About the PSA
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA) is New Zealand's largest union.
About the PSA - Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
- Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina
- Our Structure
- PSA Strategic Goals
- PSA Values
- Affiliates
About the PSA
As a trade union, the PSA represents and supports more than 75,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
We are also a powerful public voice and a key player in New Zealand politics, arguing for policies that improve public services and the working conditions of those who deliver them.
Our Purpose is to build a union able to influence the political, economic, industrial and social environments in the interests of the membership of the PSA.
By joining the PSA, you're joining our community of more than 75,000 members.
Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
Our full name is Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi, as chosen by Te Rūnanga in 2003.
Kaumātua Kiwhare Mihaka, the driving force behind choosing a Māori name for the PSA, describes pūkenga as the key word, referring to the skills of all the people in the PSA.
“Then we have tikanga – the good and correct way of doing things. And finally, mahi, which, of course, means work. This captures the essence of the PSA – the concept of skilled people coming together to create good conditions and ways of working." - Kaumātua Kiwhare Mihaka
Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina
Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina represents and promotes the interests of Māori members. It provides a network to ensure Māori have a voice in the PSA, from the workplace to the union’s top decision-making bodies. All members who identify as Māori are part of Te Rūnanga o ngā Toa Āwhina.
The PSA is committed to honouring te Tiriti o Waitangi across the public sector and inside the union, and our structures ensure a Māori perspective can be heard at all levels of our organisation.
Our Structure
PSA Governance Structure
The PSA is democratically run by our members. Check out our full Governance Structure here.
Members elect union representatives (delegates) within their workplace. These representatives help the PSA make decisions on things such as how the union is run and what to focus on during negotiations with employers. Delegates in each of our five sectors elect Sector Committees to lead the work of the PSA in their sector of work.
National delegates’ congress
The highest decision making body of the PSA, our national delegates’ Congress is held biennially. Bringing together representatives of all the sectors of the PSA every two years, it is our highest constitutional body and sets our overall direction.
Annual General Meetings (AGMs) provide constitutional oversight in between national delegate congresses, receiving reports from the treasurer and executive board.
The Executive Board
The executive board is our policy-making body accountable to congress. It is responsible for overseeing PSA policy and making sure we spend our money wisely.
PSA Strategic Goals
Our strategic goals set aspirational targets about where we want the PSA to be in 2024, with specific goals set in three year cycles along with plans towards achieving them.
Transforming our workplaces
Workplaces are transformed so that work is fulfilling, productive and satisfying.
Building our union
Membership of the PSA is strong and growing, and the union is resilient and sustainable.
Advocating for strong, innovative and effective public and community services
Our influence has led to sustained political and public support for properly funded innovative public and community services.
Equal Pay
All PSA members are paid equally for work of equal value.
Click to see more on our PSA Strategic Goals
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Supporting these goals, and woven through them, is the PSA’s commitment to advancing Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles of partnership, protection and participation as they relate to the working lives of members.
PSA Values
These values were adopted as policy by the PSA Executive Board as of 7 May 2018.
Solidarity - Kotahitanga
We champion members’ interests with a strong effective voice. We stand together, supporting and empowering members, individually and collectively.
Social justice - Pāpori Ture Tika
We take a stand for decent treatment and justice. We embrace diversity and challenge inequality.
Integrity and respect - Te Pono me te Whakaute
Our actions are characterised by professionalism, integrity and respect.
Solution focused - Otinga Arotahi
We are a progressive and constructive union, constantly seeking solutions that improve members’ working lives.
Democratic - Tā te Nuinga e Whakatau ai
We encourage participation from members. We aim to be transparent, accessible and inclusive in the way we work.
Affiliates
In New Zealand
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions – We are a committed affiliate of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (CTU), participating in CTU national and local forums and programmes and being represented at CTU biennial conferences and at CTU representative structure conferences. For more details on the CTU, click here.
IPANZ – We are a corporate member of IPANZ (the Institute of Public Administration New Zealand), a voluntary organisation committed to improving public policy and public sector administration and management. For more details click here.
Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand – We are an associate member of Allied Health Aotearoa New Zealand (previously AHPAF), a forum for representatives of allied health professional associations. For more information click here.
International
Public Services International – we are a member of PSI, a global union federation made up of more than 600 public sector unions. We participate in PSI regional and sub-regional meetings and are particularly active in supporting the development of union organisation in Pacific nations. For more details click here.
UNI Global Union – we affiliated to UNI Global Union in 2006. UNI is a global federation representing unions in the mass media, entertainment and the arts. One of its functions is sharing information between unions in the face of globalised media and broadcasting industries. For more information click here.
