~ Nau mai ~ Welcome to the 2019 Weaving House Public Lecture Series 

Below you’ll find all the information for the 2019 Speaking Series ~ The Speakers ~ The program ~ Links to organisations represented & discussed at Her Voice ~  Information on all the goings on such as entertainment & activities ~ Our sponsors & finally some of the news media surrounding the 2019 speaker series. 

~  Her Voice NZ ~ was held in Wānaka

12-13th April 2019 

A series of public lectures with New Zealand Women leaders and thinkers discussing the varied issues we have at major crossroads.

The focus was on Gender Equality and Human Rights issues, interwoven with topics and areas of life these women specialise.

The speakers came from a range of expertise with backgrounds and knowledge in politics, our environment, law, science, urban design, human rights, reproductive rights and health, economics, media, sporting, family and sexual violence, business and social development.

Each of our Weaving House 2019 speakers encompass women who nurture, hold and fortify more than one role in our communities. They are brave ~ they are a learned force.

Speakers are brought their experience, knowledge and critical thinking for todays challenges to help move us forward with haste ~ They described essential ideas to outline where we need to be and how to get there ~ why we need to rapidly transform our way of viewing the world and how to support those efforts.

Speakers presented their ideas & experience of our world to provide simple and clear steps towards a collective future for a more peaceful, equitable, sustainable nation and global community.

Speakers Biographies follow below

& The Program for ‘Her Voice’ 2019 is can also be viewed below

Tickets were available through EventFinda starting from $10 per series to $50 for the full two days ~ Each series had four speakers speaking for 20 minutes each, with questions from the audience. There was also a panel session & a quick round session with 8 speakers. 

Below you’ll also find information on the Saturday evening show ~ an evening of  clever, insightful & soothing entertainment. Further information follows.

Our program also offered yoga, Seeds for Christchurch & the Women’s Market Stall. There were also cafes in town offering a Gender Pay Gap discount for lunch with a purchased ticket. Further information follows

 By the telling and retelling of Woman’s story, we weave and have Women Rising ~ We have all people rising ~

Words from the Mayor;

‘ Tēnā koutou and welcome to beautiful Wanaka. You have certainly chosen an inspirational setting for this marvellous meeting of minds. I congratulate the organisers for their offering of a such diverse range of speakers, I am sure everyone will find something to challenge their conceptions of the contemporary New Zealand woman. While you are here, be sure to step outside, take in our breathtaking views and meet some of our fabulous locals. Wanaka embraces guardianship and  collaboration like few other small communities I’ve come across. We take pride in the sharing our paradise and hope that your conference can contribute to our goal of soaring creativity here in the Upper Clutha.

Nga mihi,

Jim Boult ONZM

Mayor of Queenstown Lakes District’

SPEAKERS

Hon Julie Anne Genter

Julie Anne Genter ~ Minister For Women

Growing up, Julie Anne saw how transport and urban design impacted the environment and influenced peoples lives, from their health to their ability to access education.

From a young age she engaged in activism on social and environmental issues. Julie Anne is passionate about creating a fairer society that puts people and the environment first.

She graduated from UC Berkely, taught english and studied economics in France, before moving to Aotearoa New Zealand.

Prior to becoming an MP, Julie Anne worked as a transport and planing consultant for some of New Zealand’s leading firms ~ she advocates for building towns and cities that put people at their heart, that support strong healthy communities and enhance our environment.

Julie Anne has been Green Party spokesperson on a range of issues, including climate change, transport, health, finance and women. She is now Minister for Women, and associate Minister of Health and Transport.

 Marilyn Waring 

Profesor Marilyn Waring 

In 1975, Marilyn Waring was elected to the New Zealand Parliament as the MP for Raglan. Aged just 23, she was one of only a few female MPs who served through the turbulent years of Muldoon’s government.

While Rogernomics was changing the landscape of business and trade in New Zealand, Waring created her own brand – feminist economics. She argued strongly that gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights must be valued, cared for and included in economic modelling and performance – and soon became internationally known.

For nine years, Waring was at the centre of major political decisions, until her parliamentary career culminated during the debate over nuclear arms.

When Waring informed Muldoon that she intended to cross the floor and vote for the opposition bill which would make New Zealand nuclear-free, he called a snap election. And the government fell…

From the time she became the youngest member of the Parliament of New Zealand Prof Waring has dedicated her career to advancing the status of women internationally. In particular, she is known as the principal founder of feminist economics, which argues that women’s work has not traditionally been factored into economic study.

Her 1988 book, If Women Counted, persuaded the United Nations to redefine gross domestic product and inspired new accounting methods in dozens of countries, all to make women a more significant factor in the economy.

“In my life I have tried to use the privileges and skills I have, and the relative safety of my precious New Zealand passport, to unapologetically speak truth to power, to serve as a bridge and access for those who are silenced, bullied or invisible.

“My early years in Parliament were very lonely for a feminist activist. In subsequent decades I have been part of local and international inter-generational networks working for social justice, as the Zonta organisation does with its focus on stopping male violence.  In my academic and international roles, I look at the creative, strategic, exciting work of the young feminists.  I celebrate this, and I feel that all my efforts have been worthwhile.”

