Primary school leader Ripeka Lessels has been re-elected President of NZEI Te Riu Roa, the country’s largest education union, and will serve in the role until 2028.
Arakura School Principal Tute Mila joins her as Vice President, making history as the first Pasifika Vice President of the union.
Elections for the NZEI Te Riu Roa National Executive took place during the union’s Annual General Meeting in Rotorua, being held from 28-30 September.
“This is a huge honour for me, and I am deeply humbled by the trust placed in me by our members at such a critical time for education in Aotearoa. Right now, educators are facing a lot of pressures – from increased workloads due to rushed curriculum changes to fighting for the fair pay and respect our profession deserves, My priority will be to continue keeping our tamariki and the educators who walk beside them at the heart of everything we do,” Mrs Lessels said.
“Whether it’s in early childhood, primary schools, or learning support, our strength lies in our collective voice. Together, we will keep advocating for the well-resourced public education system that our tamariki deserve.”
The newly elected members of the NZE Te Riu Roa National Executive are:
- President: Ripeka Lessels (Bay of Plenty)
- Vice President: Tute Mila (Wellington)
- Primary Teacher Representative: Bridget Chilton (Christchurch)
- Support Staff Representative: Ally Kingi (Auckland)
- Early Childhood Sector Representative: Zane McCarthy (Hamilton)
- Primary Principal Representative: Robyn Brown (Wellington)
- Ministry of Education Representative: Tamara Clemett (Canterbury)
- General Representative: Barb Curran (Geraldine, South Canterbury)
- General Representative: Phonderly Siohane (Auckland)
- General Representative: Zac Markham (Rotorua; Bay of Plenty)