Category: Unions

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Mentoring crucial for success of overseas and new secondary teachers

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

“The Government has made it easier for overseas trained teachers to come to New Zealand to try to address the teaching shortage. It’s hard coming to an entirely new country with an entirely different curriculum and schooling system, so understandably these teachers require support. This support needs to come from experienced teachers, often the same teachers who are responsible for leading the implementation of the new curriculum and NCEA changes in their departments.”

A recent PPTA survey of establishing and overseas trained secondary teachers found that 90% of respondents agreed that mentoring had helped their development. Worryingly, almost 20% of respondents said they did not receive the right amount of mentoring during that time and almost 20% said they did not believe the mentoring they received was good quality.

“That’s why we are launching today a series of initiatives aimed at making the role of the mentor teacher better supported and recognised. These initiatives include the development of clear and detailed guidelines for mentors of teacher trainees, beginning teachers, overseas trained teachers and classroom specialist teachers.”

And in the upcoming collective agreement negotiations, PPTA Te Wehengarua will claim for: 

  • Continued funding for the delivery of a highly successful professional development course in effective mentoring
  • An increase in the allowance received by teachers mentoring student teachers from $3 an hour to the minimum wage of $23 an hour
  • An increase to the unit and allowance payments which are paid to teachers in roles that include mentoring responsibilities.

“Secondary teaching is an amazing and hugely satisfying career. But it’s hard, and particularly teachers in their first five years of teaching need a firm foundation of support to keep them grounded.”

Chris Abercrombie said both academic and anecdotal research showed that effective mentoring and support could ‘make or break’ an establishing teacher. “The quality of mentoring that teachers receive, particularly in their first few years in the profession, can have a significant influence on whether they stay in or leave teaching after their first few years.

“Retaining the experienced teachers that we need in the workforce to pick up these mentoring responsibilities is incredibly important. The largest number of teachers leave after five to 10 years in the profession, exactly the time when we need them to start mentoring new teachers.

Chris Abercrombie said it was appropriate that the mentoring initiatives were being launched at the PPTA Te Wehengarua Network of Establishing Teachers conference, being held in Tāmaki Makaurua today and tomorrow. The network of establishing teachers is made up of secondary teachers with up to 10 years’ experience.

“It is these teachers who we really need to keep in our schools. Everything that can be done, needs to be done, to support their professional growth.”

Last modified on Wednesday, 23 April 2025 14:53

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Inflation data confirms real terms minimum wage cut

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is concerned for low-income workers given new data released by Stats NZ that shows inflation was 2.5% for the year to March 2025, rising from 2.2% in December last year.

“The prices of things that people can’t avoid are rising – meaning inflation is rising faster for those on low incomes,” said NZCTU Economist Craig Renney.

“Inflation was driven by increases in rents (up 3.7%), rates (up 12%), household energy (up 7.2%) and insurances (up 8%). Grocery prices were also higher, rising 4.3%.

“Earlier this year, the minimum wage rose by 1.5% – a full 1% less than actual inflation. This is the second year the Government has increased the minimum wage by less than inflation, which means that a full-time minimum wage worker is now cumulatively $2,438 worse off in real terms. Minimum wage workers are missing out on $28.36 a week because of the Government’s decisions.

“The Government is considering removing the Living Wage guarantee for government contractors who are caterers, cleaners, and security guards. This data shows why that protection is so important – working people can’t rely on this Government to protect them through the Minimum Wage.

“With 46% of workers receiving a pay rise less than inflation last year, it also shows that many working people are still doing it tough. Unemployment is still rising, with tens of thousands of more people on Jobseekers Support. It is clearly not workers who are benefitting from the very little economic growth is being delivered.

“This data is another piece of evidence about who is winning and losing in the economy. The poorest working people are facing higher costs they can’t avoid – but with less money to pay.

“Workers need a change in direction and a government that will actively address low pay, unemployment, and poverty – it’s time for a different approach,” said Renney.