Prof Waring has been at AUT since 2006.  Her work in the School of Social Sciences and Public Policy focuses on governance and public policy, political economy, gender analysis and human rights. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work, including the 2013 Amnesty International New Zealand’s Human Rights Defender Award, a Doctor of Letters from Glasgow Caledonian University for her outstanding international contribution towards the understanding of feminism and female human rights, and the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to women and economics.

Marilyn’s recent book Still Counting: Wellbeing, Women’s Work and Policy ~ marks 30 years since the release of that ground-breaking book Counting for Nothing.

Still Counting is one of the first books to address the current work on wellbeing in New Zealand. It offers a strident critique of the current approach: Waring argues that the planned Living Standards Framework risks reproducing the biases of the traditional economic indicators. She also lays out a vision for what a new, genuinely transformative economic measure would look like.

Professor Juliet A. Gerrard

Professor Juliet A. Gerrard ~  FRSNZ Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor ~ Kaitohutohu Mātanga Pūtaiao Matua ki te Pirimia

Professor Juliet Gerrard trained at Oxford University, where she completed a First Class Honours degree in Chemistry and a DPhil in Biological Chemistry. 

 In 1993, she was appointed as a research scientist at Crop & Food Research, where her multidisciplinary research portfolio included a substantial element of applied research in the food science area. 

 She was appointed as a Lecturer in Biochemistry at the University of Canterbury in 1998, where she became Professor and Co-Director of the Biomolecular Interaction Centre.

 In 2014, she moved to the University of Auckland as a Professor in the School of Biological Sciences and the School of Chemical Sciences and is now the Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Science.

 Juliet’s research has a broad base and is interdisciplinary, cutting across biochemistry, chemistry, health, agricultural and food science and biomaterial design. It also incorporates a full spectrum of fundamental and applied research, ranging from Marsden projects to research for industry, and includes collaborations in the UK, USA and Australia. 

From 2012-2016 she held a Callaghan Innovation Industry and Outreach Fellowship (at 50% FTE) focussed on creating an integrated research programme across Callaghan Innovation and the Universities of Canterbury and Auckland. During this time she also founded a start-up company, Hi-Aspect Ltd, which went on to receive seed funding from a private investor in 2017.

 Juliet has over 150 publications, as well as three books. She won a National Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching in 2004 and has served on FRST panels and domain reviews. She enjoyed her role as Chair of the Cellular, Molecular and Physiological Biology Marsden Panel and Deputy Chair of the Marsden Council prior to being appointed Chair in 2012. She stepped down from this role early in 2018, having overseen an increase in the fund from around $54 million to over $80 million and steered the Marsden Fund Council through the creation of the Fund’s first investment plan.

Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo

Saunoamaali’i Dr Karanina Sumeo is the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission.

She is of Samoan descent and originally from the village of Vailima in Upolu, Samoa.

Dr Karanina has a strong commitment to improving equal employment opportunities, particularly bringing a Pasifika perspective to human rights issues facing Aotearoa New Zealand.

For 20 years, Dr Karanina has worked as a public advisor and social worker, advocating for the interests of children, women, families, the rainbow community, social protection, youth employment, gender equality and an end to gender violence.

She believes pay equity and equal employment opportunities are key avenues for youth empowerment, women’s empowerment, reduction of family poverty, freedom from gender based violence, and community wellbeing.

Dr Karanina holds qualifications in social work, social policy, mediation and science, including a PhD in public policy from AUT.

Michelle Duff

Michelle Duff ~ Is a National Correspondent and columnist @nzstuff.  Covering topics such as Health, social issues and feminism. This includes writing on Gender Based Violence and the #MeToo movement.

Her work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and news websites in New Zealand, Australia, the US and the UK, including The Dominion Post, North & South, The New Zealand Herald, Vice.com, The Melbourne Age and the Irish Independent.

She is a five-time finalist in the New Zealand’s premier journalism awards, for feature writing and news reporting. She won General Feature writer of the year in 2016, for a piece on the widening race gap in education.

Lillian Tahuri 

Lillian Tahuri is a board member of UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand National Committee that supports the mission of UN Women through public awareness initiatives about global women’s rights and development issues, and fundraising efforts to support UN Women programmes in the pacific.

Lillian represents the board on the Women’s Empowerment Principles Committee (WEPs). The principles are for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

She has represented her iwi as a Treaty of Waitangi Negotiator and mandated representative to settle historic claims against the Crown. Lillian has worked in treaty sector roles in central and local government and in later years has been ensuring Treaty of Waitangi legislative obligations and commitments for Māori engagement are implemented across strategy, policy, planning and programmes.

The environment, gender equality and human rights are her passions. She is an active member of a leadership group to improve gender equality and improve the experiences of a diverse workforce. While working in Afghanistan she experienced first-hand the trauma and plight of women and children living in a war zone, and the negative impacts of strict religious regimes, this increased her motivation to improve the livelihood of women and children around the world.

Lillian has worked in senior management, political and programme management roles in central and local government, parliament and in private security. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Humanities) in Philosophy from Massey University, a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Master Coach, Master Hypnotist and trained in neuro science based personal development. She is a personal development and transformational leadership coach.

