The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU or CTU; Māori: Te Kauae Kaimahi) is a national trade union centre in New Zealand. The NZCTU represents 360,000 workers, and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand.

It was formed in 1987 by the merger of the New Zealand Federation of Labour (NZFL or FOL) and the Combined State Unions (CSU).^{[citation needed]}

The NZCTU is closely associated with the Labour Party. While there is no formal link between the two, some unions are formally affiliated to the Labour Party, and the President of the NZCTU speaks at the party's annual conference.^{[citation needed]}

The NZCTU is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation.^{[citation needed]}

During the 2023 New Zealand general election campaign, the NZCTU launched an advertisement campaign in September 2023 attacking National Party leader Christopher Luxon. In response, National's campaign chair Chris Bishop accused the NZCTU and Labour Party of promoting negative campaigning. The NZCTU's president Richard Wagstaff defended the union's advertisement campaign, claiming that it was targeting National's policies including the proposed elimination of fair pay agreements, the restoration of 90-day work trials, and public sector cuts. Labour leader and Prime Minister Chris Hipkins defended the NZCTU's advertisements, stating that the union had published advertisements in previous elections.^[1]

In May 2024, the NZCTU launched a long-term socio-economic project called "Reimagining Aotearoa Together" with the stated goal to "set out an alternative vision for Aotearoa that looks beyond the narrow confines of the policy straight jacket adopted by successive governments." In a press release, the union invited workers, Māori people, community allies, non-governmental organisations and other interested New Zealanders to participate in policy development for the project.^[2][3]

• 2015–Present: Richard Wagstaff, former PSA national secretary
• 2007–2015: Helen Kelly, former TEU national secretary
• 1999–2007: Ross Wilson
• 1987–1999: Ken Douglas, ONZ

New Zealand Federation of Labour

• 1979–1987: Jim Knox, ONZ
• 1963–1979: Sir Tom Skinner, KBE
• 1953–1963: Fintan Patrick Walsh

• 2019–Present: Melissa Ansell-Bridges, former Equity Director
• 2015–2019: Sam Huggard, former NDU and FIRST Union campaigns officer
• 2008–2015: Peter Conway, former NZCTU economist
• 1999–2007: Paul Goulter, former general secretary of the financial sector union Finsec
• 1987–1999: Angela Foulkes, ONZM