St David’s Naenae continues to stand with Resene workers calling for a living wage
In an update to our recent story about St David’s Anglican Church in Naenae supporting Resene Paints workers, we summarise a report from RNZ published following last week’s public community meeting.
The meeting, held at St Bernadette’s School Hall in Naenae, brought together factory workers, community members, the Mayor of Lower Hutt, and church leaders—including Rev. Alison Robinson of St David’s. The focus was clear: workers are seeking a commitment from Resene Paints to become a Living Wage Employer.
Many Resene employees shared personal stories of hardship despite long years of service. Margaret Jackson, a supervisor who has worked at the company for over a decade, described the financial pressures that left her struggling to afford flights to attend her grandmother’s unveiling in Niue. Others spoke of working long hours just to cover basic expenses, with little left for savings or family needs.
Speaking on behalf of St David’s, Allison said the church continues to support the campaign out of concern for the well-being and dignity of those employed at the nearby Resene factory. St David’s parishioners have met with workers, attended campaign events, and offered their encouragement. “It’s the right thing to look after the workers,” Allison said. “We believe all people should be paid enough to live with dignity and hope.”
An empty chair marked the absence of Resene management at the meeting, despite multiple invitations. Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry expressed disappointment at the company’s silence and reiterated the city’s commitment to being a living wage employer.
The campaign, led by workers and supported by E tū union, Living Wage Aotearoa, and local groups like St David’s, continues to call on Resene to respond and engage with employees and their supporters.
Please keep these workers, and the St David’s Naenae community, in your prayers as they seek fair and dignified conditions for all.
Here’s the link to the RNZ article.
Link to our previous article.
Note: AI was used in the creation of this story.