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E tū welcomes defeat of Treaty Principles Bill – E tū

Source: Etu Union

E tū, New Zealand’s largest private sector union, welcomes the overwhelming defeat of the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill in Parliament yesterday. The bill, which sought to redefine the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, was rejected by 112 votes to 11.​

E tū President Muriel Tunoho expressed immense pride in the union’s active opposition to the bill:​

“I am extremely proud that E tū took a stand and made submissions to oppose the Treaty of Waitangi Principles Bill too. Thank you all for playing your part in this incredible fightback.​

“It was right to finally see the bill consigned to the past and into the bin. The results show that this is not us.​

“We don’t need to rewrite or re-define the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We just have to live them!”​

E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh highlighted the bill’s potential to undermine the foundational agreement between Māori and the Crown:​

“This bill sought to fundamentally alter the meaning of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by selectively and incorrectly interpreting the reo Māori text. It tried to undermine the separation of powers under the rule of law by using the power of Parliament to change Aotearoa New Zealand’s constitutional foundation, all based on a legal and historical fiction.​

“This bill has done damage. It has given airtime to false and racist ideas.​

“It also galvanised hundreds of thousands of people to stand up – toitū Te Tiriti. More than 90% of the submissions on the bill called for it to be abandoned. E tū and thousands of our members were among the voices in those submissions. The submissions stood up for the truth of Te Tiriti as the foundation on which we can build a society where tāngata whenua and tau iwi take care of each other.​

“Now that Parliament has voted it down, we can start to repair the damage and to build an Aotearoa where we honour Te Tiriti and respect each other.”​

E tū remains committed to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and advocating for a just and inclusive society.

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PPTA Te Wehengarua Farewells Melanie Webber

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

E te mareikura, e Melanie, ngā huruhuru o te whare o Te Wehengarua 

Nā te ngākau aroha koe i ārahi kia tāea ai e tātou o Te Wehengarua kia eke panuku. Nā tōu rangatiratanga i ea ai te whakatauki “Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora a mua” 

Hoki atu koe ki ōu tūpuna, ki ōu maunga, ōu awa, ōu whenua tupuna moe mai ai, okioki mai ai, moe mai rā. Nāia ko ngā roimata e heke ana, nāia ko ngā tangi e rere ana, engari, kei konei tonu koe, kei ngā kūrae tonu o mahara. 

Moe mai rā e te mareikura 

 

Melanie, our Senior Vice President, the wings of our PPTA whare. Your loving heart guided us all to rise to any occasion. Your leadership gave sight to us who followed and those who followed provided you with insight and inspiration. 

Return to your ancestors, to your ancestral mountains, to your ancestral rivers, to your ancestral lands. For these are our many tears, hear our many cries, but know, you are still with us in the corners of our hearts and minds. 

Rest in peace 

 

Kia ora, 

It is with deep sadness that I write to let you know that Melanie Webber, PPTA Te Wehengarua  Senior Vice President, has died. 

Melanie was PPTA Te Wehengarua President in 2021-22, the culmination of many years of branch, regional and national activism and commitment.   

In her presidency, Melanie led members through an incredibly difficult period, as COVID-19 set in, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland was placed in what seemed like an endless lockdown, and COVID vaccinations were mandated for teachers. 

True to form, Melanie led members through this extremely challenging period with conviction, courage and honesty – and a good dose of her brilliant humour.

These characteristics, along with an amazing grasp of detail and the big strategic picture, endeared her to the many political, educational and union leaders with whom she built very constructive working relationships. 

Melanie’s ability to explain complex issues in ways that people could understand easily meant that she was often the first port of call for the media. Whether she was having a robust exchange with Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB, explaining an issue to a Morning Report presenter, or getting just the right sound bite across on the TV news, Melanie always did secondary teachers proud.

Her late entry to secondary teaching – from a very successful career as a television producer for many years – imbued Melanie with a particularly fiery zeal and passion. She absolutely loved secondary teaching and its ability to make a real difference in the lives of rangatahi. She was committed to doing everything she could to improve conditions for teachers and students.

Melanie was incredibly proud of her school Western Springs Ngā Puna o Waiōrea. She absolutely loved its commitment to Te Tiriti and the co-governance role. Melanie was deeply inspired by her colleages dedication to upholding these values and often spoke with admiration of the way they embodied partnership and respect.

Melanie played an especially important role in the early stages of the curriculum refresh and the NCEA review, working tirelessly in a range of forums to ensure that teachers’ voices and concerns were heard and acted on. 

Melanie’s amazing mahi, political astuteness and razor-sharp intelligence, paved a very smooth path for me as her successor. I will be forever grateful.

