Increased support for childcare a positive step forward for women, children and the community
Te Kaunihera Wahine o Aotearoa National Council of Women of New Zealand welcomes the Government’s announcement of increased access to childcare subsidies. Resetting the threshold for low income earners will ensure almost all sole parents are able to benefit from this significant step forward.
Rising costs of childcare over the last decade have eroded parents’ ability to choose whether or not to work. High housing costs and increasing inflation mean many families with children are simply unable to pay for childcare. In these cases, it is mostly women's choices that are limited and women who have to drop their hours at work or bring their babies with them. Increased access to childcare subsidies will have far-reaching effects on the ability to work, on lifelong earnings and economic independence, and on access to more choices for sole parents – who are primarily women.
Read moreNCWNZ Agrees with Fair Pay Agreements
The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) welcomes the Fair Pay Agreements Act. Extending collective bargaining has the potential to improve minimum wages and conditions of employment for all those in low paid work and in particular Māori, Pacific, disabled and migrant women. The President of NCWNZ, Dr Suzanne Manning, says:
“We believe that collective employment agreements are good for women. They can promote the value of women’s work, provide enhanced provisions such as additional paid parental leave, and actively support equity in the workplace by reducing the gender wage gap. NCWNZ believes that the Fair Pay Agreement Act will benefit workplace productivity in Aotearoa New Zealand by balancing the interests of employees and employers, and fostering collaboration, stability, and greater workplace harmony.”
Read moreTVNZ must review screening policies after failing our world #2 women's rugby team
The National Council of Women New Zealand Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa (NCWNZ) is disappointed that our state-owned broadcaster, TVNZ, is not screening one of the major international women’s sporting events of the year, the 2021 Rugby World Cup, and has instead chosen to screen the T20 International Men’s Cricket Tri-Series live in a competing time-slot.
“This was a golden opportunity to celebrate and showcase a major women’s sporting event hosted in New Zealand, and instead TVNZ has chosen to ignore it and prioritise men's cricket. We are deeply disappointed in this decision," NCWNZ President Dr Suzanne Manning said today.
Read moreNational Council of Women of New Zealand Celebrates 125 years
Descendants of suffragists Kate Sheppard and Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia, will be present at a special event in Parliament on 13 September 2022 to celebrate the 125-year anniversary of the National Council of Women of New Zealand, Te Kaunihera Wahine o Aotearoa, one of the leading women’s organisations in New Zealand.
“The National Council of Women has a long and proud history of promoting women’s equality,” Suzanne Manning, President of NCWNZ said today. “But it’s extraordinary that over 125 years later, New Zealand women have still not achieved some of the changes our foremothers campaigned for, such as equal pay for work of equal value, protection for low-paid workers and economic independence.”
Read moreApplications for new Board member now open
Role: Board Member
Term: 3 years
Location: National position
Closes: noon 21 August 2022
Applications are invited for a board member for the period of up to three years.
Do you believe in a Gender Equal New Zealand? If so, this is an exciting opportunity to join the board of New Zealand’s iconic gender equality organisation founded by Kate Sheppard – the National Council of Women New Zealand Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa.
Read moreRising misogyny sparks call for review of Act
In our Countering Misogyny webinar in July, NCW's Influence and Decision Making Action Hub hosted a brave and inspiring discussion on the horrendous misogyny faced by women.
Panellists Sara Templeton, Miningarangi Forbes, Ali Mau and Kate Hannah shared their stories and insights into this resurgent area of concern for women in Aotearoa New Zealand. But it's clear there much more work we need to do.
Read moreThe US Supreme Court Abortion Decision: A Step Back for Women’s Rights
The National Council of Women New Zealand, Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa (NCWNZ) joins with Abortion Law Reform New Zealand (ALRANZ) in condemning the United States Supreme Court judgment that overturns Roe v Wade.
“This is a massive set-back for women’s reproductive rights and we feel for American women and the grief and anguish they must be experiencing," NCWNZ President Dr Suzanne Manning said. "Banning abortions won’t make abortions disappear. It will only drive abortion underground, increase risk and escalate major health issues for women. Poor women, women of colour, disabled women and LGBTIQ people will be the worst affected."
Read more
Remembering Dame Miriam Dell
Among her many roles and accolades, Dame Miriam will also be remembered as a Founding Member and Past President of the Hutt Valley Branch of the NCW and a Member of the national body. Her natural flair for leadership saw her elected National President of the National Council of Women from 1970 to 1974, where she led many initiatives such as being the NZ coordinator of the UN International Women's Year in 1975, and Chair of the Suffrage Centennial Year Trust in 1993. She was also elected as President of the International Council of Women, the first New Zealander to achieve this distinction.
Dame Miriam Dell was the New Zealand Government Delegate to all three UN Conferences for the Decade for Women in the 1970s. She was also the first Chairperson of the Committee on Women – what is now Manatū Wāhine, Ministry for Women, New Zealand.
We are deeply saddened by this news, but we know that Dame Miriam's legacy lives on. Thank you Dame Miriam for your service and contributions to women in Aotearoa.
Make a Splash conference
Making a Splash
National Council of Women of NZ - Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa Conference
19 Feb 2021
All members are invited to attend the one day, online conference being hosted by the Southland Branch. The programme for the day can be found here.
Registration is as simple as emailing [email protected] with:
- Your name and "NIM" (individual members)
- Your branch, the names of your attendees, and indicate the voting delegates (branches)
- Your organisation name, the names of your attendees, and indicate your voting delegate (organisational members)
For more information, see the members communications that will be sent out during the next week.
Equal Earrings
Here at Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa/The National Council of Women NZ, we are often inspired by the fabulous young women who do things to support our Gender Equal campaign.
These students from Mount Aspiring College in Wanaka took part in a Young Enterprise Scheme, selling homemade clay earrings, and then donated 10% of their profits to Gender Equal. We are appreciative and impressed. You can read more about them here.
In the North Island, Taradale High School students Marjolaine and Hannah organised a local charity wash as part of a social studies 'social action' unit, and donated their profits to Gender Equal. This sort of flaxroots support for our mahi leaves us grateful that there are so many people who care.
Thank you to these students, and to all our other supporters and donors. We couldn't do it without you.