Tamatha Paul

Tamatha Paul ~ President of the student association University of Victoria Wellington.  (As of 2020, Tamatha is now a Councillor on the Wellington City Council)

Tamatha hails from the mighty Waikato, descending from Ngāti Awa and Waikato-Tainui. Being the first in her whanau to go to university.  Tamatha spent majority of her time at university working for the student association at Victoria University of Wellington trying to make university accessible to all, and in particular for those from her hometown of Tokoroa. This included tackling major issues like sexual violence, poor mental health and rental conditions in the student community.

Tamatha recently graduated in political studies and is now the full-time President of the student association at Victoria University. ~ Victoria University’s first wahine Māori student president. 

Terry Bellamak

Terry Bellamak has served as National president of ALRANZ Abortion Rights Aotearoa since 2015.

Terry is a former executive at Goldman Sachs. For many years, she owned and managed a consulting practice providing technology services on Wall Street.

Terry has been a citizen of New Zealand since 2011. She completed her LLB at Victoria University of Wellington in 2014.

Under her leadership ALRANZ has brought a human rights complaint against the New Zealand government for its discriminatory abortion laws. The case will go before the Human Rights Review Tribunal. (As of 2020 Abortion in NZ is no longer a crime ~ but we’ve still much work to do & ALRANZ continues that good work)

Heather Henare

Heather Henare Chief Executive of Skylight Trust since February 2015.

Skylight supports people of all ages throughout New Zealand, who are facing any kind of tough life situation. Skylight’s aim is to provide the right help, at the right time, in the right way.

Heather began her working career as an advocate for Rape crisis and Women’s Refuge, in the late 1970’s. She has been a strong advocate forwāhine toa, whānau, rangatahi and tamariki throughout her 35-year career in the domestic and sexual violence sector. It has been a personal journey, commitment and career choice.

Heather is passionate about working for the rights of women, children, young people and whanau, so that their safety is prioritised, and they are empowered and supported to make healthy choices. Heather’s on-going commitment to a safer whānau kaupapa, is what drives her to being part of the solution, and not just talking about the problems.

Rachel Froggatt

Rachel Froggatt ~ Chief Executive Officer, Women in Sport Aotearoa ~

Appointed Chief Executive Officer in September 2018, Rachel brings considerable global experience to the task of developing Women in Sport Aotearoa into the leading research and advocacy body for gender equity in sport nationally, and supporting opportunities for women and girls to be visible, valued and influential across all facets of New Zealand sport.

A senior commercial communications strategist, over the past 18 years Rachel has collaborated with numerous international sporting bodies, including FIFA, FIA and World Rugby, as well as working extensively with many high-profile global brands and rights holders across Formula 1, football, cricket, rugby and Paralympic sport. Rachel also has extensive experience in grassroots communications and in the charity/CSR sector.

Lisa Lawrence 

Lisa Lawrence ~ Vice President, National Council of Women New Zealand an umbrella organisation leading the new Gender Equal NZ conversation campaign. She is the Manager of a community health and social service based in a provincial town at the top of the South Island and has numerous leadership roles across the region. (As of 2020, Lisa is now the National President of NCWNZ)

During her working career, she has been in advisory and governance level roles in the heath and social service sector, including PHARMAC, a regional GP management Māori Strategic Advisory group; NZ College of Midwives and core stakeholder of three reducing family violence community networks. Lisa has previously managed an iwi based health and social service.

She is passionate about equality, improving community resilience and cultural relations through courageous community conversations. She is currently contributing to an expert advisory group to inform redevelopment of Aotearoa sexual harm and family harm sector.

Lisa believes in helping people to help themselves. This ethic has shaped her career & understanding that relationships are a key component to enabling positive community-led change. Her current conversations of interest are Māori, and men. Both marginalised, stereotyped populations & sadly, expected to fail. How do we as a community, cultivate an appetite for value, ownership and leadership in this current climate?

She is passionate about equality, improving community resilience and cultural relations through courageous community conversations.

Emma McInnes

Reetah Mitchell

Reetah Mitchell is the Leader of the Days for Girls, Christchurch Team. days for Girls ia an international grass roots organisation that creates washable reusable menstrual hygiene kits for girls in developing countries.

They are passionate about the education of girls. It’s outrageous simple biology is one of the main issues forcing girls out of education – not just in developing countries, but also our own. A dignified way to deal with your period shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be a right.

Reetah is also an ‘Aunty’ with the  Christchurch Aunties which helps mobilise, donate, and coordinate to help families at four of the women’s refuges in Christchurch city.  The ‘Aunties are a network of people providing practical support and co-ordinating donations to four Women’s refuges in Christchurch. Anyone can be an Auntie – regardless of whether you identify with a particular gender or not.

And Reetah has created a community partnership with MyCup NZ to distribute menstrual cups to Women in need within the Refuge system.

Kayla Stewart

Kayla Stewart ~ is a PhD candidate in the Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology Programme at the University of Otago.

Using a feminist lens, her research examines the prevalence and context of sexual violence at a New Zealand university as well as examining the way sexual violence statistics are collected and reported.

She has taught women’s sexual violence resistance to university and high school students. She is also employed at the University of Otago Legal Issues Centre and undertakes projects focussing on access to justice.

