Public Service Association
1. Business / Trading Name: New Zealand Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi Incorporated (commonly “Public Service Association” or PSA).
2. Company number: 215410 (Incorporated Society registration number).
3. NZBN: 9429042707837 (as listed on the Incorporated Societies Register).
4. Entity type: Registered Incorporated Society (registered t†L307-L314].
5. Business classification: Trade union (industrial union of workers representing public servants)
6. Industry Category: Not-for-profit employee organisation (public service)
7. Year founded: 1913 (officially established 31 October 1913)
8. Addresses:
Head Office: PSA House, 11 Aurora Terrace, Wellington 6011, New Zealand Postal: PO Box 3817, Wellington 6140. (As of 2023, PSA’s registered office is noted at 141 The Terrace, Wellington, due to office relocation).
9. Website URL: Main: www.psa.org.nz
10. LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/public-service-association-te-pukenga-here-tikanga-mahi/?originalSubdomain=nz
11. Company Hub NZ URL:** Data Not Found. *(PSA is not a registered company; it appears only indirectly on Company Hub via affiliated entities)
12. NZ Companies Office URL: Incorporated Societies Register: https://app.businessregisters.govt.nz/sber-businesses/viewInstance/view.html?id=229a78e05307b6d8bf1b29667f00cb179c0b7dbb4527525d&_timestamp=1876785407552747
13. Social Media URLs:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nzpsa/
Twitter - https://x.com/nzpsa?lang=en
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nz_psa/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@NZPSA
14. Ultimate Holding Company: None. (PSA is a member-owned incorporated society with no holding company.
15. Key Shareholders: None. (Not a company; the PSA is owned collectively by members, not shareholders)
16. Leadership: Virgil D. Iraia (Pesident), Dianna Mancer (Vice-President/Health Sector Rep), National Secretaries (Kerry Davies and Duane Leo).The National Secretaries function as co-chief executives of the union. The elected Executive Board governs PSA, including sector representatives.
17. Staff: Approximately 200 staff employed (organisers, negotiators, support staff) PSA’s workforce has grown to over 200 employees to support its members, making it one of the biggest union secretariats in NZ.)
18. Staff that have held previous government roles: Many PSA officials are former public servants. This “revolving door” is common – union staff often come from roles in the public sector they now advocate on.
19. Past Employees: Brenda Pilott (National Secretary 2004–2014). Richard Wagstaff (National Secretary/President who helped grow PSA and later became NZCTU President in 2015), Erin Polaczuk (National Secretary 2014–2021, later Acting Secretary of NZCTU, and Glenn Barclay (National Secretary 2014–2019, now Justice Aotearoa). These individuals significantly shaped PSA’s direction and moved into wider roles in the union movement or civil society.
20. Clients: *NoA does not have “clients” in a commercial sense; its “clients” are its members – i.e. public sector workers)
21. Industries/sectors represented: PSA represents workers across central government public service departments, Crown entities and agencies, parliamentary services, state-owned enterprises, local government (councils), health sector (Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ and district health services), and community/NGO organisations delivering public services. It is the principal union for the core public service and broader state sector, as well as many council and community care employees.
22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: PSA regularly makes formal submissions to Parliament and government inquiries. For example, it submitted to the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Infrastructure Commission/Te Waihanga Bill in 2019 and it is coordinating submissions on the Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill (encouraging members and networks to present to the select committee). PSA officials often appear in Select Committee hearings and working groups on public sector reforms. The PSA is also listed on the Electoral Commission’s register of third-party promoters for the 2023 General Election, reflecting its public campaign activities during elections.
23. Affiliations: The PSA is affiliated to major union federations and like-minded organisations. Domestic affiliates: New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) Te Kauae Kaimahi; Supporter of Tax Justice Aotearoa NZ (TJANZ). International affiliates: Member of Public Services International (PSI), the global federation of public sector unions; Affiliated to UNI Global Union.
24. Sponsorships / Collaborations: The PSA often collaborates on events and campaigns with other organisations. For example, PSA Youth partnered with the Auckland University Students’ Association to host a “Young Public Servants Debate” for young voters. PSA has a women’s group (PSA Women’s Network) which is a place for women members to share experiences about work and organise around the things that need to change. PSA also jointly owns or supports inter-union initiatives – it holds a 16.66% stake in Joint Union Services Ltd.
25. Events (held or organised by this organisation): The PSA holds a biennial Congress and conferences for its delegates, but also organises public-facing events. It has convened nationwide union rallies – for instance, in October 2024 PSA mobilised thousands of public sector workers to protest at Parliament against proposed government service cuts of workers’ rights. PSA Youth holds annual hui (conferences) for young social events across the country.In 2013, the PSA celebrated its centenary (100th anniversary) including an exhibition and a gathering at Parliament to honour a “century of unionism”.PSA also frequently hosts issue-specific seminars (e.g. on equal pay, health & safety) and training workshops for its members and delegates.
26. Political Donations: None disclosed. The PSA as an organisation does not donate to political parties or candidates (in line with its non-partisan rule against party affiliation). A review of Electoral Commission records shows no PSA monetary donations to any party. Instead of direct donations, the PSA engages politically through campaigns and was registered as an independent third-party promoter during the 2020 and 2023 elections – meaning it spent money on public issue advertising (for example, campaigning for better public services) rather than contributing to a party. (Its President noted that members individually participate across the political spectrum, but the union does not funnel money into party coffers.)
27. Controversies: (1) In 1979, the Muldoon Government introduced the Public Service Association Withdrawal of Recognition Bill, an extraordinary attempt to legislate the dissolution of PSA during an industrial dispute. This draconian move (widely seen as political retaliation for a PSA-supported strike) prompted mass protests; the Government ultimately backed down and withdrew the bill. The episode is remembered as a key test of union independence in NZ. (2) In 2012, blogger Cameron Slater (of Whale Oil) falsely accused the PSA of secretly providing a leaked 2008 video of PM John Key to media. Journalist Duncan Garner, who aired the clip of Key pledging no state asset sales, publicly refuted Slater’s claim – clarifying that PSA had no involvement in that leak. This incident highlighted the PSA’s frequent place in partisan crossfire, where it is sometimes (incorrectly) painted as orchestrating political hits. (3) Furthermore, in August 2023, the PSA condemned comments made by David Seymour regarding the Ministry for Pacific Peoples. Seymour's remarks were perceived as an attack on public service institutions, which the PSA argued goes beyond holding the public service accountable and contributes to a polarized political environment.
28. Other information of note: Established to represent and promote the interests of Māori members, Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina ensures that Māori perspectives are integrated into the PSA's decision-making processes. All PSA members who identify as Māori are automatically part of this advisory body. The Rūnanga is guided by principles such as unity (Kotahitanga), empowerment of Māori leadership (Rangatiratanga), protection of fair working conditions (Kaitiakitanga), health and wellbeing (Manaakitanga), cultural behavior (Wairuatanga), career development (Whakahiato Umanga), personal and family connections (Whanaungatanga), and effectiveness (Whakamana).
Member Networks and Initiatives:
Beyond Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina, the PSA fosters several networks to cater to the varied interests and needs of its members:
Women’s Network: Focuses on advocating for women's issues within the public sector.
PSA Youth: Caters to members aged 35 and under, addressing challenges pertinent to younger public servants, including climate change and student debt.
Pasefika: Supports members of Pacific Island descent, promoting cultural awareness and addressing specific community concerns.
Out@PSA: Provides a supportive environment for LGBTQI members, fostering inclusivity and representation.
Deaf & Disabled Members' Network: Advocates for the rights and needs of disabled members within the workplace.
