A new Local Government Rūnanga held its first hui in March.
It’s hoped it will help boost the number of Māori members, rūnanga delegates and Māori enterprise delegates in the local government sector.
Sector Māngai Kevin Thompson says they’re keen to attract more Māori council workers to the PSA, while some who are already members have yet to identify as Māori.
“It may simply be they haven’t ticked the box when they joined.”
A team of sector māngai including Sally Simpson from Auckland Council, Joy Benioni from Tauranga City Council and Reremoana Sinclair from Gisborne District Council are working on a strategy to raise awareness amongst Māori about why they should get on board the waka.
“Our message is particularly important at this time because of our Rūnanga’s Ngā Kaupapa values like manaakitanga, caring for people,” says Kevin.
“We need to be promoting that at the council table. Instead of talking about paycuts or see you later, we should be saying we value you, how can we keep you here.”
Kevin helped get the Ngā Kaupapa values included in Christchurch City Council’s collective agreement.
He says the Council is now looking at Ngā Kaupapa and Tiriti principles as a way forward for engaging with Māori more widely.
You can login to MyPSA to update your membership details at www.psa.org.nz/login
It was “humbling” for PSA delegate Jacob Crown to see how everyone stood together to campaign for PPE for care and support workers during the Covid Crisis.
Thousands of PSA members showed the value of what they do as they responded to a global pandemic by delivering essential services during the lockdown.
Within months of arriving in New Zealand, Mandeep Bela was being exploited by his employer.
The Covid crisis has shown us that when New Zealanders pull together we can achieve amazing things.
A new PSA president will be elected by attendees at the PSA Congress in Wellington on November 16-18. Here are the candidates:
Thousands of PSA members work for local authorities around New Zealand.
As we emerge from the COVID crisis, Working Life asks Council of Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff how we should rebuild for a brighter future
The challenges the world faces to rebuild from the Covid crisis have been laid bare by International Trade Union Confederation General Secretary Sharan Burrow.
Te Runanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina members spread the word about their Mana Wahine treaty claim when they met with some of Labour’s Māori Caucus at Parliament in March.
Delegates at the first hui of the Inland Revenue Rūnanga came away inspired to “do the mahi”.
As we grapple with the upheaval caused by Covid-19, I see people asking whether now is the right time to talk about climate change.
In our briefs section we reveal what you did in the lockdown, preview the Women's Network Conference, and much more...
PSA care and support workers took part in a Global Day of Action to demand personal protective equipment, pay and respect in April.
PSA members showed some love for their pets during lockdown - proudly sending in photos of their new office buddies to our PSA Facebook page.
In this issue we bring you some handy kupu for your workspace - whether you're working in the office or at home.