Chris Flatt is the current National Secretary of the NZDWU. As National Secretary, Chris is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of the NZDWU’s strategic and operational responsibilities. Prior to this role, Chris was the General Secretary of the NZ Labour Party for three years and was responsible for governance, membership representation and campaigning responsibilities including a central role in Labour’s 2011 […]

Kia ora Ko Tainui toku Waka Ko Taupiri toku Maunga Ko Waikato toku Awa Ko Waikato-Tainui toku Iwi Ko Mark Apiata-Wade taku ingoa   Mark is the Assistant Secretary of the DWU.  He has been a DWU Union member since 1982.  He has represented members as the Site Delegate at Dairy Packers (now Canpac), the Tanker Drivers Delegate at Te […]

Jared is a Lawyer, and the General Counsel role is an in-house legal role in the DWU. Prior to this he was the DWU Regional Organiser, responsible to members in the Christchurch area, the West Coast, and the upper South Island. Before joining the DWU, Jared worked for Unite Union for eight years as a Regional Organiser mainly responsible to […]

Richard is currently working as the DWU Organising Director. He has extensive experience and skills and has been with the DWU for 15 years (and with the Dairy Industry for 2o+ years). His working background is in Farming, Forestry, Computers and Dairy. Prior to joining the DWU, he worked in the Fonterra Lichfield cheese brine plant from 2001 through to […]

Luke started with the DWU in February 2023, in a new position as Growth Lead Organiser. Luke has over 20+ years’ experience in the union movement and has worked for a wide range of unions including the Service & Food Workers Union (SFWU), Financial Sector Union (Finsec), National Distribution Union/First Union, the International Transport Workers’ Federation and IUF, and most […]

Alvin joined the DWU as the Northern Regional Organiser in May 2022.  He is responsible for organising and representing members employed within the Auckland/Northland region (with responsibility for all sites north of the Bombay Hills), including Counties/Manukau, Auckland, Puhoi, Maungaturoto, and Whangarei. Prior to joining the DWU, Alvin was an Organiser for the Service and Food Workers Union Nga Ringa […]

Lynette joined the DWU in December 2022.  She is the DWU Upper Waikato Organiser, responsible for organising and representing members employed within the Upper Waikato region including sites at Pokeno, Mangatawhiri, Horotiu, and Hamilton. She brings over 20 years of organising experience to the DWU from roles in various unions including the Service & Food Workers Union (SFWU), First Union, […]

Dion joined the DWU in January 2024 as the Waikato Regional Organiser, responsible for organising and representing members employed within the Waikato region including sites in Hamilton, Hautapu, Morrinsville, Te Awamutu, Tatua, Waitoa, and Waharoa.  He brings over 12 years of organising experience to the DWU from his role as an AWUNZ Organiser for the Waikato, Hauraki, Ruapehu, and Taranaki […]

Tony brings many years of organising experience to the DWU from roles in various unions including First Union, the NZ Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and more recently as the General Manager of the Young Workers Resource Centre (YWRC) based in the Waikato Trade Union Centre in Hamilton. Tony has gained a wide range of experience from these roles including organising greenfield […]

Laurel started her working career in the food industry working for Watties, Heinz-Watties and McCains.  She spent 25 years at the same site, with 15 of those as Site Delegate.  Laurel then became an Organiser for the EPMU in 2004.  That led into the role of Lead Organiser for Hawkes Bay, Manawatu and New Plymouth in which she oversaw a […]

Daniel Needham is the Upper South Island Regional Organiser, who is responsible to members in the greater Christchurch area and the West Coast.  He is also the DWU Youth Committee Coordinator. Before joining the DWU, Daniel worked within the industry for fourteen years at the now Goodman Fielder owned site on Blenheim Road in Christchurch.  While based at the site […]

Phil brings over 20 years of union and organising experience to the DWU from both the food and manufacturing industries. Prior to joining the DWU, he worked for E tū Union/EPMU since 1997 in various roles including as a District Organiser, Lead Organiser for the Christchurch team, Industry Coordinator for Food & Manufacturing Industries, and as an E tū Negotiation […]

Reece Flawn is the Regional Organiser for the Lower South Island, covering sites from Glenavy (just north of Oamaru) down to Invercargill. Reece started out in the dairy industry when Fonterra opened its Mosgiel Distribution Centre in 2009.  He was elected Site Delegate and held that position for the 10 years he was there before accepting the role as Regional […]

Helen joined the DWU as our Finance & Administration Manager.  She qualified as a Certified Practising Accountant (Equivalent to a Chartered Accountant) in Australia, and holds a Bachelor of Business (Accounting major). She has over 15 years’ experience in NZ and Australia in finance management and accounting roles in the manufacturing, not-for-profit, corporate, and public sectors.    

Ko Tainui te waka Ko Kakepuku te maunga Ko Waipa te awa Ko Ngati Maniapoto te iwi Ko Ngati Unu, ko Ngati Maawe nga hapu Ko Te Kopua te marae Ko Carne Greenbank taku ingoa Carne started work for the DWU in March 2001 as the sole membership administrator. In November 2016 she moved to the Support Services Administration role, […]