The Circular
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New Zealand women and the Polyglot Petition
This article is the second in a series of articles for The Circular by the members of the NCWNZ International Action Hub. The series highlights the many different international treaties to which New Zealand is a signatory and how this impacts women and girls. One of the founding member organisations of the National Council of Women of New Zealand, the Women's Christian Temperance Union of New Zealand (WCTU NZ) led a campaign to contribute to an international initiative, "The Polyglot... -
Update from NCWNZ Southland Branch
Interacting with younger persons evokes feelings of amazement at their enterprise, wonder at their ability to absorb new ideas and pride in their achievements while working in challenging situations. NCWNZ Southland Branch has four activities which allow members to revel in these feelings while celebrating the value these young people bring to members’ lives. Southland Social Science Fair In the first instance the branch sponsors two prizes in the Southland Social Science Fair. It is open to students from year... -
NCWNZ Past President Elizabeth Bang CNZM: From the Wards to Women’s Leadership
This is the fourth 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). Elizabeth Margaret Bang (née Ewart) was born in Palmerston North in 1942, growing up in a family where thrift, hard work and service were values carried through generations. Her father, Richard, was a Marlborough stock and station agent;... -
Celebrating Suffrage in Southland 2025
Southland Branch celebrated Suffrage Day in two parts this year. The first was our traditional breakfast on 19 September at the Ascot Park Hotel where more than fifty persons mixed, mingled and chatted. They included students from local secondary schools who always respond very positively to the occasion. This year we especially welcomed Josh, Josh and Tom from Southland Boy’s High School, a first for that school. When asked, they said they enjoyed the breakfast, and the speakers and, yes,... -
Update from Manukau branch
Manukau Branch of NCW hosted a "Meet the Candidates" afternoon on Saturday 13th of September for women standing in the local government election representing the Manukau region. We had 20 women candidates attend to speak with us about their reasons for wanting to be elected. It was a successful afternoon which saw all women interacting and supporting each other regardless of their political stripes. -
News from NCW Manawatu
In the last few months, NCW Manawatu has continued the pattern of bimonthly speakers. In May, Fatima Junaid, a branch member, spoke about "Mechanisms to support migrant women entrepreneurs' wellbeing.’" Fatima outlined the need for confidence and resilience to combat aspects from misnaming to company access to jobs which fulfil diversity requirements with little desire to recognise culture or value systems. Women entrepreneurs survive through key support groups, creating their own networks and creating emotional boundaries against naysayers. Fatima concluded... -
Celebrating suffrage: middle north island
On the 18th of September, four NCW Manawatu members joined with their counterparts at Mint café in central Whanganui, for the beginnings of a tour around local suffrage sites. The next stop was the museum, where there is a permanent display of three early suffragists: Margaret Bullock, Jessie Williamson, and Ellen Balance. These three were key to advocacy efforts in the region, and they collected signatures for the 1893 petition. Along from this display, members enjoyed the sight of costumes... -
Update from Parliamentary Watch Committee
PWC has been working at pace this calendar year coordinating the NWCNZ submissions process: researching opportunities, distributing Action Items, editing and lodging written submissions, and supporting oral submissions. As I type this update the 20th written submission for 2025 is in progress, with the Education Action Hub responding to the Proposal to replace NCEA. NCWNZ submissions are made publically available on our website, see Submissions - National Council of Women of New Zealand. In addition, our oral submissions will total... -
Threats to pay equity in Aotearoa New Zealand – NCWNZ responses
Rosemary Du Plessis – on presenting to the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity I presented the NCWNZ oral submission during the third hearing of the Committee on Monday 25 August, as lead writer Irene Ryan was unavailable. Although actively involved in the full submission, coordinating the Ōtautahi Christchurch Branch response and as an Economic Independence Action Hub member, it was a bit daunting to present to such a high-powered set of women, and to condense our key points to... -
Meet the Candidates: Strong Turnout for Hamilton Local Elections Forum
On Tuesday 26 August 2025, the Hamilton Branch of the National Council of Women New Zealand hosted a well-attended Meet the Candidates evening at the Waikato Cathedral Church of St Peter, 51 Victoria Street. The event drew 33 local government candidates and a strong audience of engaged voters. Sarah Thomson, one of the women mayoral candidates