She was a true epitome of that saying, ‘It’s not so much what life deals, but how you handle it’. The world is a poorer place without Mel and we will miss her so very much.

Memorials for Melanie are being finalised, and we will let you know the details as soon as we can. 

Arohanui

Chris Abercrombie 
President, PPTA Te Wehengarua 

Last modified on Thursday, 10 April 2025 09:14

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NZCTU announce transformative policy vision for Aotearoa

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has launched a new policy platform, Aotearoa Reimagined, which has been developed by engaging workers, community leaders and policy experts over the past year.

“Today we are announcing a transformative policy vision that reimagines our society and economy to ensure that Aotearoa New Zealand works for the many, not just the few. We challenge political parties to make a strong commitment to working people by adopting these policies in the lead up to the next general election,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Our country is heading in the wrong direction. We have a broken economy, rising inequality and poverty, soaring unemployment, and stagnating wages. The rich keep getting richer at the expense of ordinary people. We need to do things differently. It’s time for bold change.

“We’ve spent the last year listening to workers who have told us that they are angry at a system that doesn’t meet their needs or aspirations. They fear their children are facing a future of increasing hardship.

“Everyone deserves security, dignity, and to have enough to thrive. Changing the country’s trajectory is possible—we just need to make different choices. We have listened to working people and created a plan to build a society that works for everyone. 

“Our plan would ensure everyone can have good, well-paid jobs underpinned by strong workers’ rights.

“It will deliver world-leading public health and education, a cradle-to-grave care and support system, modern infrastructure, warm dry, affordable homes, clean and publicly owned energy, and low-cost transport.

“The plan would ensure that Aotearoa meets its climate obligations and guarantees a just transition for the workers and communities who will bear the brunt of the climate crisis and technological change.

“We are also calling on politicians to reject the politics of division and honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi by implementing it in law and in our constitutional frameworks.

“We can fund the transformative change we desperately need by rebalancing the tax system, taxing capital gains and ensuring that the wealthy pay their fair share.

“The union movement is challenging political parties to make this vision a reality and create an Aotearoa that works for the many, not just the few. It’s time for a new approach,” said Wagstaff.

Read the full policy platform here.

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Brooke van Velden ramps up her war on working people

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi is dismayed that Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden has launched another attack on workers’ rights by removing employment protections for workers when they start in a new role.

These protections include being provided information about the role and function of unions and that, for the first 30 days, new employees must be employed on the same (or better) terms with any onsite collective agreement while they decide whether to join a union.

“In yet another announcement from Brooke van Velden, workers’ rights are being eroded and unions undermined,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

“Currently workers in a new role have protection for 30 days, to weigh their options and settle in without being disadvantaged. The Minister clearly wants to disrupt this period and encourage employers to create division among workers – between those who have a union agreement and those who don’t.

“Make no mistake, this is a deliberate attempt to undermine the role of unions in workplaces and prevent working people from securing good pay and conditions when they take on a job in a new workplace.

“When workers start a new job, they are in a vulnerable position and can’t be expected to assert their rights in terms of trade union coverage.

“The Minister has no experience of unions or collective bargaining, and she refuses to engage with unions to understand the issues. In less than two years in the role, she already has the worst record in the portfolio in decades.

“Workers are sick and tired of this Government and their continued disdain for ordinary people who work hard every day to keep this country running.

“Across the country workers are organising to stand together and fight back against this Government, which is actively hostile to their interests,” said Wagstaff. 

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Time for branch resolutions against charter schools

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

Applications are now open for state schools to convert to charter schools, so it is imperative for PPTA Te Wehengarua branches to meet and pass a resolution against being converted to a charter school.

Ngā mihi nui to the approximately 70 branches that have passed your resolution – great work!

The resolution against charter school conversion affirms your branch’s desire to remain a public school. It is important for teachers and school communities to take the lead in the conversation, and to make your opposition to conversion visible.

The resolution is an affirmation which can be celebrated and shared with your principal and board.

PPTA Te Wehengarua website www.ppta.org.nz has a range of resources to support branch chairs and members in
holding a branch meeting to sign the resolution, and to take steps to present this to your school board and principal. The array of resources includes a toolkit for branch chairs, templates for the branch resolution and a letter to your school board, and much more.

If you are a new branch chair and need help organising a branch resolution meeting, please contact your local field officer.

