The Mana Wahine team was up before dawn on Waitangi Day erecting our stall at the famous Treaty Grounds.
The stall gave us an opportunity to kōrero kanohi ki te kanohi with the wider community about the kaupapa of Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina’s Waitangi Tribunal claim.
The posters on our stall call for better pay and conditions but the claim is also about restoring the mana of wāhine Māori in the workplace.
“We want to spread understanding about treaty issues, how wāhine Māori have been disadvantaged by discrimination in the workplace and an education system that’s failed them,” says claimant Georgina Kerr.
BIRTHPLACE OF TE TIRITI
Mana Wahine team at Waitangi
The day was of special significance for longtime activists and PSA staff members Janice and Helen Panoho.
The Ngāpuhi sisters were taking the Mana Wahine claim back to the birthplace of Te Tiriti.
Janice says people in the North are struggling with unemployment and low paid jobs.
“Bringing the claim back here let’s them know they are not alone. We can make a difference.”
She says wāhine Māori often suffer from a lack of recognition in the workplace.
“We are not pūhaehae. We never go out there and say how sweet our work is. But too often we are sidelined and overlooked for promotion.”
TAUTOKO FROM MEMBERS
PSA members visited the Mana Wahine stall to show their tautoko for the claim.
“I’m here to support our wāhine toa,” said Northland DHB delegate Auriole Cook.
“I’m always sticking up for our wāhine. Men get everything. Women have to fight for it,” said DHB member Maria Keefe.
Asked if he too supported the claim, Corrections member Kevin Harris said: “Why not? We should all be on the same level.”
SINCERE RESPONSE
Georgina Kerr was feeling the support for the kaupapa at Waitangi.
“There’s been a sincere response from everyone we’ve spoken to today. A really interesting cross-section of people from all walks of life, different ethnicities.”
The Waitangi Stall was the first event on our Mana Wahine Roadshow. Other events are being planned to take the claim around the motu.
Te Rūnanga will be making a submission to a judicial conference being held in April to plan for the Mana Wahine Kaupapa Inquiry.
Find out more about our claim at www.psa.org.nz/mana-wahine/
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Also in this issue:
‘We thank you for your brave stand’
PSA members and local communities joined forces in February to protest restructuring that threatened hundreds of jobs and quality client care.
While the restructuring by HealthCare NZ is now set to go ahead the protests have thrown a spotlight on issues besetting the home care and support sector.
“Remember the loss but also remember the hope”
As we mark the anniversary of the Christchurch attacks the PSA has added its voice to a call for peace from the city’s Muslim community.
Leading the charge on contractor rights
Our union is leading the charge to strengthen rights for contractors and labour hire workers in public and community services.
Make it Real
Thousands of admin workers in the Public Service are asking to be paid what they’re worth with the launch of their pay equity claim.
Opportunities and issues with new bill
We’ve been making our voices heard on the new Public Service Legislation Bill with submissions from the PSA, Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina, network and delegate committees and individual members.
"We have come too far to not go further"
‘Tawhiti rawa i tō tatou haerenga atu te kore haere tonu’ - Sir James Henare
The PSA’s greatest victory?
Former PSA staffer Noel O’Hare explains why he wrote Tooth & Veil, a history of school dental nurses and the day they stormed the corridors of power.
Maranga Mai
A groundbreaking course is empowering Māori delegates and contributing to a surge in Māori membership across the PSA.
Pacific organisers speak of challenges and triumphs
Union organisers from the Pacific have spoken about the challenges some face while trying to improve conditions for workers in their countries.
Holiday Home Snaps
Thanks to all our members who entered our PSA Holiday Home Photo Competition over the summer.
New CTU Secretary Looks to the Future
The new CTU Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges was drawn to the union movement when a job as industrial officer and organiser at Equity New Zealand caught her attention.
Leading the Way
PSA member Pam Maha had never been fully aware of family violence before she joined the Ministry of Justice twenty years ago.
On the Job
As the first Pasefika person to become a mental health nurse practitioner, Makoni Havea is determined to make a difference for her community.
