Maritime Union of New Zealand

MUNZ
Maritime Union of New Zealand
FoundedJuly 2002
HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
Location
Key people
Carl Finlay , pres
Joe Fleetwood, general secretary
Affiliations
Websitewww.munz.org.nz

The Maritime Union of New Zealand is a trade union which represents waterfront workers, seafarers and related workers in New Zealand.[1]

History

The union was formed in July 2002 from the merger of the New Zealand Waterfront Workers' Union and the New Zealand Seafarers' Union.[2] In October 2002 a number of the union's members travelled to the United States to join pickets by American wharfies who had been locked out by the Pacific Maritime Association after stalled contract negotiations led to industrial action.[3]

Affiliations

The MUNZ is affiliated with the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, the New Zealand Labour Party and the International Transport Workers' Federation.

In June 2026, MUNZ national council unanimously voted to affiliate to the Alliance, a party led by former MUNZ national communications officer Victor Billot. He called it a "gamechanger" for that year's election and beyond for "advancing an uncompromising working class voice in New Zealand politics". MUNZ national secretary, Carl Findlay, said the union would also continue its long-standing affiliation with the Labour Party.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Maritime Union of New Zealand on NBR".
  2. ↑ "New maritime union". Waikato Times. 26 July 2002. p. 3.
  3. ↑ "Unionists to join US wharfies". Dominion Post. 5 October 2002. p. A4.
  4. ↑ "Maritime Union affiliates with Alliance Party, keeps door open to Labour". Radio New Zealand. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 9 June 2026.