The Circular
-
Letter of support for NZ's rejection of Trump's invitation to join the Board of Peace
On 1 February 2026, the International Action Hub sent a letter of support to the Rt. Hon. Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister - copying also to the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Hon. Nicola Grigg, Minister for Women. The letter was sent upon gaining approval from the NCWNZ Board to welcome the Prime Minister's announcement that New Zealand declined the invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace. U.S. President Trump had launched... -
Women’s Self-Defence Workshop in Wellington
The NCWNZ Wellington Branch recently hosted a free Women’s Self-Defence Workshop as part of our events raising awareness for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, and it was a fantastic success. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and to the Wellington Hapkido Academy for leading such an engaging and empowering session. -
NCWNZ Past President Barbara Arnold MNZM: Stewardship, Science, and Sustained Leadership
This is the fifth and final article of a series 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). Barbara Joan Arnold née Furness MNZM was President of the National Council of Women of New Zealand from 2012 to 2014. Her contributions reflect a form of leadership that is rarely celebrated but deeply consequential. Over decades... -
2026 New Year honours
The New Year honours for 2026 are a disappointment for women, with 55% of the awards going to men. This is especially noticeable with the higher awards where 83% of CNZM were awarded to men and 60% of ONZM. See the full list at the Prime Minister and Cabinet Office's website https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2026. Here's the break-down for each honour by gender in the table below. -
President’s Kōrero Oct 2025
Kia ora koutou, Welcome to the last Circular for the year! I’d like to take the opportunity to thank Randolph for her continued dedication to bringing you the NCWNZ news and views every two months. It is always a pleasure for me to read about the happenings in our organisation, and I trust you find it equally enjoyable. The Circular is one way we tell our stories to the world. The AGM and the NCWNZ Annual Report is another -... -
In Memoriam: Myra Harpham
The NCWNZ Hutt Valley Branch mourns the passing of Myra Harpham (8 May 1931 – 15 August 2025). Myra joined the Hutt Valley Branch in the mid 1970s as the representative for the then Federation of University Women Hutt Valley, later becoming an Associate. Myra was awarded a Distinguished Service Award 2012. -
NCWNZ Hutt Valley and Henning Cup competition 2025
The Wellington Speaking Union organises the Senior Premier A Grade, the top debating grade within the Intercollegiate debating competition. The winning school receives the John F Henning Cup, donated in 1961 by the then United States Ambassador to New Zealand. The best speaker in the Grand Final is presented with the Suffrage Cup, donated by the Hutt Valley branch of the National Council of Women of New Zealand. This year the students debated the following moot: This House believes that... -
United Nations funding for women's initiatives at risk
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterresis indicated recently that the UN could end 2025 with a deficit of more than US$450 million, even after reducing the spending by nearly US$600 million. The United Nations is facing a liquidity issue as Member States are delaying or not paying their assessed contributions on time, particularly since 2024. This funding shortage impacts the UN's ability to operate effectively, as its budget relies on member contributions to cover expenses. These funding cuts threaten women's rights... -
Women’s Art Fund - Amplifying Women Artists and Designers
NCWNZ representatives were warmly invited by City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi to attend the launch of the inaugural Women’s Art Fund at Oriental Bay in Wellington. We are grateful to Liz and Robert of Foggy Valley Aotearoa Trust for hosting this special event and welcoming us into a space filled with enthusiasm for creativity, equity, and cultural leadership. During the evening, we had the opportunity to hear from the inspiring women behind the Women’s Art Fund and their project... -
Whanganui NCWNZ Scholarship 2025
The Whanganui branch of National Council of Women of New Zealand held their annual Wynne Costley Research Essay Scholarship evening recently. Year 10 students from Nga Tawa were welcomed this year, joining students from Whanganui High and Whanganui Collegiate, the two schools which have regularly supported the scholarship since its inception.