Women's Day

2022 - 3 - 8

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Image courtesy of "1 News"

International Women's Day: Inspirational wāhine making a difference (1 News)

Indira Stewart spoke to five Kiwi women who, in very different ways, are worth looking up to.

And for the 30 years that the Heke family has lived there, it's been dominated by the Mongrel Mob. "And I learned that's the way you make positive change. "I live in a police house attached to a police station and he's the only cop for the area. It's also the country's poorest town, with the lowest average income and highest share of sole parents and beneficiaries. It's not just about making a difference in the community, which I love, but it's also about making a difference within the organisation. So for me to go out into the schools and just be a role model - it's really cool." "Those aunties would come and pick our mother up and go off for a few days. "I came from a typical middle-class Kiwi family and then was going into some streets that I didn't even know existed in Christchurch, even though I'd lived here my whole life." Another worked full-time at the DHB and had a three-month goal to pay off her debt. "I knew a sex worker who was working to pay for her pilot's licence. Helping women - and sometimes men - in the sex work industry has been her passion, and she often goes above and beyond the call of duty. There was a lot of shrieking on the other end, and I suppose that's why it took me so long to call home.

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Image courtesy of "New Zealand Football"

International Women's Day 2022: "It's about creating opportunities" (New Zealand Football)

Wood was elected New Zealand Football President in April 2019. Klimková was named Ford Football Ferns head coach in September 2021. They are the first women to ...

Helping other women to reach their potential is a big motivator in breaking the bias in football governance for Wood, too. The bias is that they don't expect women to be in that role. They can participate and govern in coaching programmes, refereeing, all of those things. “If you are shoulder tapped, then there's a reason why someone is asking you to stand up and take on that role. I know that a lot of us are not going for those roles because they think they are not ready yet, but they actually are. “Getting out of your comfort zone is really important for the journey if you want to achieve something more. “We want more women in the leadership roles. We want more women in coaching. I still see a lot of potential in front of us, but the step forward is definitely here.” That still happens today in the primary industry world: people assume that you don't know, but my husband will be the first one to say that I'm the one responsible for business finance. They are the first women to hold these roles since New Zealand Football was founded in 1891. But then I don't know why I was surprised,” recalls Wood. Since she was elected, New Zealand Football has achieved Sport New Zealand’s target of 40% women on its board.

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Image courtesy of "Wellington City Council"

Council's wāhine toa celebrate International Women's Day (Wellington City Council)

We're celebrating International Women's Day by recognising the women who have inspired and led the way for some of Wellington City Council's wāhine toa.

I hope that one day our society will value and grant economic justice to the caring, nurturing mahi of wāhine. Like other lucky women, I stand on the shoulders of my maternal forebears, and I’m grateful for their leadership and inspiration. With so many talented women achieving in so many areas, there is much hope for the future. Get out there to see and celebrate these women's achievements and take some time to reflect on your own this International Women's Day. On International Women’s Day, I reflect on the woman who have inspired me. Staunch women have been a feature of my family for generations.

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