Kayla enjoys undertaking research where the fields of law and sociology intersect. She is passionate about social justice and social responsibility.

Vicki Spearing

Vicki Spearing of ~ One New Zealand.

One New Zealand is a Wanaka based grass roots initiative with a mission to educate,
inspire and enable New Zealand communities to accelerate towards a Carbon Zero
future and beyond by driving citizen led incremental change.
Using the United Nations SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) as a framework ONE
aims to address environmental, social and economic factors in Queenstown, Wanaka
and the greater region.
ONE have a district wide festival of sustainability from 29 th October – 3 rd November 2019
with speakers on all things from transport, water and climate change, hospitality, tourism
and building workshops and lean business programes.
As part of ONE Vicki helps co-ordinate the sustainable summit and also sits on The
Building Better Working Group alongside a group of professionals associated with the
building industry. The Building Better Working Group promotes sector led change to
build more sustainable, healthy, warm homes, to minimise building waste, and to
address the mental health and wellbeing of those in the building industry.
With a love of nature and passion for getting outdoors Vicki is acutely aware that of the
fragility and impermanence of the assets we as a community, country and planet have,
and is deeply concerned about the drastic action required so that our children may
inherit an environment that nurtures health and wellbeing.

Alexa Forbes

Alexa Forbes ~ Councillor of The Queenstown Lakes District Council QLDC

As a Councillor and chair of the Infrastructure Committee, I work to improve community life in the Lakes District in ways that also improve the state of, and our interaction with, our environment.  

As a facilitator in the Leadership for Change programmes at Otago Polytechnic, I support people working together to find innovative and collaborative solutions to issues.

At Scope Media I provide mentor-ship and strategic governance advice. Prior to these roles, I worked for many years as a communicator – as a journalist and later as director of a PR company.  

I’ve lived in Queenstown for 35 years.  My partner and I have a 21 year old son. I am inspired equally by the natural world, young people and what can happen when people truly connect.

Making Ripples  ~ organisations & Women up to good.

Sarah Trotman

Sarah Trotman, ONZM  ~ is a respected business and community leader, a Trustee and Director and a celebrant.

Currently Founder of charity Spend My Super, Sarah has run her own fast growth businesses, and been the driving force behind many major initiatives for New Zealand’s business sector.   She was Chief Executive of Business Mentors New Zealand, supervising the mentoring of almost 5,000 small businesses annually. She is a former Trustee of the Sir Peter Blake Trust and Leadership New Zealand, and is a member of Be.Accessible’s Fab 50 Network and the Sir Peter Blake Trust Awards Selection Panel.  

Sarah helped establish the Lifewise Big Sleep-out fundraising event to support people out of homelessness and is an active mentor. Sarah lives in Auckland and has two children, Matilda 20 and Elliott 19.

Sarah is a strong supporter of the YWCA and an advocate for the advancement of women. Whether it’s taking on the State Services Commission, Radio NZ or the National Business Review, Sarah is not one to back down from highlighting the ongoing sexism that holds Aotearoa, New Zealand’s women and girls back. A career highlight was meeting Hillary Clinton and representing New Zealand at Clinton’s APEC Women’s Entrepreneurs Summit in Japan.

Sukhi Turner ~ The Wānaka Community House for the Upper Clutha Region

Dame Sukhi Turner is a well-known figure primarily from her 3 terms as the Mayor of Dunedin, and prior to that 3 years as Councillor. She has extensive knowledge and experience in the area of governance, leadership and democratic processes. She has led and been a member of various organisations in the areas of community development, education, local government and also been a director of various Local Authority owned companies.

In Wānaka , in the last 10 years, Sukhi has been an active community member, being part of the Wanaka library Association, Chair of Alpine Community Development Trust (Community Networks) and Chair of the Wanaka Community House Charitable Trust

Sukhi was one of the 500 Women and men who were rewarded with the NZ Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993 to celebrate 100 years of votes for Women in New Zealand and to recognise those who have by their virtues and talents made a recognisable contribution to the rights of Women in New Zealand, to Women’s issues or to both.

Suze Cruse ~ Early Childhood

Suz Cruse is a passionate teacher and learner within the Early Childhood Education sector. She currently holds 2 roles. One as Head Teacher of a community preschool in Christchurch and the other as a professional development and learning facilitator for early childhood teachers through Teacher Empowerment Ltd.

Suz believes we need to empower others both young and old,  to grow as component and capable learners and communicators. She feels the power of language , what we say and how we say it , can inform how learners perceive themselves and others and wants us to be intentional in growing the capacity of others through language.

Rebecca Parnham ~ Krama & Co

Rebecca Parnham ~ has made empowering women her business. After taking a trip to Cambodia in 2009 and seeing the usefulness of the humble krama, hand woven scarf, she could see that she could do something to make a real and meaningful difference for women. The idea is simple to use this multipurpose product to celebrate the resilience and ingenuity of Cambodians while also creating an income for the women who weave the krama.From this idea, she has started Krama & Co., a social enterprise that is dedicated to supporting education for girls and opportunities for women.

