This is the first of a series of articles focusing on the NCWNZ Past Presidents Oral History Project with interviews by Carol Dawber in 2016. See the introductory article in The Circular at "NCWNZ Past Presidents oral history interviews from 2016" (August 2024).

Janet Hesketh at Celebrating Women reception, Government House, Wellington, on 26 November 2013. From Wikimedia Commons.

Janet May Hesketh née MacKenzie QSM, CNZM, was the President of the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) from 1994 to 1998. Her work as president included advocating for the 1995 UN Beijing Platform for Action and hosting the executive committee of the International Council of Women (ICW) in 1996. 

In recent years, the NCW Manawatu branch has had the policy of inviting speakers every few months, for our own edification as well as advertising an NCW presence in the local community. Our combined networks have generated a variety of remarkably interesting and educational presentations.

On Monday, 16th September, NCWNZ President Suzanne Manning, accompanied by Intern Coco Clelland, had the privilege of attending an insightful talk hosted by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The UNFPA, the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, is dedicated to achieving a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Central to their mission is the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls to understand and take control of their bodies, thereby working towards ending preventable maternal deaths, gender-based violence, and harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.

On a crisp winter's morning, the NCW Dunedin Branch hosted its eighth annual Inspiring Young Women breakfast. The venue reached capacity as 103 senior secondary school students and teachers gathered to enjoy a cooked breakfast and be inspired by our panel of speakers.

NCWNZ led the creation of a collaborative report from sixteen Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to the United Nations (UN) and submitted in September 2024. This report presented an alternate set of data to the Government’s response on New Zealand’s implementation of our requirements for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). 

CEDAW, adopted by the UN in 1979, requires countries who sign this UN human rights treaty to eliminate discrimination against women and girls in all areas. New Zealand ratified this treaty in 1985. 

"CEDAW Demystified: State Obligation," 3-minute video by 
International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific

At the end of August, the National Council of Women New Zealand’s (NCWNZ) International and Climate and Environmental Sustainability Action Hubs, Wellington Branch, and the Council for International Development, came together to co-host a panel discussion focused on ‘Women at the table on Climate Change’.

Kua hinga te tōtara o Te Waonui a Tāne.
The tōtara in the great forest of Tane has fallen.

We pay tribute to Kingi Tūheitia Pōtatau Te Wherowhero IV, who passed away on 30 August. The Māori King was known for his diplomacy and his calls for unity, as well as strong advocacy for his people. His example of servant leadership stands as a beacon for how a leader can and should be.

Planning for the NCWNZ 2024 Conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) is progressing well with the Ōtautahi Christchurch Branch subcommittee working hard to ensure a very inspiring and productive day on Saturday, October 5th.

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.

NCWNZ Whanganui Branch plans to have its annual Scholarship evening on 20th September to celebrate the winner of the Wynne Costley Literary Research Scholarship. Students are required to complete a research essay on a New Zealand woman of the past or present who has achieved and contributed in a distinct definable way to New Zealand society.