW ZEALAND MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED | 709 |
| NEW ZEALAND NETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 60 |
| NEW ZEALAND POLICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 11,282 |
| NEW ZEALAND POLICE MANAGERS' GUILD INCORPORATED | 133 |
| NEW ZEALAND POST-PRIMARY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 17,189 |
| NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS AND TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 18 |
| NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS UNION INCORPORATED | 1,850 |
| NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 153 |
| NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION TE PUKENGA HERE TIKANGA MAHI INCORPORATED | 56,803 |
| NEW ZEALAND RESIDENT DOCTORS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 3,408 |
| NEW ZEALAND TRAMWAYS AND PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED | 1,374 |
| NEW ZEALAND WRITERS GUILD INCORPORATED | 265 |
| NORTH ISLAND MUSSELS EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED | NR7 |
| NORTHERN AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | NR8 |
| NORTHERN CHEMICAL WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | 1,132 |
| NORTHERN TOTALISATOR AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 129 |
| NUMBER ONE MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 3,397 |
| NZ EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED | 15 |
| NZ TOUR DRIVERS UNION INCORPORATED | 12 |
| PORTPRO INCORPORATED | 90 |
| OMNIBUS WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | NR9 |
| PROFESSIONAL VERIFIERS' INSTITUTE INCORPORATED | 121 |
| PROMINA GROUP STAFF ASSOCIATION NZ INCORPORATED | 163 |
| QANTAS EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED | 49 |
| RAIL AND MARITIME TRANSPORT UNION INCORPORATED | 4,724 |
| REUNITED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 201 |
| SAINT KENTIGERN TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 161 |
| SANFORD WORKERS ASSOCIATION TIMARU INCORPORATED | NR10 |
| SCHOOL EXECUTIVE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 011 |
| SECONDARY PRINCIPALS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED | 115 |
| SHORECARE STAFF SOCIETY INCORPORATED | 49 |
| SLGOU ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED | 26 |
| SOUTHERN COASTAL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 121 |
| SOUTHLAND ENTERPRISES UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED | 89 |
| ST PETER'S SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE, ACADEMIC STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 68 |
| ST.MARGARET'S COLLEGE TEACHERS UNION INCORPORATED | 79 |
| TARANAKI REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 115 |
| TASMAN STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 40 |
| TAXPRO INCORPORATED | 1,106 |
| TE KUITI BEEF WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED | 70 |
| TERTIARY INSTITUTES ALLIED STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 1,452 |
| THE AMALGAMATED STEVEDORES UNION INCORPORATED | 371 |
| THE AUCKLAND SOCIETY OF INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT PLANNERS INCORPORATED | NR12 |
| THE CAREGIVERS AND RELATED EMPLOYEES INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OF STAFF INCORPORATED | 138 |
| THE CLUTHA DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 73 |
| THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 429 |
| THE FEDERATION OF AIR NEW ZEALAND PILOTS INCORPORATED | 190 |
| THE GREY DISTRICT COUNCIL UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED | 70 |
| THE HAWKE'S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF UNION INCORPORATED | 50 |
| THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 761 |
| THE NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 175 |
| THE NEW ZEALAND FIRE AND RESCUE COMMANDERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 58 |
| THE NEW ZEALAND NURSES ORGANISATION INCORPORATED | 48,155 |
| THE NEW ZEALAND TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION TE HAUTU KAHURANGI O AOTEAROA INCORPORATED | 9,349 |
| THE PULP & PAPER WORKERS UNION - KAWERAU INCORPORATED | 395 |
| THE ROYAL NEW ZEALAND BALLET UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED | 71 |
| THE RUGBY PLAYERS COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED | 630 |
| THE SOUTH WAIKATO DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 6 |
| THE SOUTHLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 24 |
| THE SURFSIDE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 172 |
| THE WESTLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED | 26 |
| TIG - THE INDEPENDENT GROUP INCORPORATED | 013 |
| TIG-HW INCORPORATED | 61 |
| TOGETHER INCORPORATED | 430 |
| TUIA UNION INCORPORATED | 541 |
| UNISON NETWORKS EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 33 |
| UNITE INCORPORATED | 6,673 |
| UNITED FISHERIES WORKPLACE UNION INCORPORATED | 62 |
| WAINGAWA WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED | 68 |
| WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 134 |
| WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED | 95 |
| WORK & INCOME NORTHLAND STAFF INCORPORATED | 65 |
| WSA INCORPORATED | 74 |
Footnotes
1 The union filed its annual return but it showed 0 members. The Registrar will contact the union to see if it wishes to apply to have its registration cancelled. The associated incorporated society filed its financial statement for 31 March 2017 on 5 July 2017.
2 The union did not file an annual return. Its registration was cancelled on 24 July 2017. The associated incorporated society was dissolved on 11 September 2017.
3 The union did not file an annual return. The Registrar will contact the union to see if it wishes to apply to have its registration cancelled. The associated incorporated society filed its financial statement for 31 March 2014 on 19 August 2014. The Registrar of Incorporated Societies will request that the society bring its filings up-to-date or consider dissolution.
4 The union did not file an annual return. Its registration was cancelled on 24 July 2017. The associated incorporated society was dissolved on 25 July 2017.
5 The union did not file an annual return. The Registrar will contact the union to see if it wishes to apply to have its registration cancelled. The associated incorporated society filed its financial statement for 31 March 2013 on 7 March 2014. The Registrar of Incorporated Societies will request that the society bring its filings up-to-date or consider dissolution.
6 The union filed its annual return but it showed 0 members. The union merged with E Tu Incorporated and all members are now with that union. The Registrar will contact the union to see if it wishes to apply to have its registration cancelled. The associated incorporated society filed its financial statement for 31 March 2017 on 12 July 2017.
7 The union did not file an annual return. The associated incorporated society was restored to the register on 2 August 2017. The Registrar has been informed that the union has been revived.
8 The union did not file an annual return. The Registrar will contact the union to see if it wishes to apply to have its registration cancelled. The associated incorporated society filed its financial statement for 31 March 2016 on 12 May 2017. The Registrar of Incorporated Societies will request that the society bring its filings up-to-date or consider dissolution.
9 The union did not file an annual return. The associated incorporated society is in liquidation.
10 The union did not file an annual return. Its registration was cancelled on 2 August 2017. The associated incorporated society filed its financial statement for 31 March 2016 on 13 September 2016. The Registrar of Incorporated Societies will request that the society bring its filings up-to-date or consider dissolution.
11 The union filed its annual return but it showed 0 members. The Registrar will contact the union to see if it wishes to apply to have its registration cancelled. The associated incorporated society is currently registered with Charities Services so it does not provide financial statements to the Registrar of Incorporated Societies.
12 The union did not file an annual return. The union merged with Aviation and Marine Engineers Association Incorporated. The Registrar will contact the union to see if it wishes to apply to have its registration cancelled. The associated incorporated society filed its financial statement for 31 March 2015 on 26 June 2017. The Registrar of Incorporated Societies will request that the society bring its filings up-to-date or consider dissolution.
13 The union filed its annual return but it showed 0 members. The Registrar of will contact the union to see if it wishes to apply to have its registration cancelled. The associated incorporated society filed its financial statement for 31 March 2016 on 18 April 2017. The statement was a ‘Nil’ statement. The Registrar of Incorporated Societies will contact the society to ascertain whether it is carrying on its operations or should be considering dissolution.