Tertiary Education Union

What Tertiary Education Union does

Tertiary Education Union Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa (TEU) is a New Zealand trade union representing approximately 12,000 workers across the tertiary education sector. The union organizes academic, general/professional, and allied staff at all 8 New Zealand universities, Te Pūkenga (the unified polytechnic sector), multiple wānanga including Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and Te Whare Wānanga Awanuiarangi, and an extended tail of private training institutions, REAPs, NZCER, YooBee, OUSA, and Te Rito Maioha. Operating as a democratic, member-governed body, TEU runs collective bargaining (including sector-wide MECAs and polytech facilitation filings), represents members in employment disputes, and conducts political advocacy on pay equity, academic freedom, climate action, and tertiary sector funding.

Revenue is generated exclusively through member subscriptions, calculated at 80 cents per NZ$100 of gross earnings and capped at NZ$1,032 (incl. GST) per year for full members, with a flat NZ$25 associate rate for retired members and fee waivers for members earning under NZ$15,000 annually. TEU distributes services via a branch network at every major tertiary institution, supplemented by national campaigns (Stop the Cuts, Local Training Matters, Academic Freedom Aotearoa, Pay Equity Conversations), an AI Conference 2025, member-benefit programs through HealthCarePlus (Better Off Together, leveraging 180,000 union members' collective buying power), member networks (Te Uepū, Tiakina te Taiao, Queer/Te Kahukura, Pasifika, Kaimahi Whaikaha), and a branded merchandise ecommerce channel (shop.teu.ac.nz).

TEU has no proprietary technology platform, no AI/ML capability, no venture funding, and no parent company. It is an independent, member-owned non-profit headquartered in Wellington, governed by elected National Presidents (Tiriti and Māori), the National Secretary (authorized signatory), and elected branch and committee structures. Strategic leadership in 2025–2026 includes National Secretary Amy Ross and Co-Presidents Garrick Cooper (Te Tumu Whakarae Māori) and Ti Lamusse (Te Tumu Whakarae Tiriti). The union operates exclusively within New Zealand with no international expansion indicated.

Name

Tertiary Education Union

Legal name

Tertiary Education Union

Website

https://teu.ac.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tertiary Education Union (Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa) is a New Zealand trade union representing approximately 12,000 academic and professional staff across all 8 universities, Te Pūkenga, wānanga, and private training institutions, conducting collective bargaining, workplace representation, and sector advocacy funded through salary-based membership subscriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wellington

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership subscriptions: TEU generates revenue through annual membership subscriptions calculated as 80 cents per $100 earned, up to a maximum of $1,032 (inc. GST) per year. Associate membership (for retired members) is $25 per year. Members earning less than $15,000 per annum receive a fees waiver.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Tertiary Education Union (Te Hautū Kahurangi o Aotearoa) is a New Zealand trade union that recruits individual tertiary education workers as members and provides collective bargaining, workplace representation, advocacy, and member benefits on their behalf. Core offerings include union membership, collective agreement negotiation across universities, polytechnics, wānanga, and private training institutions, plus access to member benefit programs (Better Off Together, HealthCarePlus health cover, Grants for Good) and a branded merchandise shop.

Product overview

The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) is a trade union representing approximately 12,000 tertiary education workers across New Zealand. Rather than a unified software platform, TEU offers a portfolio of membership services including union representation for collective bargaining, professional advocacy, and workplace rights. The core offerings include union membership, collective agreement representation across universities (8 branches), polytechnics/Te Pūkenga, wānanga (2 branches), and other institutions. TEU operates member benefit programs including Better Off Together (administered by HealthCarePlus) offering health, wellbeing, and financial discounts, plus a merchandise ecommerce shop powered by Print Poppa. The union also facilitates member networks (Te Uepū, Tiakina te Taiao Climate Action, Queer/Te Kahukura, Pasifika, General Staff, Kaimahi Whaikaha Disability, and others) and runs campaigns on issues including pay equity, academic freedom, polytechnic funding, and artificial intelligence in education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Union Membership Core membership service for tertiary education workers at New Zealand universities, polytechnics (Te Pūkenga), wānanga, and private training institutions. Provides collective bargaining, professional advocacy, and workplace representation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Salaries above inflation for 15 consecutive years - negotiated pay increases 4-38% better than inflation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration13 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HealthCarePluscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthCarePlus (EBS) was formed by TEU and other unions 60 years ago to support union members access to primary healthcare. Currently manages the 'Better Off Together' member benefits program using the collective buying power of 180,000 New Zealand union members. Also runs 'Grants for Good' charity program supporting educational initiatives.
• UnionAidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnionAid supports union groups across Asia and the Pacific in their struggle to negotiate fair wages and working conditions. TEU participates in UnionAid fundraising events such as the Together Concert.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• University and College Union (UCU): UK trade union representing academic and related staff in higher and further education. Closely comparable in scope (tertiary academic staff), revenue model (subscription-based), and activity set (collective bargaining, pay campaigns, casualization); differs geographically as a UK-focused organization.
• National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU, Australia): Australian union representing staff in higher education, TAFEs, and other tertiary institutions. Highly comparable in mandate (tertiary-only), operating model (branch-based, collective bargaining), and policy priorities (casualization, pay equity, academic freedom); differs only by national geography.

Direct peers

• NZEI Te Riu Roa: New Zealand union representing primary and area school teachers and educational support staff. Directly comparable as a sector-specific education union operating under similar collective bargaining and political advocacy models; some TEU leaders (e.g., Āwhina Green) have prior NZEI experience.
• Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA): NZ union representing secondary school teachers. Comparable as a sector-specific NZ education union, though covering secondary rather than tertiary; together with NZEI and TEU, forms the trio of major NZ education-sector unions.
• First Union: NZ union covering transport, logistics, finance, and other industries. Comparable as a New Zealand trade union with similar subscription-based revenue model, collective bargaining, and political lobbying approach.
• Public Service Association (PSA): NZ's largest union, representing public sector workers including some tertiary education roles. Directly comparable as a New Zealand trade union using subscription-based membership, collective bargaining, and political advocacy; competes for some of the same institutional bargaining mandates as TEU.
• New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO): NZ union and professional association for nurses and healthcare workers. Comparable as a sector-specific New Zealand trade union with subscription membership and collective bargaining; covers a different sector but operates under the same NZ industrial relations framework as TEU.
• E tū: Large NZ private and public sector union. Comparable as a New Zealand trade union with subscription membership, collective bargaining, and advocacy; represents workers across multiple industries and competes for general worker representation in NZ.

Regional players

• Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT): Canadian association and union-like body for academic staff at universities and colleges. Comparable as a tertiary-sector staff representative body operating on membership dues and collective advocacy, though structured somewhat differently as a federated association of local unions.

Others

• New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU): National peak body for NZ trade unions. Comparable as a coordinating umbrella organization that TEU would affiliate with or coordinate through for sector-wide advocacy and policy work; not a direct competitor but a closely related ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/nzteu
• Facebookfacebook.com/nzteu
• Instagraminstagram.com/nz_teu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tertiary-education-union-te-hautu-kahurangi-o-aotearoa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tertiary Education Union