History making Pasifika representative.

Maria Meredith, Programme Manager at the University of Auckland,has made history as the inaugural Pasifika representative on the TEU council.

Of Tongan, Fijian, Sāmoan, and ‘Uvean descent, Maria has long been an active TEU member both locally and nationally. She is currently in the final stages of completing her PhD in Education, exploring Pacific parental engagement in their young children’s learning, digital engagement and improving home-school partnerships.

The creation of a Pasifika representative on the TEU National Council had unanimous support at the 2019 annual conference.

TEU has also taken a step forward in ensuring that the values and issues of young workers have a strong voice in national decision-making with the election of U35 representatives to council and the industrial and professional committee. This adds to the current representatives on the National Women’s Committee and Te Toi Ahurangi.

TEU members Joshua James and Rebecca Mhyre from the University of Otago, and Kakala Vainikolo from Unitec will be taking up the new national posts.