Seven new charter schools have opened this year: Mastery school in Ōtautahi Christchurch; Christchurch North College; Te Rito Te Kura Taiao in Northland; and North West Creative Arts College; the BUSY School; TIPENE; and École Francaise all in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

It is extremely disappointing to see hundreds of millions of dollars being poured into a tiny number of charter schools when there are so many state schools around the country in need. For example, the BUSY school is offering what all New Zealand students who require additional learning support deserve. At the moment, many students are not having their needs met, as the alternative education system has been left to languish under successive governments.

It is heart breaking to see extremely niche schools, such as the Remuerabased French language school, being funded with public money when our local state schools desperately need more teachers, building upgrades and pastoral and learning support.

Last modified on Monday, 7 April 2025 13:35

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Draft English curriculum lacks connection with reality

Source: Post Primary Teachers Association (PPTA)

“Its focus on cursive writing at Year 8, for example, shows a complete lack of understanding of the challenges of secondary teaching and the extent to which teachers have to work to engage and motivate students and manage an ever-increasing range of abilities and behaviours.

“Similarly, making Shakespeare and authors from the 1800s compulsory. Does this actually reflect what the teaching profession considers would be best for the students that they teach?”

Moving away from a curriculum that is underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi is a seriously backward move, says Chris Abercrombie.

It was also extremely concerning that the English teachers’ subject association had stepped away from the development of the draft curriculum.

“If the draft curriculum has been written outside of the frameworks developed by the profession, and the curriculum writers are not listening to the subject association that represents the profession, then we have to question what connection it has to the reality of the classroom.

“If there is no link between the curriculum and reality, then it will not be delivered or received well, resulting in more students being disengaged and more teachers leaving the profession.

 “Good curriculum needs the input of the subject specialist teachers who are on the ground delivering it.”

Chris Abercrombie urged all English teachers and school leaders and the community to provide feedback on this. “We will be watching to see whether the Ministry of Education responds to that feedback.”

Last modified on Tuesday, 1 April 2025 14:22

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Health and Safety changes driven by ACT party ideology

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Health and Safety changes driven by ACT party ideology, not evidence said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff.

Changes to health and safety legislation proposed by the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Brooke van Velden today comply with ACT party ideology, ignores the evidence, and will compound New Zealand’s dismal health and safety performance.

“It’s disappointing to see the Minister has ignored the widespread consensus on what New Zealand needs to do to improve its poor track record and instead has chosen to carve out small businesses from good health and safety practices,” Wagstaff said.

“Exempting small businesses from best practice health and safety makes no sense when we know that small business are riskier and need more support.

“The Government seems to think the biggest obstacle to our poor productivity and health and safety outcomes is too many road cones. It’s no wonder New Zealand can’t get ahead when our leaders in Government seem so out of touch, and have no credible responses to these challenges.

“Given the massive challenge we have as a country to improve our health and safety performance, it’s astounding the Minister would target the use of road cones and expect WorkSafe to focus its scarce time and energy on creating a hotline.

“The Minister has been quick to cut support for important issues like modern slavery, and sat on her hands on other important health and safety concerns, like banning engineered stone. It would seem that this Government is more concerned about road cones than either of these issues.

“What’s worse is that these changes are being justified on the basis of cutting red tape for economic growth. Good business know that proper health and safety is not a compliance cost.

“On average there is a workplace fatality every week, another 20 are killed from occupational disease, and thousands more are incapacitated by injuries. Nothing in these proposals signals an intent to improve these numbers,” said Wagstaff. 

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Rail-enabled ferries a victory for common sense

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union has welcomed today’s announcement from Minister of Rail Winston Peters the two new Cook Strait ferries will be publicly owned and rail enabled, meaning that they can carry rail wagons.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay says the union had strongly argued for this outcome to the Minister, and the decision was a victory for common sense.

He says rail-enabled ferries ensure the long-term viability of both the national rail network and the Cook Strait ferry connection.

Mr Findlay says the developments around reduced expenditure on the new terminals and port infrastructure will be closely watched by the Union

He says today’s announcement was probably the best that could be expected in the circumstances given the cancellation of iRex by Finance Minister Nicola Willis.

Mr Findlay congratulated the membership of the Maritime Union including the crews of the Interislander ferries for their strong support for the Union campaign Our Ferries, Our Future.