October 13, 2016
Whangai bond tests tangi leave
E Tu Union says an Employment Relations Authority decision on bereavement leave shows there is a need to change the Holidays Act to recognise whangai relationships.
New Zealand Steel worker Awa Minhinnick took a case after he was given just one day of bereavement leave to attend the tangi in January of his whangai brother, Arnold Kaihau.
The company argued the leave provision in the collective agreement applied only to immediate relatives.
The authority ruled that under the collective agreement, Arnold was indeed Awa’s sibling, albeit through a whangai adoption.
It ordered he be repaid the two days ordinary leave he took to attend the tangi.
E Tu industry coordinator Joe Gallagher says NZ Steel applied the letter of the law on whangai relationships, which are not legally recognised.
That’s why legislation such as the Holidays Act needs to be changed to recognise Maori whanau arrangements.
He says decisions on tikanga shouldn’t be left to companies which don’t understand the cultural significance.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com