Latest news with #AotearoaNewZealand
Scoop
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
NZ Youth Choir Wins Grand Prix Of Nations At European Choir Games
It's just been announced that the NZ Youth Choir has won the Grand Prix of Nations at European Choir Games in Aarhus, Denmark. Choirs Aotearoa New Zealand CE, Arne Hermann, who is travelling with the choir, said, 'Their magic mix of waiata and songs from the Pacific convinced the judges and earned an incredible 97.50 out of 100 possible points in this highest performance category at the Games in the Folklore section'. New Zealand Youth Choir scored 96.25 in the other category it competed in, the Musica Sacra a cappella earning it the second place and a 'Gold Medal - Top Level' award. We are incredibly proud of the singers and the artistic team: Music Director David Squire - musician, Deputy Music Director Michael Stewart and Vocal Consultant Morag Atchison.
NZ Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
Resene living wage battle: Hundreds attend meeting supporting workers' quest for better pay
Living Wage Aotearoa New Zealand earlier launched a campaign calling on the company to pay the living wage - currently $27.80. Most involved in the campaign are earning just above minimum wage, which is $23.50 an hour. The living wage is a regularly revised hourly rate that is considered the minimum to provide workers and their families with the basic necessities of life, factoring in expenses, rest, activities and rainy day savings. It is a voluntary amount that employers can choose to set as a base rate for their staff. Despite Living Wage writing to Resene managing director Nick Nightingale multiple times requesting a meeting and inviting him to attend the community meeting, he has not responded and did not attend last night's gathering. Resene has also not responded to multiple requests for comment from the Herald. Resene's head office and main manufacturing sites are in the Hutt Valley. Lower Hutt mayor Campbell Barry was among those calling on Nightingale and Resene to pay workers more. 'The Lower Hutt Council is a Living Wage accredited employer, and we have seen the benefits not only for workers, but for the council in general in paying the Living Wage,' Barry said at the meeting. He said he had contacted Nightingale and received a reply speaking about Resene paying its workers on merit and claiming other paint companies were not paying a living wage. 'I find Nick Nightingale's response disappointing from a company that is not reflecting the community values,' Barry said. E tū delegates and factory workers Margaret Jackson and Lui Betham spoke at last night's meeting. Jackson said she had worked at Resene for 11 years and was currently doing the work of a supervisor. 'Even with the responsibilities, the company who clearly thinks I have the merit to manage staff . . . still does not pay me a living wage,' she said. 'We work extremely hard every day, working long hours during the week just to make ends meet. It becomes a need, not an option, just to be able to afford the basic needs and try and live with dignity.' She spoke of a recent car breakdown, which cost her $900 to fix. She had to skip bills and put others on Afterpay, as well as clear out the savings she had started to set aside to attend a loved one's unveiling in Niue. 'Here I am, back to square one, which means more time at work and less time with family,' she said. 'The living wage is more than just a number, it is a step forward to healthier communities, fairer systems, and a society where us Resene workers no longer have to trade our wellbeing for survival. 'Everyone deserves to thrive, not just survive, especially myself and Resene colleagues.' Betham, who has worked at Resene for 13 years, said he makes $1700 a fortnight, after tax. 'My rent is $1200 a fortnight, then I have my other bills: power, internet, phone, child support and anything my children need,' he said. 'By the time I have paid all of my bills, I don't have much left and I still have to buy groceries. And we all know how the price of food is really high.' In response to some negative feedback after media coverage of the campaign, Betham said he wanted to make it clear he and his colleagues were 'grateful for having a job'. 'We know we are not the only place that hasn't got the living wage, hence the reason for asking Resene for the living wage. In a perfect world, everyone would get the living wage.' The meeting ended with a unanimous community vote in support of the Resene workers and encouraging Resene management to enter into wage negotiations with its workers in good faith. Advertise with NZME. An email that has been sent to multiple members of the community from Nightingale, said the company did not intend to join the living wage scheme. 'The living wage concept was developed by a group based in Lower Hutt in 2012 and is a blunt approach that focuses on a union-style position that workers should be paid the same pretty much irrespective of their contribution and performance,' the message reads. 'A poorer-performing worker would likely receive the same increase as an excellent performer and so on. This is not an approach I agree with. 'I believe strongly in providing pay based on merit and offering training and development opportunities to our team to help them to continue to grow in their current role or move into higher level roles with us. 'Many of the reported statements, including those made about others in our industry, are false and disappointingly misleading. 'A quick check of the living wage register shows there are no other companies in our retail or manufacturing category engaged with the programme.'
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Government Turns Clock Back On Pay Equity For Teachers
Press Release – PPTA Te Wehengarua 'The integrity of the pay equity process is now being undermined by political interference. Every step in this process has met legal and procedural standards, and was conducted in good faith under an agreement with previous governments.' PPTA Te Wehengarua is deeply disappointed by the Government's decision, announced today, to push through changes to the pay equity process that undermine the integrity of teachers' long-standing and evidence-based pay equity claim. 'This claim has followed a robust and agreed process between all parties,' said PPTA Te Wehengarua President Chris Abercrombie. 'We've conducted more than 300 interviews with teachers and comparator roles across the sector, using a consistent, agreed-upon tool to gather data. That evidence has been through consultation with both teachers and principals. To have the Government now walk away from that work is nothing short of disgraceful.' The Government's announcement comes with no attempt to engage in a fair public process. 'The Minister's decision to bypass the select committee stage shows a lack of confidence in the public's response. This Government knows New Zealanders value fairness—and it's clearly afraid to face the backlash,' said Abercrombie. Chris Abercrombie said the move sends a disturbing signal in the lead-up to teacher collective negotiations. 'This Government has made a choice—a deliberate choice not to value work that is predominantly done by women. It's a message to teachers, many of whom engaged in the claim process in good faith, that their contribution doesn't count. It feels like we've been sent back to the 1950s. 'The integrity of the pay equity process is now being undermined by political interference. Every step in this process has met legal and procedural standards, and was conducted in good faith under an agreement with previous governments.' 'This isn't just about teachers. This is about whether Aotearoa New Zealand is committed to addressing the historical undervaluation of women's work. This decision breaks faith with that commitment.' Chris Abercrombie said the implications would be felt beyond the pay equity process. 'At a time of ongoing teacher shortages, this sends the worst possible message about how we treat and retain our workforce. It's also a blow to the trust teachers have in a process that was supposed to deliver justice and fairness. Our members are rightly angry. 'When delivering last year's budget and its completely unaffordable tax cuts, the Finance Minister said that her coalition government represented 'the parties of the worker.' 'No Government that was for the worker would treat this pay equity process – a process which goes to the heart of treating workers fairly – with such contempt. It's mean-spirited, unfair and just plain wrong.'
