Rā Whakamana: “A very strong place to start from”.
Oct. 29, 2025
Hau Taki Haere | Tertiary Update Vol 29, No 20
Te Hautū Kahurangi | Tertiary Education Union, along with iwi, other unions, activists and community leaders, came together, braved gale force winds and torrential rain, stood up and fought back at Rā Whakamana activations across Aotearoa yesterday.
Rā Whakamana is a tikanga-led stand for cultural wellbeing, dignity, workers’ rights, mana wāhine, rangatahi, and tino rangatiratanga – guided by iwi leadership in partnership with the union movement.
The date, 28 October carries deep meaning: it marks the signing of He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni | Declaration of Independence of the United Tribes of New Zealand (1835) and the first Labour Day demonstrations in 1890 that helped secure the eight-hour working day.
Kaiwhakahaere | Organiser Ben Schmidt was at the Whanganui activation with other TEU staff and members, and says it was “a great success. It was fantastic to see unions and mana whenua coming together to demand better for workers and Māori.”
“We saw a lot of community support, including from local politicians and leaders. This is a very strong place to start from, build on, and move forward from, together.”
“The union movement’s strength is always collective – we are stronger together and that means it’s just as important to join with other like-minded organisations and groups as it is to join with others in our workplaces. We can’t make this a one-term government on our own. We need to fight together with others facing similar attacks and stand with them in solidarity.”
Also in this update:
MECA campaign begins for polytechnics
Other stories
53 years of the Equal Pay Act – CTU
Dr Sandra Grey, Q+A interview with Jack Tame – Facebook
Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University appoints new Vice-Chancellor – Massey
UC students hit with 6% tuition increase as costs soar – The Press