The NZCTU actively works with its affiliates to build a high-wage, high-skill, low-carbon economy in which good work is available to all.
For decades, Aotearoa New Zealand has underinvested in our people and infrastructure, and workers have been denied their fair share of economic growth.
The NZCTU’s policy work focuses on how Aotearoa New Zealand can address its major economic challenges of low wages, climate change, and infrastructure, and how we can build a productive economy in which all workers thrive.
Latest Economy News
- Submission on the Public Finance Amendment BillThis submission comments on select aspects of the Public Finance Amendment Bill. The NZCTU opposes the removal of the wellbeing provisions from the Act. These were inserted in 2020 to… Read More »Submission on the Public Finance Amendment Bill
- Submission on the Regulatory Standards BillThe NZCTU opposes the Regulatory Standards Bill in the strongest terms. The “principles of responsible regulation” set out in the Bill reflect the marginal and extreme worldview of libertarianism, which… Read More »Submission on the Regulatory Standards Bill
- Economic growth still in the hole dug in 2024Data released by Stats NZ today shows that the economy grew on a quarterly basis by 0.8% but fell on an annual basis by 1.1% said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi… Read More »Economic growth still in the hole dug in 2024
- Submission on Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment BillThe NZCTU opposes the Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill. The Bill will implement another significant restructure of the vocational education and training (VET) sector, even… Read More »Submission on Education and Training (Vocational Education and Training System) Amendment Bill
- NZCTU release detailed Budget 2025 analysisThe New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has today released a report with detailed analysis of Budget 2025. It covers the major decisions made at this Budget,… Read More »NZCTU release detailed Budget 2025 analysis
- A Workers’ Analysis of Budget 2025This report sets out the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi’s analysis of Budget 2025. It covers the major decisions made at this Budget, and how they… Read More »A Workers’ Analysis of Budget 2025
Economic Bulletin
The Economic Bulletin provides a worker’s perspective on the New Zealand economy. In each issue, we analyse the latest economic data, examine trends in the New Zealand economy, and discuss policies that will improve outcomes for working people.
Subscribe to get the Bulletin directly in your email inbox.
"*" indicates required fields
Previous Issues
- Economic Bulletin April/May 2025Welcome to the April/May 2025 Economic Bulletin. The Minister of Finance has made it clear Budget 2025 will bring further cuts to public investment. She has chopped the operating allowance… Read More »Economic Bulletin April/May 2025
- Economic Bulletin March 2025Welcome to the March 2025 Economic Bulletin. The feature article examines what public private partnerships (PPPs) are. PPPs have been a hot topic recently, with the coalition government signalling it… Read More »Economic Bulletin March 2025
- Economic Bulletin January/February 2025Welcome to the January/February 2025 Economic Bulletin. In the feature article Craig surveys the backwards steps New Zealand has been making on child poverty reduction. In our main data updates,… Read More »Economic Bulletin January/February 2025
- Economic Bulletin December 2024Welcome to the December 2024 Economic Bulletin. We have two monthly features in this edition. In the first, we discuss what the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update from Treasury… Read More »Economic Bulletin December 2024
- Economic Bulletin October – November 2024Welcome to the October/November 2024 Economic Bulletin. In our monthly feature we look at the current state of the labour market, how it has changed since 2022, and how it… Read More »Economic Bulletin October – November 2024
- Economic Bulletin August/September 2024Welcome to the August/September 2024 Economic Bulletin. In our monthly feature we provide an analysis of the gender pay gap in New Zealand for 2024. The mean gender pay gap… Read More »Economic Bulletin August/September 2024
Budget 25
“This Budget is funded above all by the gutting of the pay equity system, the halving of the government’s contribution to people’s Kiwisaver accounts, and other cuts that will disproportionality impact women, welfare recipients, and working households,” said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.
“None of the choices the government has made were inevitable. The government could have funded its spending initiatives by raising new taxes on the wealthiest New Zealanders. It could have not decided to give billions away to those who already have much, while cutting services for those with real and pressing needs.
“Budget 2025 also leaves New Zealand’s most significant structural challenges unaddressed. There is no meaningful movement on closing the infrastructure deficit; no solution to our health workforce shortage; no willingness to reduce child poverty or to address the housing crisis; and absolutely zero investment made in decarbonisation and climate adaptation.
“The coalition government continues to kick the can down the road on the most pressing challenges we face, all while making life steadily more difficult for New Zealanders who have the least,” said Renney.