2025 Action Camp success.

Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union’s second three-day Action Camp was held successfully at Glenroy Lodge, Te Waipounamu, last week.

Guest speakers included Te Kauae Kaimahi | New Zealand Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Rennie, who spoke about the choices all governments make and the anti-worker choices of the current government; and TEU kaumātua Matua Hōne Sadler and Taua Roimata Kirikiri who provided participants with the context and history of Te Tiriti and what we need to do to make co-governance a reality.

The PSA’s Nanette Cormack and Katie Roswell along with E Tū’s Amy Hansen also spoke about the pay equity claim for care and support workers; and the Living Wage Movement’s Lyndy McIntyre, Young Workers Resource Centre’s Matariki Roche and OraTaiao’s Dr Alex Macmillan starred in a panel discussion on building alliances.

Ti Lamusse, a participant from Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington says “the action camp was a fantastic opportunity to get together with union comrades from across Aotearoa. It was really useful to hear about our shared struggles at work and our shared vision for a tertiary education system that treats workers with respect and gets great outcomes for students and broader society.”

“I’m looking forward to developing my plan for addressing precarious work at Te Herenga Waka, coming out of this camp.”

Brandon Johnstone, from Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago reflects “in today's political climate, it's all too easy to feel downtrodden and pessimistic. The no-retreat retreat was an excellent antidote – building connections between workers across the motu and getting equipped with strategy and tactics from those who have watched the strength of our movement ebb and flow – and who know what it means to build for power.”

“We came together as academics, polytechnic tradies, and professional tertiary staff, and left carrying a clear message: tertiary education is a public good, and we can protect it together.”

The convenor of the camp, Megan Morris, agrees. “At the end of the three days the participants left feeling energised and they all agreed to help the union become more active and dynamic at their branches.”

“It’s a dangerous world, and at times like these union members need to take up the charge and inspire others to fight for better.”