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 2022

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 2022 was 400,309. This represents 14.3 percent of employees in the labour force. Total union membership increased by 3 percent compared to the previous year.

Analysis

There were 136 registered unions as at 1 March 2021.

As at 31 March 2022, there are 133 registered unions in New Zealand.

Filers

By 2022, 118 unions had provided their membership returns. Of those:

  • 35 unions (30 percent of those which provided their returns) have fewer than 100 members. One union had no members. The Registrar is in contact with these unions to determine their future registration status.
  • 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 318,946.

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 2021, 16 registered unions did not submit a return to the Registrar. Of those:

  • Six unions had their registration cancelled or dissolved.
  • One union is in liquidation.
  • Two new unions were incorporated in 2022 and will file their first annual return in 2023.
  • The remaining 7 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.

  2018 2019 2019 2020 2022
Number of union members at 1 March 351,769 372,551 380,659 393,406 400,309
% change year-on-year -1.05 +5.9 +2 +3 +1.75
% of employees who are union members 15.7 16.31 14.29 16.99 16.73
% of employed labour force who are union members 13.29 14.01 16.41 14.30 14.16
% change in employed labour force 3.1 1.5 1.6 0.3 2.9
A graph showing the numbers of union members and non members for 2018 to 2022, see below for the numbers.

Union membership by industry and gender, 1 March 2022

Industry Females Males Another gender or no gender provided *
Accommodation and food 535 160 16
Administrative and support services 26,805 16,456 95
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 521 1,848 10
Arts and recreation services 3,361 2,535 69
Construction 808 4,705 21
Education and training 63,681 18,227 277
Electricity, gas, water and waste Services 516 2,880 96
Financial and insurance services 2,613 984 14
Health care and social assistance 99,245 19,572 7,498
Information media and telecommunications 515 664 7
Manufacturing 10,551 29,667 602
Mining 94 999 9
Other services 6,134 7,275 1,425
Professional, scientific and technical services 1,211 3,112 99
Public administration and safety 7,524 13,153 26
Rental, hiring and real estate services 18 97 8
Retail trade 8,943 4,579 336
Transport, postal and warehousing 7,787 21,320 145
Wholesale trade 181 278 2

* 4 unions did not provide membership by gender.