Rebecca has seen when you empower a woman you empower her child, family and community. She draws of her qualifications and experience as a social worker to inform her business decisions and believes that those skills have been invaluable to ensuring she is working in a way that makes a meaningful difference. This journey has led Rebecca to a passion for ethical fashion and sustainability. She is the chair of the New Brighton Stitch-O-Mat Trust, on the board of a newly formed charity called Navigate Your Way and an administrator of a growing Facebook group called Second Hand Christchurch, which promotes and supports second hand shopping as a more sustainable way of shopping.

Anna van Riel ~ Plastic Bag Free Wānaka 

After the explosion of a facebook thread on the growing concerns of plastic use in our town, local musician Anna van Riel compiled the shared posts and data in a newly formed social media group ‘Plastic Bag Free Wanaka-group’.

Gaining 200 members overnight it became apparent that talking wasn’t enough. So we are creating solutions to stop single-use plastic bags, and generally single-use plastic.

Margaret Pittaway ~ Rural Women New Zealand 

Margaret completed her nursing training at Balclutha Hospital and then moved on to further her career, beginning with gaining a Diploma in Intensive Care Nursing at Wellington Hospital. A three year stint overseas involved her in ICU work in Edinburgh in a renal transplant unit, and then after extensive travel she worked as an agency nurse in London and Essex. On her return to NZ she continued ICU work for some time before moving onto the Blood Transfusion Service and then to work as a Practice Nurse in Dunedin and Cromwell.

In 2012 Margaret took up a new role as a councillor for Rural Women New Zealand in Otago/Southland, a role that involved both governance and working with the membership. During her time with the organisation she has worked on the Health Portfolio, working as a strong authoritative voice to represent the continuing health needs of the rural population and communities.

Dellwyn Stuart ~ CEO ~ YWCA Auckland 

As the new CEO of YWCA Auckland, Dellwyn is proud to have taken the lead of this legacy organisation that has been prioritising the needs of young women for more than 130 years. Dellwyn is passionate about gender equality and wants to amplify the voice of young women as New Zealand moves to more equitable outcomes for all its people and embraces the changes that will face us this century.

Dellwyn regularly shares her unique perspective and well-informed opinions on social issues, innovations and trends as a member of RNZ’s Panel with Wallace Chapman and has been profiled by Canvas (NZ Herald), Jesse Mulligan (RNZ), Carly Flynn (Radio LIVE) and others in the media. She has 30 years’ experience in corporate and private business, has led a family foundation (the Stevenson Foundation) and a major charity (Cure Kids).

Among her governance roles she has served on the Board of Philanthropy NZ. In 2017, Dellwyn founded New Zealand’s first Women’s Fund, bringing an idea to New Zealand that is mobilising women around the world.

Dellwyn welcomes speaking invitations and freely shares her time and insights to celebrate the impact of generous women, women’s needs and women as change makers

ALSO ~ speaking in this series

A representative from Jigsaw Central Lakes ~

& Morgan Weathington ~ Registered Midwife

Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson ~ published poet and columnist.

Laura is the co-writer of The Blue Moments Project song and spoken word cycle, an exploration in music and words of what it is to be foreign. She is also the former editor of Spoke, a national New Zealand mountain bike magazine and the general manager of the Festival of Colour biennial festival of arts and ideas. Laura’s first book, The Bike and Beyond: Life on Two Wheels in Aotearoa New Zealand, is out now as part of the BWB Text series from Bridget Williams Books. www.laurawilliamson.co.nz 

Evening Show as below 

Detailed list of artists & talkers to be announced.

Lis Breslin

Lis Breslin ~ is a New Zealand based writer, working on plays, poems, short stories and articles. Her writing has been published at home, overseas and online.  Lis is offering us a taste of Spoken Word ~ “Some things that I write: poems, plays, stories, columns, reviews, essays, H&S plans, to-do lists, infrequent updates here and at www.lizbreslin.com”

Nina Powell 

Nina Powell is a Certified Somatic Sex Coach and Educator, Sexological Bodyworker and Holistic Pelvic Care Practitioner.

She has trained in many modalities including Somatic Experiencing, Tantra and Taoism. She also holds a BSc Hons in Psychology and MSc. in Human Factors.

She lives in Wānaka, New Zealand with her partner after stepping away from corporate life and stepping into her true passion for helping others live a life of their full potential.

Her work is very much rooted in her Tantrik meditation practice from the Vajrayana lineage of Chogham Trungpa under the teachings of Reginald Ray and Caroline Pfohl.

She supports others in healing from past experiences and living fully aligned and pleasure filled lives.

The Fan Brigade

The Fan Brigade  ~ is an award-winning musical stand up comedy duo in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Livi Reihana & Amanda Kennedy are stupid ugly feminazi bitches who should gas themselves… or talented comedians taking the New Zealand and Sydney comedy scenes by storm (depends who you ask)

Winners of the Director’s Choice Award 2018 – NZ International Comedy Festival
The Fan Brigade are coming to Wanaka with their award winning show Feminazi Bitches with their show that sold out before opening night during the NZ International Comedy Festival

The Fan Brigade won Best Newcomer NZICF 2016 for their debut and sold- out show Ask the Fan Brigade and smashed a second sold-out season in 2017 with the hit sequel Don’t Ask the Fan Brigade.

