A response from NGOs around New Zealand to the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has found that, despite our international commitments to achieve equality for women and girls in all areas, New Zealand is falling short – and in some cases going backwards. 

NCWNZ is asking its membership and all New Zealanders to urge their local MPs to close the Gloriavale Institutions. The Abuse in Care Inquiry has shown that women and children are still at risk.

Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) has joined in an Aotearoa intercommunity partnership – which includes Alternative Jewish Voices, the Federation of Islamic Associations (FIANZ), and Palestinian-led advocacy group Justice for Palestine – to recognise and respond to the escalating needs of women in Gaza.

As International Women’s Day draws near, closer to home Te Kaunihera Wahine o Aotearoa National Council of Women of New Zealand is using the event to encourage further progress in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Men must join the action in greater numbers for gender equality in Aotearoa New Zealand to be achieved, results from the latest Gender Attitudes Survey show.

“We need everyone to step up as allies. It’s time for action and with collective effort, we can make a real difference,” National Council of Women New Zealand President Suzanne Manning said today, releasing the report at an online event with Minister for Women Jan Tinetti and EEO Commissioner Karanina Sumeo.

The National Council of Women of New Zealand, Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa, is today releasing the results of questions posed to political parties on gender equity and women’s issues.

“The survey identifies issues of importance to New Zealand women and enables voters to compare the positions stated by parties on those issues ,” Dr Suzanne Manning, President of NCWNZ, said today.

Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa National Council of Women of New Zealand supports the peaceful protests against anti-transgender activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull. The events being organised in Wellington and Auckland will give a platform and legitimacy to her inflammatory hate speech which has no place in Aotearoa New Zealand.

On March 8th we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) and in 2023 we mark the 130th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand, but women in Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world still don’t have access to equality. What is holding us back?

Te Kaunihera Wāhine o Aotearoa National Council of Women of New Zealand welcomes the National Party’s announcement of its policy on increased support for childcare. This shows that both the major parties recognise the value of providing safe, affordable and appropriate childcare.

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.