Union membership return report 2025

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.

Part of: Annual return membership reports

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.

In this report

Summary

Based on the returns received by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, total union membership as of 1 March 2025 was 435,110. This represents 18.39% of employees in the labour force. Total union membership increased by 2.19% compared to the previous year.

Analysis

There were 126 registered unions as of 1 March 2024.

As of 1 March 2025, there were 120 registered unions in New Zealand.  

Filers

By 2025, 105 unions had provided their membership returns. Of those:

  • 31 unions (29.5% of those which provided their returns) have fewer than 100 members. 1 union has 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, 59.85% of members were women.
  • The 10 largest unions had a combined membership of 345,890.

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.

15 registered unions did not submit a return to the Registrar. Of those:

  • 12 unions will be referred to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) to seek an order directing the Registrar of Unions to cancel the union’s registration as their associated incorporated society is no longer registered and therefore the union no longer meets the union registration requirements.
  • 1 union is in liquidation.
  • 2 unions merged with 1 union.

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

  2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Number of union members at 1 March 393,406 400,309 382,502 425,761 435,110
% change year-on-year +3 +1.75 -4.44 +10.16 +0.82
% of employees who are union members 16.99 16.73 16.31 17.87 18.15
% of employed labour force who are union members 14.30 14.16 13.17 14.51 14.75
% change in employed labour force +0.3 +2.9 +2.5 -0.60 -0.70
See the graph description below for details of what this graph shows.

Union membership by industry and gender, 1 March 2025

Industry Females Males Another gender or no gender provided
(see note)		 Sub totals
Accommodation and Food 658 182 11 851
Administrative and support services 30,418 18,534 126 49,078
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 301 1,041 13 1,355
Arts and recreation services 3,951 3,077 90 7,118
Construction 833 5,217 34 6,084
Education and training 63,045 19,972 1,358 84,375
Electricity, gas, water and waste Services 637 3,285 84 4,006
Financial and insurance services 2,658 1,054 11 3,723
Health care and social assistance 106,407 24,048 10,461 140,916
Information media and telecommunications 501 638 22 1,161
Manufacturing 11,405 27,454 714 39,573
Mining 167 1,364 30 1,561
Other services 5,036 5,912 1,390 12,338
Professional, scientific and technical services 3,498 3,212 1 6,711
Public administration and safety 10,242 14,817 36 25,095
Rental, hiring and real estate services 10 77 2 89
Retail trade 10,497 5,889 384 16,770
Transport, postal and warehousing 9,889 23,531 225 33,645
Wholesale trade 254 372 35 661
Grand totals 260,407 159,676 15,027 435,110