Their third show Feminazi Bitches brings more of their brilliant musical comedy hits.

The Weaving House 2019 ~ Master of Ceremonies

Liz Breslin

Liz Breslin writes plays, poems, stories and a fortnightly column, ‘Thinking Allowed’, for the Otago Daily Times. Her poetry collection, Alzheimer’s and a spoon (OUP), was listed as one of The Listener’s Top 100 Books of 2017. At home on the page and on the stage, Liz’s recent performances include ‘Love in a time of netball’ at the sold-out Wanaka season of Tall Tales and True, and a stint as the back end of Jill the Cow for her 2018 pantomime, Jac and the Beansprouts.

Traci Houpapa

UNFORTUNATELY ~ as of Wednesday evening before our event Traci was unable to join us 

Traci Houpapa MNZM JP CFInstD

Traci is an award winning company director and a recognised industry leader.  She is also a trusted advisor to Māori, public and private sector entities on strategic and economic development.  Traci is known for her strong and inclusive leadership and her clear focus on building the wealth and prosperity of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Traci has been named as one of the top ten most influential women in New Zealand agribusiness and the Listener’s top ten influencers in New Zealand.  She won the Westpac Fairfax Media Women of Influence Board and Management award and has been named on Westpac’s New Zealand Women Powerbrokers list. Traci was awarded the Massey University Distinguished Alumni Service Award for services to New Zealand agribusiness and Māori, and was also named by the BBC amongst the 100 Most Influential Women in the World.  She is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.

Traci has an MBA from Massey University and is a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, a Justice of the Peace and a Marriage Celebrant

& here they are alongside some of New Zealand’s top comedians sharing ‘the most offensive, obnoxious and flat-out sexist comments they’ve received over the course of their careers.’

 

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We’re turning periods into pathways.

Days for Girls increases access to menstrual care and education by developing global partnerships, cultivating social enterprises, mobilising volunteers, and innovating sustainable solutions that shatter stigmas and limitations for women and girls. Together, we’re creating a world with dignity, health, and opportunity for all.

​Our movement has reached more than one million girls — and counting!  With your help, we can reach Every Girl. Everywhere. Period.

 

Good goods for good. ~ Krama & Co 

We partner with weavers from rural villages in Cambodia to bring you stunning hand loomed krama (crow-ma). Our profits to support education for girls and opportunities for women in New Zealand and Cambodia through our partner charities.

The krama (meaning scarf in Khmer) is an iconic, traditional Cambodian garment with a rich and beautiful history. Traditionally woven by women, krama are incredibly versatile, and its uses are only limited by your imagination. When you buy a krama it keeps the craft and a local tradition alive.

What we also love is that the weavers can earn an income while caring for their children. Our vision is that women will be economically empowered to make choices and be able to effect change for themselves, their children and their communities.

 

UN Women works to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality throughout the world. UN Women has identified six strategic areas that are of critical for the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment and which guide our work.

Working to achieve gender equality To pursue these goals UN Women works with countries to formulate laws and policies which eliminate gender discrimination and promote gender equality in areas such as land and inheritance rights, decent work for women and ending violence against women. It also aims to transform institutions to make them more accountable regarding gender equality, to strengthen the voice of women’s rights advocates, and to change harmful and discriminatory practices in society.  UN Women has programmes and projects in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Arab States, Asia-Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

UN Women National Committee Aotearoa NZ UN Women NZ focuses on the same areas, both domestically and within the Pacific region. Our primary areas for attention are violence against women, leadership and participation and economic empowerment.

 

A joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact.

The Women’s Empowerment Principles* are a set of Principles for business offering guidance on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. They are the result of a collaboration between UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact. The development of the Principles included an international multi-stakeholder consultation process, which was launched in March 2009.

 

The National Council of Women New Zealand

We are leading the Gender Equal NZ movement.

We are fighting for gender equality because we want all New Zealanders to have the freedom and opportunity to determine their own future.

Discrimination can be more subtle than it once was. We see it in our everyday interactions, with subtle gender inequality being revealed in attitudes and assumptions. For some, gender inequality is more obvious. For all of us, the job is not done. Find out more here.

We are an umbrella organisation with a volunteer board and 15 branches nationwide. More than 200 organisations, as well as individuals, are members. Established in 1896, we have led or supported many initiatives that have benefited New Zealand communities.

 

Gender equality matters for all of us

Gender Equal NZ ~ We are fighting for gender equality because we want all New Zealanders to have the freedom and opportunity to determine their own future.

Discrimination can be more subtle than it once was. We see it in our everyday interactions, with gender inequality being revealed  in attitudes and assumptions. For some, gender inequality is more obvious.  For all of us, the job is not done.

 

Women IN Urbanism Aotearoa ~ We’re transforming our towns and cities into more beautiful, inspiring and inclusive places for everyone by amplifying the voices and actions of all women.

 

Christchurch Aunties ~ The Aunties help to provide sustained support for women and kids who have been through domestic violence. We seek to spread light to the most vulnerable.

