HAU TAKI HAERE Tertiary Update No 8, 2026.

Our bargaining kicks off!

2026 is a massive year for Te Hautū Kahurangi | TEU members with bargaining now kicking off across polytechnics and universities.

Polytechnic members had their first day of bargaining on 1 May and we've also initiated bargaining for some universities today.

The fact that so many of us are going to be in bargaining at the same time means that we can use our collective strength to speak loudly about what we need to ensure our work is valued, and that our aspirations for quality public tertiary education are upheld.

Our bargaining strength is in our collective strength, which means getting together and talking and getting organised! TEU Tuesdays are a great place to start the conversation. Use time on a Tuesday to get together with colleagues to chat about claims and bargaining. That's where getting organised starts – over a cuppa and a shared conversation about work.

Polytechnic bargaining starting was reported on by Radio New Zealand, with member Steve McCabe speaking about why we are bargaining for a multi-employer collective agreement (or MECA) here.

Mahi Tika & Good Work

Throughout the bargaining process we will be running our Mahi Tika & Good Work campaign. We all want work that values what we do, is fair and just. These values sit at the core of Mahi Tika & Good Work. Watch out for our videos featuring members dropping on TEU Insta and Facebook from next week.

Merch!

We’re also in the process of getting a merch store up and running so that you can order and wear some cool designs for your TEU Tuesdays. Watch this space for when it launches.

Fees free go

Late Friday evening Winston Peters let media know that the fees free policy for the final year of tertiary study will be scrapped in the Budget this month. Te Pou Ahurei | National Secretary spoke to Newstalk ZB and bFM’s The Wire about it.

“Our education system is about so much more than economics – it’s about social good, innovation, creativity and how we interrelate as a society and a community. If we have quality accessible public education, then we can thrive as a society.” – Amy Ross, on bFM

TEU will continue to lobby politicians to develop comprehensive policy solutions for the whole tertiary sector, which includes staff, students, iwi and communities. Policies which hurt one of these groups impact all of us.  Making tertiary education more expensive and forcing more debt onto students lacks vision and aspiration for Aotearoa and is a cruel approach to our young people in a cost-of-living crisis. We believe New Zealanders want to invest in quality educational opportunities for their families ahead of tax breaks for tobacco companies.

6 May – Pay Equity events

Wednesday 6 May marked one year since National, New Zealand First and Act scrapped our world leading pay equity laws. Events were held at university worksites, signing giant letters inviting their Vice Chancellors to come and meet with members to discuss how, as employers, they can continue to honour pay equity in the workplace.

You can check out photos these events around the motu on our Facebook page here .

Conference this week

Wednesday to Friday is our annual Te Uepū and Conference. This year we made the decision to bring it online given the surging cost of travel and the cancellation of many regional flights.

Conference is always a special time for TEU members from branches across the motu to come together in union. While the format will be different, the mahi entrusted on branch delegates is no less important. Garrick and Ti as our new Co-Presidents will lead Conference for the first time – as they look forward to this year of action for the TEU and the movement as a whole.

Meeting with the Tertiary Education Minister

Co-presidents Garrick Cooper and Ti Lamusse alongside Te Pou Ahurei | National Secretary Amy Ross will be meeting with Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds on 21 May.

We will provide the Minister with a full briefing beforehand, outlining the state of the sector and the key concerns of members. We will discuss the continued impacts of underfunding and underinvestment in the sector. This underfunding has massive impacts on our members, students and our communities.

Insecure work, being underpaid, overworked and vulnerable to privatisation are all tangible impacts of this cavalier and corporate approach to resourcing our sector. We will make it clear that New Zealanders expect and deserve fully funded accessible, quality public education.