The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi undertakes a broad range of work to advance and improve the lives of working people.
As the trade union peak body in Aotearoa New Zealand, the NZCTU submits on a range of policy areas on behalf of our affiliated unions and the broader workforce.
Stay up to date on the work of the NZCTU, including our submissions, analysis, and resources below.
Latest from the NZCTU
- Unions, educators, and health leaders demand urgent review into asbestos failures
More than 45 unions, educators, occupational health and safety experts, academics, and public health organisations have signed an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to establish an urgent review… Read More »Unions, educators, and health leaders demand urgent review into asbestos failures - Open letter demand urgent review into asbestos failures
Rt Hon. Christopher Luxon, Prime MinisterHon. Brooke van Velden, Minister for Workplace Relations and SafetyHon. Simeon Brown, Minister for HealthHon. Casey Costello, Minister for CustomsHon. Scott Simpson, Minister for ACCHon… Read More »Open letter demand urgent review into asbestos failures - Unions call on Govt to pass corporate manslaughter law
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is calling on the Government to honour the memories of the workers who lost their lives fifteen years ago today at the Pike River Mine… Read More »Unions call on Govt to pass corporate manslaughter law - Economic Bulletin October/November 2025
In this month’s feature we discuss the class character of New Zealand’s inflation policy. Under our current settings, higher unemployment is the price paid for lower inflation. This means that… Read More »Economic Bulletin October/November 2025 - Proposal to revoke Asbestos Code of Practice
Submitted by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi7 November 2025 This submission is made on behalf of the 32 unions affiliated to the New Zealand Council… Read More »Proposal to revoke Asbestos Code of Practice - Proposal to revoke asbestos code of practice concerning
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kamahi is strongly concerned with WorkSafe’s proposal to remove the asbestos Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and replace it with other forms of guidance. “Workers need… Read More »Proposal to revoke asbestos code of practice concerning
Policy topics
Latest Submissions
- Proposal to revoke Asbestos Code of PracticeSubmitted by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi7 November 2025 This submission is made on behalf of the 32 unions affiliated to the New Zealand Council… Read More »Proposal to revoke Asbestos Code of Practice
- Submission on the Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill
The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi strongly opposes this Bill. The right to strike is deeply entrenched. It is a fundamental right, intrinsically connected to the right to ‘freedom of association’.… Read More »Submission on the Defence (Workforce) Amendment Bill - Draft Tertiary Education Strategy Submission
The NZCTU welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft Tertiary Education Strategy (TES). Our submission focuses on the high-level objectives of the draft strategy. Our two central recommendations are:… Read More »Draft Tertiary Education Strategy Submission - Submission on Electoral Amendment Bill
This Bill is a direct assault on New Zealand democracy and contrary to the values of our open and inclusive society. Key parts of the Bill are reminiscent of voter-suppression… Read More »Submission on Electoral Amendment Bill - Submission on the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill
The NZCTU opposes this a retrograde Bill, which will restrict local government’s ability to fulfil its important roles in supporting community decision-making and wellbeing. It reflects the current government’s rhetorical… Read More »Submission on the Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill - Submission on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill
The NZCTU opposes the Employment Relations Amendment Bill 2025 (the Bill) in the strongest possible terms.The Bill is nothing more than a ‘multi-pronged’ attack on the rights and dignity of… Read More »Submission on the Employment Relations Amendment Bill - Submission on the Draft National Infrastructure Plan
The draft National Infrastructure Plan sets out key challenges facing New Zealand when it comes to building and maintaining infrastructure and the Infrastructure Commission’s recommendations for how we can address… Read More »Submission on the Draft National Infrastructure Plan - Submission on the Public Finance Amendment Bill
This 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 Bill
The 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