NCWNZ Manukau Branch held a Suffrage Day commemoration on Saturday 21 September 2024 at the historic St David’s Anglican Hall, 813 Great South Road, Wiri, Auckland.

The guest speaker was Colleen Brown, writer, speaker and author, so she covered a wide range of interesting subjects. She also brought along some of her story books for children (such as Violet's Scarf, a story of an eight-year-old girl in 1915) with the option for attendees to buy one. This offer was eagerly taken up.

(l-r) Judi Goldworthy and Christine Knock

Christine Knock, NCWNZ Life Member, approached Papatoetoe War Memorial Library to see if they were interested in the Manukau Branch of NCWNZ undertaking a presentation at the Library regarding the Auckland Women's Suffrage Memorial at Khartoum Place and Te Hā o Hine Place, in Auckland Central.

The Library staff agreed, and so this was undertaken on 17 September 2024. 

The Queen's Service Medal was presented to Hansa Naran JP by the Governor General of New Zealand, Hon Dame Cindy Kiro. on 9 May 2024. Mrs Naran has been treasurer of the Manukau Branch of the National Council of Women NZ since 2015.

Mrs Naran was commended for services to the Indian community. She used her professional skills as an accountant to contribute to her community organisations, including the Manukau Indian Association Inc. and the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA). She organised an 125th Women’s Suffrage anniversary event, with more than 100 people in attendance at Waiau Pa. She has written many articles for event programmes including ‘Self-Empowerment’, ‘Grieving – A Myth or a Reality?’ and ‘How to age gracefully’. She helped manage more than $500,000 in funds raised for India during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been a Justice of the Peace since 2014, a Victim Support volunteer and a Kiwani. Mrs Naran has donated incubators, children’s stationary, and clothing to children’s missionaries and traditional sarees for women who cannot afford bridal clothing in India.

Iunisi Vaitohi of NCWNZ Manukau Branch was a member of the chorus, South City Soundz, who won at the SAPACS (South Auckland Performing Arts Competition Society Inc) held at the Hawkins Theatre in Papakura, Auckland on 9 August 2024. Vocal Groups category – all ages and genres.

Eid Mubarak (Arabic: عِيد مُبَارَك‎ ʿīd mubārak) is an Arabic phrase that means “Blessed feast/festival.” The term is used by Muslims all over the world as a greeting to celebrate Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha (which is in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah).

Two members of the Manukau Branch of NCW attended the International Women's Day multicultural event on 8 March 2024 held by the Filipino alliance of women's organisations called Gabriela Aotearoa. The event was part of the "One Billion Rising" celebration for 2024. According to their website: "We rise through dance to express joy and community and celebrate the fact that we have not been defeated by violence [against women]. We rise to show we are determined to create a new kind of consciousness – one where violence will be resisted until it is unthinkable."

On 30 September 2023, the Manukau Branch held a 130 Suffrage Celebration Brunch at St David's Anglican Church in Manukau. It was attended by the Human Rights Commissioner, Pacific Womens Watch and students from Strathallen and McCauley Colleges as well as other interested parties. The NCW Board was represented by Betty Ofe-Grant, and members of the Auckland Branch also attended which was much appreciated.

In July I was asked by Family Harm Prevention to attend a meeting with the Family Harm Practitioners to explain to them the role that National Council of Women play in preventing family violence.

On Saturday, 7 May 2022, the Manukau Branch of National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) held an event at the Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa to celebrate the 125th anniversary of NCWNZ and also to acknowledge and celebrate the suffragists. A special area had been created there in 1993 to mark the centenary of women's suffrage by the NCW - a plaque marks the spot.