Teacher protest in Rotorua rally

Te Kahuirangi Webster sings before striking teachers at The Village Green. The video show the strike action on Ohakune. Video: Leah Rogers/Rotorua Now.

Themes of "pay us more", overwork and staff shortages were metaphorical chalks thrown at the Government in Rotorua today.

Amid an almost party atmospheres close 400 teachers and children protested at the Village Green.

After several brief but pointed speeches the assembly marched in hikoi from the open-air green which fringes Lake Rotorua.

The hikoi went at a "bridal" pace - in accordance to the wishes of one of the speakers - in a slow march to the inner city towards Kuirau Park for more speeches and a sausage sizzle.

The overhead chill of the morning protest yielded to a wafting, slightly windy Autumn warmth as the sun shone on the assembly.

Songs of the 1960s introduced the protest by primary and secondary teachers seeking better wages and conditions.

But Te Kahukrangi Webtser's songs were anything but protest numbers.

Teachers came from Opotiki, Kawerau and Whakatane to join in the Rotorua strike and March.

Marchers stride along Fenton St.

One speaker said today's strike was her third - "and it is third time lucky, I say".

The teachers tended to protest in blocks, with one coterie garbed in Team Lynmore jackets.

Paeone Goonan, of NZET Te Ohoia, said teachers were needed to have a release time. Teachers worked 60 hours a week to meet commitments.

The government had made one offer that made teachers feel under valued.

She predicted more strike action if the current issue was not resolved.

Glenn Cassaidy, a teacher at Western Heights High School, told the strikers the government had "not listened". It was taken by the hand on every issue.

"We need change now," he said. "Teachers are lagging and the solution is too little too late'" he said.

Only this morning he said Education Minister Chris Hipkjns had said teachers deserved more pay. "Well, pay us more."

The offers received had not addressed the issues.

Leaving The Village Green.

The grand march through Rotorua shopping centre was noisy but orderly with motorists again signifying their support by tooting their horns, with no sign of a police presence unlike weeks earlier when the community gathered to commemorate the Christchurch mosque victims.

One of the numerous placards waved in protest at The Village Geeen.

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