Returns from individual unions

Name of union Membership as at 1 March 2025
ALTERNATIVE STAFF GROUP INCORPORATED 106
AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 10,354
AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND SOUTHERN INCORPORATED 3,331
AOTEAROA LEGAL WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED 1,296
AOTEAROA TECH UNION INCORPORATED N/R
ARA ACADEMIC STAFF OF CANTERBURY INCORPORATED 323
ASSOCIATED COUNCIL EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 97
ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONALS AND EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 5,867
ASSOCIATION OF SALARIED MEDICAL SPECIALISTS INCORPORATED 6,081
AVIATION AND MARINE ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 3,439
AVIATION WORKERS UNITED INCORPORATED 86
BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 322
BORDER OPS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 150
BUREAU STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 324
CANTERBURY AND REGIONS TOTALISATOR EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 75
CENTRAL STAFF COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED 176
CIE WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 17
COMBINED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 533
CORRECTIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 4,200
DIRECTORS AND EDITORS GUILD OF AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 363
DTA STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 52
E TŪ INCORPORATED 47,794
EASTERN BAY INDEPENDENT INDUSTRIAL WORKERS UNION 1995 INCORPORATED 22
EASTERN CIVIL ENGINEERS UNION INCORPORATED N/R
EQUITY NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 1,014
FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 983
FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 592
FREE SPEECH UNION (NEW ZEALAND) INCORPORATED 1,475
H H B WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 111
HASTINGS DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES SOCIETY INCORPORATED 40
IAG NZ STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 432
INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL WORKERS UNION 1995 (INCORPORATED) 36
INSTITUTE OF PROFESSIONAL MEDITATION TEACHERS INCORPORATED N/R
K UNION INCORPORATED 17
KING'S COLLEGE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 88
M.E.U. SOCIETY INCORPORATED 85
MANUFACTURING & CONSTRUCTION WORKERS UNION (INCORP. SHIPWRIGHTS,MOULDER COACHWORKERS,BOILERMAKERS,PULP & PAPER 1,845
MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 2,840
MATES UNION INCORPORATED 224
MIDWIFERY EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION AND ADVISORY SERVICE INCORPORATED 2,167
NAPIER CITY COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 108
NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 1,998
NELSON COLLECTIVE UNION INCORPORATED 178
NEW ZEALAND AIR LINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED 2,561
NEW ZEALAND DAIRY WORKERS UNION - TE RUNANGA WAIŪ INCORPORATED 8,500
NEW ZEALAND FISHING INDUSTRY GUILD INCORPORATED 546
NEW ZEALAND FURNITURE MANUFACTURING AND ASSOCIATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED 648
NEW ZEALAND MEAT WORKERS AND RELATED TRADES UNION INCORPORATED 12,886
NEW ZEALAND MERCHANT SERVICE GUILD INDUSTRIAL UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED 654
NEW ZEALAND NETBALL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 60
NEW ZEALAND POLICE ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 14,911
NEW ZEALAND POLICE LEADERS' GUILD INCORPORATED 154
NEW ZEALAND POST-PRIMARY TEACHERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 20,593
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS AND TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 43
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS UNION INCORPORATED 2,058
NEW ZEALAND PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 121
NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC SERVICE ASSOCIATION TE PUKENGA HERE TIKANGA MAHI INCORPORATED 83,894
NEW ZEALAND RESIDENT DOCTORS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 2,567
NEW ZEALAND TRAMWAYS AND PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES UNION INCORPORATED 1,250
NEW ZEALAND TRAMWAYS AND PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT EMPLOYEES' UNION WELLINGTON BRANCH INCORPORATED 450
NEW ZEALAND WRITERS GUILD INCORPORATED 367
NORTHERN AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED N/R (See footnote 1)
NORTHERN TOTALISATOR AND ALLIED EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED N/R (See footnote 2)
NUMBER 8 WORKERS UNION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 242
NUMBER ONE MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 66
NZ NURSES UNITED INCORPORATED 258
NZ TEACHERS' UNITED INCORPORATED 20
OMNIBUS WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED N/R (See footnote 3)
ONE UNION INCORPORATED 20
POSTAL WORKERS UNION OF AOTEAROA INCORPORATED 951
PRIMARY PRINCIPALS' COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNION INCORPORATED 372
PROFESSIONAL VERIFIERS' INSTITUTE INCORPORATED 212
PROMINA GROUP STAFF ASSOCIATION NZ INCORPORATED N/R
QANTAS EMPLOYEES COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED 66
RAIL AND MARITIME TRANSPORT UNION INCORPORATED 6,121
RAISE THE BAR HOSPITALITY UNION INCORPORATED N/R
SAINT KENTIGERN TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 183
SCHOOL BUSINESS MANAGERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 0
SECONDARY PRINCIPALS' ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED N/R
SHORECARE STAFF SOCIETY INCORPORATED 57
SOUTHERN COASTAL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 119
SOUTHLAND ENTERPRISES UNION OF WORKERS INCORPORATED 67
SPECIALTY TRAINEES OF NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED 2,029
ST CUTHBERT'S COLLEGE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 134
TARANAKI REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED N/R
TASMAN STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 22
TAXPRO INCORPORATED 700
TE KUITI BEEF WORKERS UNION INCORPORATED N/R
TE UNIANA O NSNZ INCORPORATED 4,715
TERTIARY INSTITUTES ALLIED STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 1,781
THE ASSOCIATION OF MARINE PROFESSIONALS INCORPORATED 25
THE ATHLETES' COOPERATIVE INCORPORATED 60
THE CAREGIVERS AND RELATED EMPLOYEES INDEPENDENT ASSOCIATION OF STAFF INCORPORATED 77
THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 527
THE FEDERATION OF AIR NEW ZEALAND PILOTS INCORPORATED 196
THE GREY DISTRICT COUNCIL UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 33
THE HAWKE'S BAY REGIONAL COUNCIL STAFF UNION INCORPORATED 83
THE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 969
THE NEW PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 180
THE NEW ZEALAND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE TE RIU ROA INCORPORATED 48,992
THE NEW ZEALAND FIRE EMERGENCY COMMANDERS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 146
THE NEW ZEALAND NURSES ORGANISATION INCORPORATED 62,754
THE NEW ZEALAND TERTIARY EDUCATION UNION TE HAUTU KAHURANGI O AOTEAROA INCORPORATED 10,300
THE PULP & PAPER WORKERS UNION - KAWERAU INCORPORATED 390
THE RIGHT UNION INCORPORATED N/R
THE RUGBY PLAYERS COLLECTIVE INCORPORATED 680
THE SOUTH WAIKATO DISTRICT COUNCIL STAFF ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED N/R
THE SURFSIDE EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED N/R
THE WESTLAND DISTRICT COUNCIL UNION OF EMPLOYEES INCORPORATED 52
TIG-HW INCORPORATED 52
TUIA UNION INCORPORATED 297
UNISON NETWORKS EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 25
UNITE UNION MANATOPU 5,604
UNITED FISHERIES WORKPLACE UNION INCORPORATED 47
WAINGAWA WORKERS' UNION INCORPORATED N/R
WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 197
WHAKATANE DISTRICT COUNCIL EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED 184
WORK & INCOME NORTHLAND STAFF INCORPORATED 104
WORKERS FIRST UNION INC 33,412
WSA INCORPORATED 85

 

Footnotes

  1. Amalgamated with AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED.
  2. Amalgamated with AMALGAMATED WORKERS UNION NEW ZEALAND INCORPORATED.
  3. In liquidation.

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