 

Women in Sport Aotearoa, Ngā Wāhine Hākinakina o Aotearoa, exists to transform society through leadership, research and advocacy, ensuring that all women and girls gain equity of opportunity to participate, compete and build careers in sport.

We work across New Zealand and currently, we are also the global delivery agent for the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport Secretariat & Conference 2018-2022.

We are a not-for-profit. Our funding comes from a mix of Grants & Trusts, Donations, Fundraising & Gifts, and Commercial Partnerships.

You can help too! Visit Support Us.

Visit About to learn more and to meet Our People.

 

Skylight Trust ~  We support people of all ages throughout New Zealand who are facing any kind of tough life situation, but we specialise in grief, loss and trauma.

Counselling

We provide counselling services for people going through difficult times in life. The range of issues we could support you with include:

• Grief and bereavement (including bereavement by suicide or homicide)
• Trauma (including witnessing a traumatic event)
• Family break up and adjusting to blended families
• Behavioural issues (anger in children, bullying, ASD)
• Illness and anticipated death
• Mild to moderate mental health issues
• Domestic Violence
• Broken relationships
• Injury or disability
• Disaster aftermath

Counselling

Resource centre

Our Resource Centre offers a wide range of specialist information about the different ways change, loss, trauma and grief can affect people. We can send information and support materials to you anywhere in New Zealand.

Skylight library

Skylight shop

Resilience

Our work helps people to find ways to live with life’s losses, to build on their natural resilience and to move forward in their lives. We give them access to expert information, education, professional services, and support.

We provide programmes in schools to help build resilience in children and facilitate support groups for people going through different types of loss.

Resilience

Training

Skylight’s workshops provide professional development for people working in environments where they are supporting children, young people, families, whānau and communities, through challenging life events and crises.

Training

Advocacy

We advocate for awareness and systemic change at national government, local government and organisation levels, to ensure the availability of grief support in communities where it is absent.

 

Women’s Refuge NZ ~ We are a women’s organisation for women and their children, here to help prevent and stop family violence in New Zealand.
If you are experiencing any form of abuse in your family or your relationship, or know someone who is, there are many ways we can help you – for free, and confidentially.
We’d love to help whether you have children or not. Women’s Refuge can:

• talk to you if you’re worried about your safety in your relationship and help you make a Safety Plan
• provide a safe place to go to if you need help urgently
• help you stand up for your needs whether or not you are thinking about leaving.

We are an independent, bicultural community organisation and have support services designed especially for children, young people, Māori women, Pasifika women and migrant and refugee women. We also assist lesbian women, older women and women with disabilities.

You can contact us at Women’s Refuge to get help and advice about talking to friends or family members you worry are being abused emotionally, physically, sexually, spiritually or financially.

We also run training programmes for communities and organisations to help educate people about the impact of domestic violence and how to work with women and children who have experienced it.

As New Zealand’s most significant domestic violence organisation, Women’s Refuge takes a strong advocacy role by working to positively change policy and attitudes about domestic violence. We do this by lobbying the government and running public campaigns – all to help keep women and children safe.

To find out more about us check out our latest news and events, learn how you can get involved and support our work, sign up to our newsletter, or contact your local refuge. Kia kaha.

 

New Zealand Human Rights Commission ~ Te Kāhui Tika Tangata

The Human Rights Commission was set up in 1977 and works under the Human Rights Act 1993. Our purpose is to promote and protect the human rights of all people in Aotearoa New Zealand. We work for a free, fair, safe and just New Zealand, where diversity is valued and human dignity and rights are respected.

The Human Rights Commission was created to provide better protection of human rights in Aotearoa….and works under the Human Rights Act 1993.

We are funded through the Ministry of Justice but operate independently of the New Zealand Government as an independent Crown Entity.

 

ALRANZ ~ The Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand

We believe women are people, with the intrinsic human right to decide what happens to their own bodies. We believe the state has no business coercing anyone to become a parent without that person’s consent. We believe New Zealand law must be changed to reflect these principles.

 

The Ministry for Women,  Te Minitatanga mō ngā Wāhine,  is the Government’s principal advisor on achieving better results for women, and wider New Zealand. The Ministry has three strategic outcomes:

• ensuring the contribution of women and girls is valued
• ensuring all women and girls are financially secure and can fully participate and thrive
• ensuring all women and girls are free from all forms of violence and harassment

The Ministry’s main responsibilities are:

• Policy advice on improving outcomes for women in New Zealand
• Managing New Zealand’s international reporting obligations in relation to the status of women
• Providing suitable women nominees for appointment to state sector boards and committees
• Providing support services to the Minister for Women.

The Ministry carries out its work by acting as a catalyst for action and change, and by getting key issues on the agenda of government agencies and other relevant organisations. The Ministry provides accessible, evidence-based information to inform and assist others. The Ministry is strongly solutions-focused, with advice that is tailored and persuasive. The Ministry carries out its work by bringing the voices, experiences and priorities of different groups of New Zealand women to government. It also works closely with other government agencies, women’s non‑government organisations and stakeholders within the private sector. The Ministry’s work will bring benefits to women, their families and New Zealand as a whole.

The Minister for Women is Julie Anne Genter. She is also Associate Minister for Transport and Health.

