First TEU Council hui of 2026.
March 17, 2026
Hau Taki Haere | Tertiary Update Vol 30, No 4
The TEU Council is the governing body of the TEU. Council is made up of elected representatives of members. All the members of Council are listed here.
Garrick and I had the pleasure of presiding over the first TEU Council hui of 2026. It was two days of robust discussion, strategic thinking, and genuine whakawhanaungatanga.
The hui reaffirmed for me that when working people organise with discipline, transparency, and deep respect for one another, we win.
As part of our routine business, Council received reports from Branch Leadership. The kōrero that followed highlighted the extraordinary mahi members are doing every day. Members were able to push back against job losses and campus closures, as well as get big wins across the bargaining table, because they got organised and took action.
The Council also discussed some of the big issues affecting our sector. An issue particularly close to my heart is the massive overuse of insecure, fixed-term or casual contracts by many of our employers. We talked about what we can do as a union to make it easier for precariously employed members to join us and to become active participants in the fight for secure, decent work.
As we prepare for our Annual Conference in May, Council also talked through some proposed changes to our Constitution. Some of this kaupapa was technical, while other parts focused on strengthening the role of Māori members in our structures and improving our democratic decision-making processes.
Council is united in recognising the massive challenges facing our sector. From underfunding to job cuts, to insecurity and workload pressures, we know that things need to change to meet the aspirations of our members. That includes doing everything we can to elect a government this November that prioritises tertiary education and the rights of working people.
I have full confidence that you have elected a Council ready to guide our union through the next two years with clarity, courage, and a commitment to building worker power.
Tū kotahi, tū kaha.
Ti Lamusse, Te Tumu Whakarae—Tiriti | Co-President—Tāngata Tiriti
Also in this update:
Attack on primary teachers’ union is an attack on all unions
2026 International Working Women’s Week
Winning Secure Contracts for Tutors at the University of Melbourne Online hui – 12–1pm, 26 March