Member Benefits:
The PSA offers various benefits to its members, including access to a network of over 50 affordable holiday homes across New Zealand and Australia. Additionally, a hardship fund is available to assist members facing financial difficulties. These initiatives underscore the PSA's commitment to supporting its members both professionally and personally.
These activities, while not lobbying, illustrate the PSA’s broad role as both a industrial advocate and a sociorganisation for public sector workers.
29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Data Not Found. The PSA did not appy for or receive subsidy payments. Public records of the 2020 Wage Subsidy Scheme show no entry for the PSA, and the union confirmed it was ineligible as a publicly-funded entity (the vast majority of its members remained employed on full pay by government agencies during the pandemic, so PSA’s subscription revenue was not severely impacted. In fact, PSA advocated that the government wage subsidy be directed to precarious workers in the private and community sectors rather than to public service payrolls. (In summary, PSA did not require nor request wage subsidies for its own staff.
Sources:
1. “PSA Launches Banner Competition to Celebrate 100th Birthday.” Scoop News, 24 May 2011. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1105/S00603/psa-launches-banner-competition-to-celebrate-100th-birthday.htm[13†L89-L97][13†L116-L119]
2. “Annual Return Membership Reports – 2023 Union Membership.” NZ Companies Office (Registered Unions), 2023. https://www.companiesoffice.govt.nz/all-registers/registered-unions/annual-return-membership-reports/[6†L303-L311]
3. “The PSA… largest trade union in NZ with over 62,000 members.” Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, 2013 (via MBIE PDF)[3†L17-L20]
4. “Joint Union Services Limited – Company Shareholders.” NZ Business Directory (nzlbusiness.com). https://www.nzlbusiness.com/company/registered/Joint-Union-Services-Limited[27†L133-L141]
5. PSA – About the PSA. PSA website. https://www.psa.org.nz/about-us/about-the-psa[51†L139-L147][53†L410-L418]
6. Public Service Association – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Service_Association[30†L139-L147][30†L155-L163]
7. “Public Service Association officially dates from 31 October 1913.” Wikipedia[30†L179-L187]
8. “PSA is forbidden by its rules from affiliating with political parties.” Wikipedia[30†L173-L177]
9. “Funding: Member subscription fees.” Wikipedia[30†L157-L164]
10. LinkedIn – PSA Company Profile. LinkedIn[86†L47-L55][86†L59-L67]
11. “PSA House, 11 Aurora Terrace, Wellington… PO Box 3817…” PSA Contact, PSA website[53†L453-L461]
12. “Get in touch – PSA House, 11 Aurora Tce… PO Box 3817…” PSA Regional Offices, PSA website[28†L1-L7]
13. “Louise Delany… Benedict Ferguson… Kerry Davies… on 2023 Promoter Register.” Electoral Commission – Register of Third Party Promoters 2023[62†L578-L586][62†L587-L594]
14. “NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff (former PSA National Secretary).” NZCTU website[87†L1-L8]
15. “Transparency International NZ – comparison with 10 jurisdictions, absence of lobbying oversight in NZ is glaring.” TINZ (Ellie McKenzie), Nov 2022[82†L65-L73]
16. “Hipkins described NZ’s system as ‘very open’… unlike 7 other countries, lobbyists aren’t subject to a code, no laws governing lobbying.” TINZ[82†L69-L77]
17. “David Seymour LinkedIn post: ‘look no further’ than union movement, public service out of touch.” (Context from LinkedIn/X)[67†L29-L36]
18. “NZ Herald: Thousands of PSA workers protest at Parliament… Duane Leo quote.” NZ Herald, 23 Oct 2024[66†L489-L498][66†L513-L520]
19. “PSA members on receiving end of attacks from coalition Government… cuts to services, attacks on Māori rights.” NZ Herald[66†L511-L519]
20. “Duncan Garner hits back at Cameron Slater who incorrectly claimed on Whaleoil that PSA provided the video to TV3.” Bryce Edwards, NZ Herald, 15 Mar 2012[73†L559-L567][73†L562-L570]
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz