President's Message

Tēnā koutou e te whānau

It’s hard to know where to begin when I look back on everything that has happened since my last President’s Message.

The Covid-19 lockdown turned the personal and professional lives of so many of us upside down.

Our survey of members shows that 95% of you continued working, during that time either in essential services or working from home.

REDEPLOYMENT

Like a number of workers, I was redeployed from my role as a health promoter at Regional Public Health Canterbury. Along with many of my colleagues, we were tasked with the daily monitoring of people who were confirmed Covid cases or contacts.

That involved calling people everyday, checking on their symptoms and welfare. During that time we developed real relationships with people who were often waiting for our call.

STORIES OF SERVICE

Many of you were also called on to step up and adapt to an extremely challenging situation to help out your fellow New Zealanders.

In this journal we bring you just a few of the stories of our members’ experiences over that extraordinary time.

I would like to thank all of our members and staff for your efforts, those of you who kept working and those who stayed home and stayed safe. You have all helped to get us to Level 1!

TIME TO REFLECT

The lockdown has also given many of us a time to reflect on what’s important.

I am blown away by how whānau have enjoyed spending more time together, without always having to be rushing from place to place.

It’s opened up the opportunity to have conversations about new more flexible ways of working, which we need to keep having.

ELECTION 2020 CAMPAIGN

The lockdown has also shown how reliant we are on each other for wellbeing in our workplaces and communities.

That’s why I’m pleased to see our PSA Let’s Do Even BETTER election campaign calls for the Aotearoa Wellbeing Commitment, a collection of public services that will enable all New Zealanders to thrive. 

That’s also why we’re starting a discussion with members about the New Normal, how we can rebuild and recover in a way that works for everyone. 

PSA PRESIDENT CANDIDATES

Finally I would like to wish all the best to the candidates who are running to be the new PSA President at Congress in November. 

It's great to see people are keen to contribute to the great mahi of our union.

Kia haumaru, kia atawhai

Janet Quigley, PSA President