Congratulations Lisa!

Lisa Hargreaves is known for her dedication, integrity and quiet determination. She doesn't seek the spotlight, but her impact has been significant and long-lasting. Her ability to balance multiple roles - always putting the interests of her colleagues first - demonstrates her deep commitment to PPTA Te Wehengarua.

The above words were used by Madeleine (Dylan) Gray, chair of PPTA Te Wehengarua Hawke’s Bay region, in her nomination of fellow activist and colleague Lisa Hargreaves, for the Melanie Webber Award.

Honouring exceptional activism

The Melanie Webber Award honours exceptional activism within PPTA Te Wehengarua. Created in consultation with Melanie herself, the award is a tribute to her enduring legacy and commitment to the union and the secondary teaching profession.

Lisa says it felt amazing to be the inaugural recipient of the award. “It was an honour to receive it, and I’d worked with Melanie on executive and stayed in touch with her, so there was a personal connection. It felt good that I knew Melanie and was receiving the award.”

Lisa has consistently demonstrated strong leadership at both branch and regional levels over her nearly 20 years of involvement with PPTA.

She served on the Hawke's Bay regional committee for many years and was national executive member for East Coast and Hawke's Bay from 2018-2020, having to give up that role for family reasons.

Lisa has served as branch chair and secretary at her own Havelock North High School branch and is still an integral part of the branch committee. “When I came to Havelock North High School, I met Jill Gray (long-time PPTA activist and national executive member from 2005-2016) and she became my biggest supporter and mentor, so I would like to acknowledge her.”

 Pay equity for part-time teachers

Lisa played a pivotal role in PPTA’s legal case against the Secretary for Education and four school boards, to resolve a long-standing equity issue of part-time teachers not receiving the same proportion of (and in many cases, not any) non-contact time as their full-time colleagues.

Although the case ultimately went against PPTA, Lisa told PPTA News earlier this year that she regards the case as the catalyst for PPTA winning the part-time teachers’ non-contact entitlement in the 2023 collective agreement settlement. “If we hadn’t taken the case, it wouldn’t have got this far. I feel like we’ve won, even though it was a delayed win. I’m so pleased that it came about - it is equal pay for equal work.”

Lisa says being active in the union is in her blood. “Before I became a teacher, I was a delegate in the clerical union and it’s kind of a family history – my granddad was a delegate at the freezing works and Dad was a public servant and a PSA delegate. My daughter has joined her union now and is thinking she might be a delegate when she gets more experience.”

Sense of fairness

Lisa says as well as unionism being in her bones, she has a strong sense of fairness, particularly in terms of people getting what they are entitled to.

Dylan said Lisa's efforts in the complex legal case demonstrated not only her initiative but also her ability to work collaboratively to achieve fair outcomes. "Lisa is known for her willingness to handle branch-level challenges effectively, providing practical solutions and clear guidance on union matters."

Lisa has consistently empowered and encouraged others to become involved in PPTA. Her advice to anyone thinking of becoming more active in the union? "Just do it. You will not only benefit others but also yourself. You will learn a lot."

Melanie Webber Award