SUPPORTERS of te Rohe Pōtae Aronui Tomua and Maniapoto Branch hold a union banner. Photos Sigrid Christiansen
TRADE union supporters marched in Te Kūiti this past Thursday as part of a nationwide union action in support of educators across several sectors, and their tauria.
The event was organised by supporters of the te Rohe Pōtae Aronui Tomua and Maniapoto Branch, chaired by Hīrere Moana.
Marchers came from Centennial Park, Te Wharekura o Maniapoto, Pukenui, St Joseph’s and Piopio Primary schools – plus several others.
Kaumatua Les Koroheke is a resource teacher in te reo Maōri at Te Wharekura o Maniapoto, and also a former headmaster.
His experience of changes in the teaching profession over the years have left him determined to press the Government around working conditions.
He was one of around 50 union members and supporters who waved banners and sung local songs as passing trucks and cars tooted in solidarity.
“What’s important about this day is the fact that the Government isn’t even going to consider us at this present time, so we need to remind them that we are here,” Les said.
“Today’s teaching is very, very hard, and I sympathise with all these teachers.”
He said he was lucky to no longer be teaching full-time.
“I’m just advisory, but I can see what’s happening,” he said.
The biggest problem was the rise in student behaviour problems.
“Teachers have to be behaviour experts nowadays, and it takes up a lot of teaching time, dealing with [that] most of the time.”
Future teacher Autahi Rehua-Brock, already working in a school, is likely to be one of them – and he was another of the marchers.
He is a trainee teacher at Te Wharekura o Maniapoto, and has been associated with the kura for longer than that.
“I came to support the kaupapa, and support the teachers because they do a lot for the communities.”
“It [teaching in the current climate] is a struggle and it is a lot of hard work. And not many people outside the teaching community know what it feels like. It’s so much stress, especially on one person. We are quite understaffed.”
Autahi brought his 15-month-old son Kawatihi with him to the march.
“I thought, why not bring this one along?”
Kawatihi waved his own banner alongside the adults.
Becoming a parent had been a big part of inspiring Autahi to train as a teacher after leaving the army. He is committed to ensuring his son grows up with te reo, as he had himself.
So far, the Ministry of Education has not responded to the teachers’ message.
