Māori Staff Representative on Industrial and Professional Committee.

Nominations have now closed and Sheeanda McKeagg and Ngaura Rawiri have been elected unopposed.

Sheeanda McKeagg

E aku nui e aku rahi nei rā te mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa.

Ko Ngati Pōrou, Ngai Tūhoe, Te Aitanga a Māhaki, Ngā Ariki Kaiputahi ōku iwi.

Tēnā koutou katoa

I have been an advocate for those that require a voice since I was a teenager. We, my college cohorts, and I, made sure the newbies to the college were not bullied or harassed. We also challenged the teachers when they asked us to do tasks that were not safe- crossing a river during a flood. I raised awareness again with my dad who was getting paid 4 times less than his 17-year-old daughter, me. He used his feet to walk into another job with better pay and conditions.

I was introduced to unions with my very first job in Wellington. This was in the 70’s. I have been in unions since. If there would have been a union for motherhood, I probably would have been in that one too! So, from working in a factory, to student unions, teacher unions, AUS, and then TEU, I have been privileged to be a part of each one.

I joined Massey in 2004 and was a member of AUS, which then merged to become TEU. I became involved in the Massey TEU Branch Committee in 2009 and elected as Branch President in 2016.

I have had the privilege to advocate for our members, to support members in meetings and during restructuring.

I have been privy to some of the best and worst within tertiary institutions and the role that unions must play in keeping our members safe and sane. It is even more telling as communication across units and areas get misinterpreted, watered down, or used against others to push an agenda, that we as union advocates must unpack, unwrap, and demystify for our members. Some advocacies can be hard and there are times when no matter what you do there will be no change from the institution. These I find the hardest as I see the people behind the roles being disestablished. I have stepped up to the many challenges that has been given to us as union members including being part of the Massey Bargaining Team in 2021.

I currently sit on the National Industrial and Professional Committee and would like to continue to be an advocate and voice for you, our members.

Kia haumaru te noho