New Leadership at Unite 2026 Conference and AGM

Unite elected a new National Secretary and new Co-president at it’s recent Annual General Meeting. Gerard Hehir was elected unopposed, taking over from Shanna Olsen-Reeder who was farewelled on the second day. Gerard served previously as National Secretary from 2014 to 2020, and has been an Assistant National Secretary since then.

Rangi Tangira, a McDonalds delegate from Whanganui and current Unite Executive member, was elected  to fill the Co-president position vacated by Xavier Walsh. Rangi won the election over David Garrity (SkyCity Hamilton), who remains on the Executive.

The AGM was part of a two day conference in Auckland where over 100 delegates attended from around the country, mostly for training and union leadership sessions. The upcoming election was a constant issue at the gathering, as the impact of recent government policies and their direct impact on union members kept being raised. The changes to annual and sick leave entitlements, below inflation minimum wage increases and undermining of union rights in the workplace were particularly of concern.

The new National Secretary vowed to quickly plan and implement campaigns to respond to whatever shape and policies the next government takes:

“It is probably the most impactful election on workers and unions since the 1990’s when the Employment Contracts Act gutted private sector unions in particular. We will need a Plan A for a change of government, but also a Plan B for what is likely even worse to come if this government gets re-elected” said Gerard Hehir to the delegates.

The AGM also elected a new Union Executive. Ten candidates stood for six vacant positions. The successful candidates elected for two years were:

• Aaron   Taofitau (McDonald's Ti Rakau Dr)

• Madeleine Moss (Spark NZ Wellington)        

• Olliver  Banks (Starbucks Napier)

• Peter Blaikie (KFC South Dunedin)

• Rose Kelly-Kovaleski (McDonald's Mt Wellington)

• Saksham Saha (SkyCity Auckland)

They join

• Sarah-Jane Norris (McDonalds Moorhouse Ave, ChCh)

• Anthony Hill (Qantas Airways Auckland)

• Gabriela Murray-Abarca (Cafe, Auckland)

• David Garrity (SkyCity Hamilton)

serving out the remainder of their previously elected terms.

The remits passed by the AGM can be read here: