Organisation New Zealand Labour Party

1 organisation

1.1 party structure
1.2 affiliated trade unions
1.3 young labour
1.4 local government

organisation
party structure

general , special branches

party membership tied geographically-based branches in each parliamentary electorate. general branches must consist of @ least 10 members aged 15 or over. members may form special branches have special community of interest (such university students , academics, young people, women, māori people, pacific islanders , industrial workers). influential branches include princes street labour (this university branch described ideological powerhouse of party , , has contributed many prominent labour politicians) , vic labour (the victoria university of wellington branch).

labour party membership, 1917–2002

full (non-affiliate) membership peaked @ 55,000 in 1976. during 1980s , 1990s party membership plummeted levels not seen since before first labour government. decline might attributed disillusionment on part of members economics policies of fourth labour government ( rogernomics ). membership figures began recover under helen clark s leadership, 14,000 members recorded in 2002.

conference, councils , committees

delegates branches in electorate, delegates affiliated unions, make labour electorate committee (lec). lec responsible party organisation in electorate. party divided 6 regional areas, each year convene regional conference. policy , other matters debated , passed onto annual conference.

the annual conference supreme governing body of party when in session. constituent bodies of party entitled send delegates annual conference.

the new zealand council labour party s governing executive. ensures party governed according constitution. nz council consists of president, 2 senior vice presidents (one of must māori), 3 vice presidents (representing women, affiliates , pacific islands), 7 regional reps, 1 policy council rep, 3 caucus reps , general secretary.

the policy council, responsible development of policy platform , election manifesto, elected three-year term following each general election. party structure provides special interest group councils: representing affiliates, women s issues, māori issues, pacific islands, primary industries, local government , youth.

caucus , parliamentary leadership

the elected members representing labour party in house of representatives meet parliamentary labour party, known caucus. current parliamentary leader jacinda ardern. leadership election triggered upon vacancy of position of leader or motion of no confidence. candidates nominated within caucus. under labour party rules, party members have 40% of votes, mps have 40% of votes, , affiliated unions have 20% of votes. observers have criticised influence of unions in leadership elections.

affiliated trade unions

in first decades of 20th century, industries grew in new zealand s main cities , union membership increased. labour party formed in period political wing of labour movement, , financed trade unions. since then, unions have retained close institutional links party. there 6 unions directly affiliated party , pay affiliation fees receiving percentage of vote in party leadership elections. these unions are:

e tū – created through merger of engineering, printing , manufacturing union , service & food workers union in 2015.
maritime union of new zealand (munz)
new zealand dairy workers union (dwu)
new zealand meat & related trades workers union (mwu)
rail , maritime transport union (rmtu)
central amalgamated workers union (cawu)

in addition, president of new zealand council of trade unions continues speak @ labour party annual conference.

young labour

young labour party s youth wing. exists organise young members (under 26) , encourage wider involvement of young new zealanders in centre-left politics. young labour active sector in labour party , plays significant role in policy development , campaign efforts. endearingly called conscience of party .

local government

labour has many prominent local councillors ran under banner of labour party or local umbrella organisation. in auckland there alf filipaina of manukau ward , richard northey (a former mp), formerly of maungakiekie-tamaki ward. phil goff, former leader of labour party current mayor of auckland. former mayor len brown, despite having lifelong membership labour, ran independent in 2010 , 2013 elections. in hamilton, former mp hamilton west martin gallagher elected council in 2010.

in new plymouth former mp harry duynhoven served mayor 2010–2013 upon voted out of office. lianne dalziel elected mayor of christchurch in 2013 local body elections succeeding sir bob parker, , former rotorua electorate list mp steve chadwick, elected mayor of rotorua in 2013 elections, both dalziel , chadwick ran independents.

in christchurch labour maintains umbrella including community independents called people s choice (formerly christchurch 2021). labour candidates stand people s choice (labour) , hold number of community board seats, 7 council seats, , several community board chairmanships.

wellington has 2 labour party councillors: brian dawson – lambton ward councillor , peter gilberd – northern ward councillor. justin lester current mayor of wellington ran on labour party ticket. there many more local , regional councillors labour party members, not run endorsed candidates of party.

while labour party has not contested local body elections in dunedin, city councillor , former labour mp david benson-pope announced on 26 february 2016 contesting dunedin local elections in october under local labour ticket. while still labour party member, benson pope had stood in 2013 local elections independent candidate. report coincided dissolution of city s main local body ticket, greater dunedin group. on 20 april, reported labour party had dropped plan field bloc of candidates in 2016 dunedin elections. however, party has not ruled out endorsing other candidates.

there many others councillors in areas of new zealand members or have had connections labour party, have instead contested local elections independents.