Members and supporters in Te Kūiti on Wednesday. Back row from left, Hīrere Moana, Ngapoura Rotana-Green, Hera Vesseur, Hurihia Rotana-Green, Hineaupounamu Rotana-Waretini. Front, from left, Hineaupounamu Rotana-Green, Te Miringa Rotana-Green, and Tainui Te Moanapapaku-Stephens
TEACHERS and supporters will rally in Te Kūiti today, as part of a nationwide union action.
Supporters of Te Rohe Potae Aronui Tomua and Maniapoto branch will bring “placards, banners and singing voices” and meet at the old New World building at 8.45am.
They will next whīkoi to the carving of tupuna Tuwhakahekeao, before heading to the Waitomo Club for kai and kōrero with speakers.
The march will show solidarity and express the workers’ rejection of the Ministry of Education’s current collective agreement offer.
Hīrere Moana, chairperson of the Aronui Tomua o Te Rohe Pōtae, said many different educators’ needs inspired the march.
“Our membership includes primary and area school teachers and principals, kohanga reo kaiako, early childhood education, kaiawhina kaitautoko, support staff and learning support teachers.
“Although the intent of the strike is about the rejection of the Ministry of Education offer, it’s about collegiality: coming together and supporting one another, regardless of the sector that we work in, whether it’s kindergarten, area schools – our area school is the wharekura [which] has secondary and primary combined. And our secondary and primary teachers and principals.
“The beauty of our education union is that we don’t do things singularly. We do things collectively for the betterment of all.”
“Striving for the best learning conditions” was their common cause, she said.
“What we want is improved support for our tamariki. More staff to support in learning; better recognition for the work primary teachers and principals do. And value and respect for our kindergarten teachers.
“Working conditions can only be improved, to make our children’s learning conditions even better than what they are now.
“It’s not just about pay. It’s about enabling more teacher aide support in the classrooms. [At the moment] it’s really quite difficult to get extra learning support within classrooms with children needing extra support.”
Class sizes were also an important issue.
“It’s very challenging for kaiako if the classes are so big. That’s not good for the learning of the tamariki.”
Hīrere said the action was underpinned by a whakatauki or proverb.
“The tongi of our first Māori King Potatau Te Wherowhero was the metaphoric proverb we use as we stand united in our decisions.”
It is, “kotahi te kōhao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro ma, te miro pango me te miro whero” which translates as “there is but one eye of the needle, through which white, black and red cotton must pass,” she said.
In other words, leading up to this strike action there has been much involved to bring together all the different threads to weave together the best fabric to support our tamariki, which was the key meaning of the proverb.
Music would be heard alongside the march.
“No doubt we will be singing songs from our area, our iwi anthems. Well known songs that all people will know, as we rally together.”
The decision to strike was not taken lightly. It was the result of a nationwide ballot canvassing the views of union members, Hīrere said.
Members would likely travel some distance to attend, given that the branch has members from as far afield as Turangi and Taumarunui, as well as across Waitomo and parts of Waipā.
“We also invite whānau and community to join us,” she said.
