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).

This month, we honour Christine Low, who served as NCWNZ President from 2004 to 2008. Christine led with warmth, wisdom, and a strong work ethic—balancing a full-time career while championing pay equity, practical advocacy, and international engagement. Her quiet yet purposeful leadership helped the organisation navigate a fast-changing world, with a lasting emphasis on enabling others to lead.

188 people received honours in the King’s Birthday list. Again, as with the 2024 King's Birthday list, men received more awards than women: this year, 53% (100) compared with 47% (88). Women received more awards than men in two categories: Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) and King's Service Medal (KSM). There were more awards for arts related activities 17% (34) than sports related ones 13% (25). See the full list at https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/kings-birthday-honours-list-2025.

Kia ora koutou, Bonjour à toutes,

Well… here I am, writing this message on my very last day as an intern at the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

I arrived in New Zealand in mid-January, and I’m now heading to New York for a new internship in the field of peacekeeping operations. Thank you all so much for welcoming me here. This internship has been an extraordinary learning experience.

NCWNZ Interns (l-r) Mathilde Jaulin and Amandine Chabrier

English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher aides belong to the cohort of social services employees whose applications for pay claims have been curtailed by the recent Equal Pay Act. As most teacher-aides are women, they have little comparison with men to gauge their work status. They are often on contract pay, dependent on income from ESL student funding, and within school hierarchies have tenuous job security.

However, teacher aides (TAs) carry out significant functions in schools. Within classrooms, they support migrants, refugees and international students, by rewording teacher instructions and content to avoid student misalignment. With TA help, student academic results can be encouraged and boosted, as in a North Island study when an international student became Dux Litteratum (McCarthy, 2020). Multilingual TAs can transfer information into students’ first language as well as their second, facilitating content and linguistic transfer (Siilata & Barkuizen, 2004). TAs also provide invaluable social, emotional and cross-cultural support for the students they are allocated to, particularly when newcomers. They can give invaluable advice to students in navigating educational structures and social networks, whether it is to approach a teacher, counsellor or administrator. Their work is a fine balance between listening and guiding and encouraging student resilience.

Palmerston North city and regional councillors shared their experiences and wisdom in a session hosted by NCWNZ Manawatu (Palmerston North) branch on May 27th at the Palmerston North City Council Library. The councillors were Deputy Mayor Debi Marshall-Lobb, Lorna Johnson and Karen Naylor from the Palmerston North City Council, with Rachel Keedwell and Fiona Gordon from the regional council, Horizons. The session aimed to reflect on the insights of women councillors, providing valuable guidance for future aspiring women in these roles. The discussion revealed perspectives on gender roles, challenges, and the evolving landscape of women in leadership. Dr. Fatima Junaid moderated the meeting.

The NCWNZ Safety, Health and Wellbeing Action Hub met on 28 May with guest speaker Professor Bev Lawton ONZM, nō Ngāti Porou, who is the founder/director of Te Tātai Hauora o Hine (the National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa) at Victoria University of Wellington She presented on "What's needed for women's health in Aotearoa NZ?" 

Prof. Lawton discussed the importance of targeted health initiatives, the impact of self-testing for cervical cancer, and the broader challenges and opportunities in women's health advocacy. Prof. Lawton discussed the issues, challenges, and support needed for women's health, emphasizing the importance of implementing a cervical cancer elimination strategy. It's vital to have a screening programme, and as a scientist, it's exciting to think we can eradicate this devastating cancer, which affects women at an average age of 41, the virus can cause anal cancer, which is not widely discussed. Cervical cancer elimination is achievable if they listen to the science. WHO called for a strategy 9-10 years ago, and many countries have it. We can tweak and adopt the Australian model. Treating HPV effectively is crucial, and the evidence supports this approach.

The Kate Sheppard National Memorial to Women’s Suffrage, in Oxford Terrace, Ōtautahi Christchurch, has at last been entered on the Rārangi Kōrero/New Zealand Heritage List as a Category 1 historic place. The creation of the memorial in 1993 was a true group effort, much like the original nineteenth century suffrage campaign led by Kate Sheppard. In June 1990, 44 women representing many women’s groups and organisations met to discuss how they could celebrate the upcoming centenary. One outcome was the establishment of the Kate Sheppard Memorial Appeal Committee, which then selected South Canterbury artist, Margriet Windhausen to create the memorial. The funding for the memorial was supported by a public campaign at the time.

Tēnā tātou kātoa,

It is with regret the Board has accepted the resignation of Anmar Taufeek, who has stepped down because of increasing personal and professional commitments. We acknowledge that this was not an easy decision for her, and the Board is sad to see her go. Anmar has been able to bring a diverse perspective to the Board, reminding us all about the contributions and needs of ethnic women in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her dignity, positivity and approachability have been much appreciated by the Board. We wish her all the best for the future, and Anmar is keen to remain in touch with the kaupapa of NCWNZ – in her words, ‘cheering from the sidelines’.

Register today in Humanitix for "Women at the Table on Climate Change" panel event on Wednesday, 7 May 2025, 5:30 - 7 p.m. The discussion will take place at Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, Pipitea Campus in Wellington and registrants may also choose to attend online. This event is a collaboration between NCWNZ International Action Hub, the Council for International Development, and UN Women of Aotearoa NZ.

For International Women’s Day 2025, NCWNZ Wellington Branch organised a climate-focused panel and workshop event "How to talk about climate action" with support from Council for International Development and UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand, and generous support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The event was an opportunity for fellow climate and gender activists to come together and discuss how to have positive grassroots conversations about climate action.