Returns from individual unions

Name of union Membership as at 1 March 2022
ALTERNATIVE STAFF GROUP INCORPORATED 61
AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED NR [1]
AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND SOUTHERN INCORPORATED 4,099
AOTEAROA CORRECTIONS UNION INCORPORATED NR [2]
AOTEAROA LEGAL WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED 1,127
AOTEAROA TECH UNION INCORPORATED 92
ARA ACADEMIC STAFF OF CANTERBURY INCORPORATED 286
ASSOCIATED COUNCIL EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 79
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONALS AND EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 4,897
ASSOCIATION OF SALARIED MEDICAL SPECIALISTS INCORPORATED 5,481
AVIATION AND MARINE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 3,145
AVIATION WORKERS UNITED INCORPORATED 11
BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 275
BORDER OPS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 103
BUREAU STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 196
CANTERBURY AND REGIONS TOTALISATOR EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR [3]
CENTRAL AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 2,344
CENTRAL STAFF COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED 179
CIE WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 15
COMBINED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 482
CORRECTIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 3,336
DIRECTORS AND EDITORS GUILD OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 228
DTA STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 50
E TŪ INCORPORATED 47,361
EASTERN BAY INDEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL WORKERS UNION 1995 INCORPORATED 17
ELECTRICAL UNION 2001 INCORPORATED NR [4]
EQUITY NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 1,041
FEATHERSTON MILL WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED 14
FIRST UNION INCORPORATED 28,907
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 246
FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 537
FREE SPEECH UNION (NEW ZEALAND) INCORPORATED 1271
H H B WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 108
HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES SOCIETY INCORPORATED 100
HAWKES BAY WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR [5]
HOSPO WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR [6]
IAG NZ STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 419
INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION 1995 (INCORPORATED) NR [7]
INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL MEDITATION TEACHERS INCORPORATED 15
J BALLANTYNE STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR [8]
K UNION INCORPORATED NR [9]
KING'S COLLEGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 95
M.E.U. SOCIETY INCORPORATED 86
MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION WORKERS UNION (INCORP. SHIPWRIGHTS,MOULDER COACHWORKERS,BOILERMAKERS,PULP & PAPER 1,731
MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 3,230
MATES UNION INCORPORATED 200
MIDWIFERY EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION AND ADVISORY SERVICE INCORPORATED 1,750
NAPIER CITY COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 131
NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 1,377
NELSON COLLECTIVE UNION INCORPORATED 31
NEW ZEALAND ADVERTISING GUILD & ASSOCIATES INCORPORATED NR [10]
NEW ZEALAND AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED 2,571
NEW ZEALAND AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED NR [11]
NEW ZEALAND CENTRAL BAKING TRADES AND RELATED TRADES EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED 11
NEW ZEALAND DAIRY WORKERS UNION - TE RUNANGA WAI U INCORPORATED 8,050
NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE TE RIU ROA INCORPORATED 47,947
NEW ZEALAND FISHING INDUSTRY GUILD INCORPORATED 594
NEW ZEALAND FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND ASSOCIATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 640
NEW ZEALAND MEAT WORKERS AND RELATED TRADES UNION INCORPORATED 12,288
NEW ZEALAND MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED 664
NEW ZEALAND NETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 60
NEW ZEALAND POLICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 14,044
NEW ZEALAND POLICE LEADERS' GUILD INCORPORATED 144
NEW ZEALAND POST-PRIMARY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 19,136
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS AND TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 45
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS UNION INCORPORATED 1,933
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 180
NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION TE PUKENGA HERE TIKANGA MAHI INCORPORATED 76,212
NEW ZEALAND RESIDENT DOCTORS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 2,395
NEW ZEALAND TRAMWAYS AND PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED 354
NEW ZEALAND TRAMWAYS AND PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES' UNION WELLINGTON BRANCH INCORPORATED 405
NEW ZEALAND WRITERS GUILD INCORPORATED 405
NORTH ISLAND MUSSELS EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED NR [12]
NORTHERN AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 3518
NORTHERN CHEMICAL WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 1,180
NORTHERN TOTALISATOR AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 55
NUMBER 8 WORKERS UNION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 300
NUMBER ONE MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 92
OMNIBUS WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED NR [13]
ONE UNION INCORPORATED 40
PORTPRO INCORPORATED NR [14]
POSTAL WORKERS UNION OF AOTEAROA INCORPORATED 800
PRIMARY PRINCIPALS' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNION INCORPORATED NR [15]
PROFESSIONAL VERIFIERS' INSTITUTE INCORPORATED 200
PROMINA GROUP STAFF ASSOCIATION NZ INCORPORATED 119
QANTAS EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED 43
RAIL AND MARITIME TRANSPORT UNION INCORPORATED 5,266
RAISE THE BAR HOSPITALITY UNION INCORPORATED 152
REUNITED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 96
SAINT KENTIGERN TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 161
SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED -
SECONDARY PRINCIPALS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 195
SHORECARE STAFF SOCIETY INCORPORATED 58
SOUTHERN COASTAL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 122
SOUTHLAND ENTERPRISES UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED 73
SPECIALTY TRAINEES OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 2,007
ST CUTHBERT'S COLLEGE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 122
TARANAKI REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 134
TASMAN STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 31
TAXPRO INCORPORATED 577
TE KUITI BEEF WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 125
TE UNIANA O NSNZ INCORPORATED 5,093
TERTIARY INSTITUTES ALLIED STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 1,307
THE AMALGAMATED STEVEDORES UNION INCORPORATED 754
THE ASSOCIATION OF MARINE PROFESSIONALS INCORPORATED 13
THE ATHLETES' COOPERATIVE INCORPORATED NR [16]
THE CAREGIVERS AND RELATED EMPLOYEES INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OF STAFF INCORPORATED 122
THE CLUTHA DISTRICT COUNCIL OFFICER'S ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 96
THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 544
THE FEDERATION OF AIR NEW ZEALAND PILOTS INCORPORATED 155
THE GREY DISTRICT COUNCIL UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 62
THE HAWKE'S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF UNION INCORPORATED 87
THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 890
THE NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 189
THE NEW ZEALAND FIRE EMERGENCY COMMANDERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 126
THE NEW ZEALAND NURSES ORGANISATION INCORPORATED 55,269
THE NEW ZEALAND TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION TE HAUTU KAHURANGI O AOTEAROA INCORPORATED 9,732
THE PULP & PAPER WORKERS UNION - KAWERAU INCORPORATED 107
THE RIGHT UNION INCORPORATED 17
THE RUGBY PLAYERS COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED 680
THE SOUTH WAIKATO DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 3
THE SURFSIDE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 191
THE WESTLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 34
TIG-HW INCORPORATED 69
TUIA UNION INCORPORATED NR [17]
UNISON NETWORKS EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 29
UNITE UNION INCORPORATED 5,555
UNITED FISHERIES WORKPLACE UNION INCORPORATED 47
WAINGAWA WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED 50
WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 154
WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 149
WORK & INCOME NORTHLAND STAFF INCORPORATED 107
WSA INCORPORATED 106

 

Footnotes

  1. Merged with Northern Amalgamated Workers Union Incorporated.
  2. Dissolved.
  3. Registered.
  4. Dissolved.
  5. Dissolved.
  6. Dissolved.
  7. Registered.
  8. Dissolved, merged with First Union Incorporated.
  9. Registered in 2022, will file first annual return in 2023.
  10. Dissolved.
  11. Registered.
  12. Registered.
  13. In Liquidation.
  14. Registered.
  15. Registered.
  16. Registered in 2022, will file first annual return in 2023.
  17. Registered.

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