A groundbreaking course is empowering Māori delegates and contributing to a surge in Māori membership across the PSA.
The guiding purpose of Maranga mai o ngā whakangungu ā rohe is to enable Māori delegates to use their perspective and experience to advocate for Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their workplaces.
The course began in 2014 in response to the need to provide training about the PSA’s Rūnanga structure.
“When we began the Maranga Mai journey we recognised we needed a dedicated resource to develop the skills and knowledge of our delegates and to give them a space to contextualise their culture into their workplace,” says former National Organiser Māori Tauia MacDonald.
“It was a humbling and exciting experience.”
NGĀ KAUPAPA
Maranga Mai Workshop
Maranga Mai has developed since then in partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina and was approved for Employment Relations Education Leave (EREL) in 2016.
A key foundation of the course is the Rūnanga strategy Ngā Kaupapa - the values that underpin our goal of improving the working lives of Māori across the union.
Delegates also learn about the framework of Te Tiriti in the modern Public Service and other sectors; and engagement of Māori and non-Māori.
INSPIRATIONAL
Training is usually held within the rohe of members and is facilitated by Māori staff with support from the PSA Kaumatua and Kuia.
Te Kaiwahakarite Māori Marcia Puru says they work to make the course contemporary, relevant and influential. An example of this is the use of the Mana Wahine Claim as a campaigning and organising tool.
Marcia says she is always inspired by the delegates attending Maranga Mai.
“It is their passion for kaupapa Māori and their wairua and mana to be Māori no matter where they work and what they do. It is amazing to have the kōrero and share our experiences and tools so we can strengthen our people and our Rūnanga.”
Maranga Mai has contributed to significant growth for our union – with about 2,000 more Māori members coming on board the waka in the last five years. We encourage our Māori members to take the next step and become rūnanga delegates.
Our Bicultural Unionism course is being redesigned to empower non-Māori delegates to support the Rūnanga structure.
WHAT DELEGATES SAY ABOUT MARANGA MAI
“Tino Miharo! The two days were awesome, empowering and uplifting. I learnt so much and feel excited about my journey ahead as a rūnanga delegate.”
“Ngā mihi ki a koe mo tō kaha ki te whakapakari tonu o mātou nei mātauranga, pūkenga, wawata hoki.”
“I plan on implementing ideas and being proactive with my approach to engaging Māori to stand and be heard. Mauri Ora.”
Maranga Mai Tamaki Makaurau
Journal Tags
- Affiliates
- Campaigns
- Climate Change
- Community Public Services
- CTU
- DHBs
- Equal Pay
- Fair Pay
- Feature Articles
- Future of Work
- Gender Pay Gap
- Industrial Action
- Local Government
- Mana Wahine
- Member Profiles
- Mental Health
- Networks
- News In Brief
- Out@PSA
- Pasefika
- President's Message
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Also in this issue:
‘We thank you for your brave stand’
As forty or so people gathered in the blazing Wairarapa sun, only two had ever joined a protest before in their lives. Within twenty minutes, they were leading their own chants and you could hear them for miles.
“Remember the loss but also remember the hope”
PSA delegate Benjamin Gresham says the Christchurch Invitation is a call to spread peace, reconnect, and feed the hungry - which draws on the teachings of the Muslim tradition.
Leading the charge on contractor rights
The PSA made a change to its rules in 2018 by enabling contractors and labour hire workers to become members.
Make it Real
Their work often goes unnoticed - but they’re the ones that keep organisations running smoothly, the ones you turn to when things go wrong, the ones that are first to greet the public.
Mana Wahine Claim goes to Waitangi
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.
Opportunities and issues with new bill
The PSA welcomes most aspects of the bill - but there are issues it does not address and we drew these to the attention of the select committee.
"We have come too far to not go further"
The Public Service in its current form is failing Māori. This is abundantly clear as Māori are over-represented in all negative social statistics. We need a public service that delivers for Māori.
We Count
More than 30% of lesbian, gay and bisexual public service workers who responded to the State Service Commission’s We Count Survey last year reported being uncomfortable being open or out at work.
The PSA’s greatest victory?
On 29 March 1974 more than 600 uniformed school dental nurses proceeded silently down Wellington’s Lambton Quay. It was, as one observer noted, “almost certainly the largest demonstration of women since the days of the suffragettes”.
Pacific organisers speak of challenges and triumphs
The organisers from Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Australia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands were attending the International Trade Union Confederation-Asia Pacific workshop in Nadi in November.
Climate Talk
Tried talking to your Dad about the bushfires in Australia only to discover he’s a climate change denier?
Holiday Home Snaps
The snaps from holiday home stays around the country show just how much fun and relaxation our PSA accommodation has to offer .
The Marlene Pitman Award
This award was originally created in honour of Marlene Pitman, who passed away on 16th January 2010, to recognise her membership and service of 25 years. As an activist at Child Youth and Family, she was convenor of the Social Services sector committee and an executive board member for 2 years, a delegate for 23 years and a hardworking member of Te Komiti o Te Rūnanga o Ngā Toa Āwhina.
Radio NZ
A groundswell of public and political opposition to that plan soon led to a backdown from the RNZ Board and management.
Book Review: Pay Packets and Stone Walls
At the beginning of her memoir Elizabeth Orr pledges to tell the truth about the fight for pay equity for women, her reasoning being that it has lessons for the future.
New CTU Secretary Looks to the Future
“I had completed a conjoint arts and law degree so the position tapped into my passion for drama and the arts as well as my knowledge of employment law and policy,” the 31 year-old recalls.
Leading the Way
“As a child I thought everyone had a Mum and Dad who cared about them,” says the Ngāti Kahungunu wahine who grew up in a loving whānau environment.
On the Job
“I can help with mental and physical health problems. I want to provide a service where they don’t need to see lots of people.
Te Reo o te Tari
*Good morning.* Mōrena/Ata mārie. *Welcome to (workplace).* Nau mai ki . *Are you busy?* He nui ō mahi? *I am very busy!* He tino nui aku mahi! *No. I am not very busy. Kāo.* Kāore i nui aku mahi. Kei te aha koe? *What are you doing? *Kei te tuhituhi au. *I am writing. *Kei te mahi au.* I am working.*
