Action Camp success.

July 31, 2024

Hau Taki Haere | Tertiary Update Vol 28, No 13

TEU held its first ever Action Camp – “the no retreat retreat” – at Kotare Trust, Wellsford on 17-19 July. This union education initiative bought active members together from across the Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Manawatu and Wellington regions.

The jam-packed programme stepped away from our ‘usual’ delegate training and included sessions with a number of external speakers who presented and discussed economics and their impact on workers and NZ, neo-liberalism in our sector, building community alliances, and how art, song and craftivism has a place in the activist/protest movements.

Many found the session on Te Tiriti o Waitangi particularly insightful, along with the unpacking of planned regressive legislation being put forward by the ACT Party.

Participants particularly valued the opportunity to spend time with others during meals and at the end of each day, chatting about each other’s backgrounds, life and what they were learning each day, in addition to the fact that some who attended weren’t necessarily involved in their local branches or had previously attended delegate training.

Comments from members in attendance included:

“I feel like the connections I made with some activists will be really lasting.”

“This should be repeated, and all speakers/guests were awesome.”

“I feel energised, motivated and keen to get more involved. My cup is overflowing. I am going to take this energy & knowledge back to my branch and hopefully this will not be my last time seeing everyone.”

It is clear there is much appetite for further events of this nature, and due to the level of interest from members in Te Waipounamu we are in the process of finding a venue and securing dates for a second cohort in February 2025, probably in Canterbury.

Keep an eye out for more information before the end of the year!

Action Camp success.

Hau Taki Haere | Tertiary Update Vol 28, No 13

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