Jack McDonald

@tautokai.bsky.social

Taranaki, Te Whakatōhea. Campaigner, writer, unionist, DJ.

This proposed restructure at NZQA has the potential to significantly impact ākonga Māori and kura kaupapa Māori through the disestablishment of Ngā Poutoko Aromatawai Māori, which protects the use of mātauranga Māori in assessment practice. The PSA is supporting our members to resist these changes.

Māori education leaders seek assurances over NZQA restructure

Māori education leaders are seeking assurances that specialist expertise supporting Māori assessment and qualifications will be retained

teaonews.co.nz

NZ First’s latest attack on Te Tiriti needs to be called out for what it is: desperate racist politicking. Houkura, the Independent Māori Statutory Board, must be protected. We’re calling on political parties to stand up in defence of Houkura and Māori representation in local government.

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This is a significant victory for our PSA members at Te Puni Kōkiri and shows the power we have when we take collective action. We will do everything we can to protect the livelihoods of public servants and their whānau.

Te Puni Kōkiri backs down on 27 job cuts after union challenge

Te Puni Kōkiri has abandoned plans to cut 27 jobs following union legal action, but the PSA says Māori and Treaty-focused roles remain at risk across government.

teaonews.co.nz

"The Government’s planned overhaul of the public service is reigniting fears among Māori public servants and advocates who say Māori-focused teams and Treaty capability across government have already been significantly weakened by years of restructuring and cuts." www.teaonews.co.nz/2026/05/20/p...

Public sector overhaul sparks fears for remaining Māori and Treaty-focused roles

The Government’s planned public sector overhaul risks further gutting Treaty & kaupapa Māori capability across agencies already hit by years of restructures

teaonews.co.nz

The latest proposed cuts at TPK would mean the loss of more than 20% of the agency's workforce in just two years. This Government's agenda to hollow out Māori capability in the public service is severely undermining the ability of the state to improve outcomes for Māori communities.

PSA hits out at proposal to cut more jobs at Te Puni Kōkiri

The PSA says a proposal to cut 45 roles and establish 18 to meet government spending reductions was recently released to staff.

rnz.co.nz

Whānau supporting a new MP with haka is entirely appropriate and in line with parliamentary precedent. The Speaker may not like TPM but that's not a reason to insult a new MP and her supporters who are engaging in standard culture practice.

Melissa Ansell-Bridges has published a useful piece examining the pay equity changes in detail and explaining how they are not small policy changes but rather a structural demolition of pay equity law that will lock in pay discrimination for years to come. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3606...

What the Equal Pay Act changes really mean for women

OPINION: This is not a policy adjustment—it is a structural demolition of pay equity law, and it will lock in pay discrimination for years to come.

thepost.co.nz

"Employers will use this opportunity to encourage people to get into individual agreements away from union protection. The new arrangements are a definite effort by the minister to undermine people’s basic rights and undermine unions." Richard Wagstaff newsroom.co.nz/2025/04/10/v...

Van Velden accused of undermining unions by scrapping 30-day rule

A union boss says impending legislation risks employers encouraging workers away from union protection, support and coverage. Alice Peacock reports

newsroom.co.nz

The chorus of outrage at Tamatha Paul's comments from across the political establishment is just the latest example of how they are totally out of touch with the lived realities of Māori and how much they relish the opportunity to vilify working class Māori women.

The state should have responded to Dean Wickliffe with care and compassion. Instead it responded with punishment, hostility, and violence. No one should be sent to prison for being homeless. It is morally unjustifiable. www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/3606...

Dean Wickliffe case highlights urgent need for prison reform

OPINION: Former prime minister Bill English once said that prisons are a moral and fiscal failure. He was correct. We should be creating a roadmap towards a future without prisons.

thepost.co.nz

"The Living Wage basically allows me to survive. Before the Living Wage came in I was really struggling to afford groceries, especially considering how high my rent was, and the Living Wage has allowed me to thrive in what would be seen as a very basic sense." Liam Shaw.

Cleaner hits out at Willis' plan to scrap Living Wage for new contracts

The proposal sends a message that people like him don't matter, Liam Shaw says.

rnz.co.nz

Nicola Willis has proposed that the Living Wage no longer needs to be paid in cleaning, catering, and security services that are procured by government. Thousands of low-paid workers now face the potential pay cuts. We strongly condemn these changes.

New procurement rules hurt low-income workers - NZCTU

New draft government procurement guidelines will remove living wage protections for thousands of low-paid workers in Aotearoa New Zealand, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi President Richard Wagstaff.

union.org.nz

Today we lodged our submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill, which is direct attack on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori rights. Government must abandon this Bill and make no further attempts to distort the genuine principles of Te Tiriti.

NZCTU make submission in opposition to Treaty Principles Bill - NZCTU

The NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi have submitted against the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, slamming the Bill as a breach of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and an attack on tino rangatiratanga and the collectiv...

union.org.nz