Teacher Aide negotiations
It is our week to push the government to recognise the valuable work we do in schools to support students - this an email written by my sister and I wanted to share it with you to perhaps encourage you to email Chris Hipkins and Jacinda Ardern on our behalf - Help us to have our voices heard.
"My sister is a teacher aide. She earns less that the living wage at $18.81 and is only paid during the school term. Every year she is unsure if she will have a job the next year, she is made redundant every Christmas and rehired in the new year if she is lucky. She could get better working conditions working at Kmart or a supermarket – instead she chooses to help other peoples children because in her ‘spare’ time, she has a special needs son herself. She chose this job because she wanted to make a difference – to help children and their families because she understands the hardship.
You support helping these children and allowing them an education with their peers and yet you wont even pay the living wage to the very very special people who put their hand up to work with them. It is nothing short of appalling. Teachers have so many children in their classrooms, they rely on their teacher aides to get their class through the day. For less than living wage she has to
• Clean up their mess, including bodily functions
• Learn how to deal with aggressive children
• Restrain them when they are self-harming without hurting them
• Teach them values
• Help the teachers educate them
• Encourage them to be their best
• Be happy and strong no matter what the personal situation
• Not be able to take time off work as these children go into melt-down mode without their supporters
• Be the person they trust with their world day in and day out
• Give herself to these children every day
• MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Most people could NOT do this work, even the teachers cannot teach and deal with these issues at the same time. The schools could not function without them and yet – not even living wage.
As was recently quoted so well – SHAME ON YOU"
Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬
Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?
(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
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Poll: 🤖 What skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑
Robots are stepping into repetitive roles in factories, plants and warehouses. AI is taking care of the admin tasks that once filled many mid-level office jobs.
We want to know: As the world evolves, what skills do you think give a CV the ultimate edge in a robot-filled workplace?
Want to read more? The Press has you covered!
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52.6% Human-centred experience and communication
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15.3% Critical thinking
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29.4% Resilience and adaptability
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2.6% Other - I will share below!
Have you got New Zealand's best shed? Show us and win!
Once again, Resene and NZ Gardener are on the hunt for New Zealand’s best shed! Send in the photos and the stories behind your man caves, she sheds, clever upcycled spaces, potty potting sheds and colourful chicken coops. The Resene Shed of the Year 2026 winner receives $1000 Resene ColorShop voucher, a $908 large Vegepod Starter Pack and a one-year subscription to NZ Gardener. To enter, tell us in writing (no more than 500 words) why your garden shed is New Zealand’s best, and send up to five high-quality photos by email to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz. Entries close February 23, 2026.
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