Māori Union Leaders Launch Major Mobilisation to Protect Jobs and Te Tiriti Rights Ahead of 2026 Election

Māori trade union leaders are mobilising for the 2026 General Election, placing employment security and Te Tiriti o Waitangi at the forefront of their advocacy. Te Rūnanga o Ngā Kaimahi Māori o Aotearoa, the Māori arm of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), met in Te Whanganui-a-Tara recently to coordinate a national effort to encourage Māori workers to enrol and participate in the upcoming November vote. Representing approximately 60,000 Māori workers across the union movement, the rūnanga is focusing on the protection of Māori and Te Tiriti-focused positions within the public service. This push comes as union leaders express concern over restructuring at government agencies such as Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Arawhiti. During a gathering in Wellington, Public Service Association (PSA) Te Kaihautū Māori Jack McDonald highlighted that Māori public servants are facing unique pressures regarding the loss of kaupapa Māori capability within state institutions. The NZCTU, which encompasses more than 370,000 members across 32 affiliated unions, is using this period to address critical issues identified in its 2026 workforce survey. According to the data, 62 percent of respondents cited the cost of living as a primary concern, followed by health and pay rights. For Māori workers specifically, the union is highlighting the importance of whānau incomes and representation within the public sector as key pillars for the community’s economic stability. As the election approaches on 7 November, the rūnanga is urging its members to talk to whānau and ensure every eligible worker is registered to vote. By turning industrial concern into electoral participation, Māori union leaders aim to ensure that the voices of the 171,000 New Zealanders currently facing unemployment—and the many thousands more in work—are heard in the halls of power.