The Ministry for Women also provides policy and administrative support to the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (‘the Council’).  The Council is an independent advisory body to the Minister for Women on matters related to women’s employment.

 

The OPMCSA has a small team that provides science-based evidence to the Prime Minister to inform the programme of government.  The OPMCSA may also assist Cabinet Ministers with requests for science advice.

 

Spend My Super ~ Spend My Super aspires to address inequality in New Zealand and so we’ve identified charities that are truly making a difference. We encourage generous New Zealanders to donate part or all of their superannuation to support the work of these outstanding charities and the important work they’re doing.

 

The Wanaka Community House Charitable Trust was formed to build a Community House for Wanaka. A Community House is a building that welcomes tenants who provide social service to the region as well as for community groups. It is a centrally located facility that provides space in a cooperative and supportive environment and helps to build a sense of community and social wellbeing.

The Trust was formed in 2011 to provide an independent non-affiliated entity to make the project happen. The Wanaka Community House will open in September 2019.

 

Teacher Empowerment Ltd ~ Our logo of “making it real” ensures the Professional Development and Learning we provide:

• Links theory and practice in a meaningful
way for teachers.

• Connects to centre philosophy ,values
and beliefs.

• Links with current trends, interests and
best practice expectations.

Jigsaw Central Lakes ~ Jigsaw provides services to individuals, families and the community to support safe and healthy relationships.

 

Plastic Bag Free Wānaka ~

After the explosion of a facebook thread on the growing concerns of plastic use in our town, local musician Anna van Riel compiled the shared posts and data in a newly formed social media group ‘Plastic Bag Free Wanaka-group’.

Gaining 200 members overnight it became apparent that talking wasn’t enough. So we are creating solutions to stop single-use plastic bags, and generally single-use plastic.

Our vision is for Wanaka to be plastic bag free by 2019 and for a reduction of single use plastic in our community and across New Zealand.

 

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is an integral part of the rural landscape, members join RWNZ for friendship, support and learning opportunities. RWNZ offer scholarships and bursaries to assist rural students to access education opportunities.

RWNZ connects with the rural community through social events, fundraising and as an authoritative voice on rural health services, education, rural environment and social issues.

RWNZ supports and nurtures talent, and encourages members to grow their skills through roles within branches and provincials and progress into leadership roles in their communities.

YWCA Auckland (The Y) is a charitable organisation with a heritage of providing free community programmes in Auckland for more than 132 years. The Y is part of the world’s largest women’s organisation, a global network of 25 million women leading social and economic change in more than 100 countries worldwide.   Empowering young women is in our DNA.

Historically, the YWCA movement has brought women together in all sorts of contexts – from affordable housing, to social clubs for women in segregated occupations, to groups for mothers isolated in new towns. During the 20th century, the emphasis on Christianity was replaced by an openness to women of all faiths and no faith. YWCA Auckland offers innovative multicultural and multi-faith projects and services strongly representing one of the biggest players fighting for young women and girl’s rights on the international stage.

We’re not done yet… lets not kid ourselves. When it comes to 100% opportunity for young women, there is still a long way to go. It will take the energy, ideas and commitment of women of all ages and beliefs to make the change we want.

WE STAND BEHIND YOUNG WOMEN for 100% SAFETY, OPPORTUNITY, FREEDOM, CHOICE, FAIRNESS.

Activities & Pay Gap Discount for Her Voice.

Here you’ll find information on further going ons ~ the market, yoga, entertainment & where our guests were able to purchase their meals with a Pay-Gap discount.

GIVING SEEDS OF LOVE COMING TO WĀNAKA – 13 th and 14 th April 2019
Rebecca Parnham co-founder of Social Enterprise Krama and Co was in Wānaka this weekend speaking at The Weaving House conference at the Lake Wānaka Centre brought with her an opportunity for the Wānaka Community to support an exciting initiative started in Christchurch to help support children of the families affected by the Christchurch shootings.

Seeds of Love are supporting a charity called NZ Gifts of Love and Strength who are giving practical support to 100 of the families directly affected by the shootings they have requested Giving Seeds of Love provide every child they are supporting a terracotta pot with a seeds of love heart planted in it.  Over 200 pots are required.

To help make the seeded paper for the children people could come to the Wānaka Hotel Meeting Room from 3:30pm on Friday, 12th  April through until 12pm Sunday 14th  April. To help participants could pay $10 to make seeded paper and write in the card provided that was later put with a terracotta pot with potting mix to give to a child affected by the shootings.

Rebecca from the Seeds of Love team was there to meet and talk between 3:30 – 4:30 pm on Friday the 12th and from 12 – 1 pm and 3 pm to 4 pm on Saturday the 13th.

Giving seeds of love ( http://www.givingseedsoflove.com) is an initiative that came out of the Christchurch terror attacks on the 15th  of March. Beginning with two mothers, Rebecca Parnham and Chanel Campbell, who were already supporting Waitakiri Primary Schools Enviroferns Butterfly team to make seeded paper. The idea was that it would be a great way to support our children to process the events of that day. From there they used their many contacts to grow the initiative.

Rebecca Parnham has a social work background and was able to utilise the knowledge and contacts she has to support the initiative. Chanel Campbell has a horticultural and sales background and used her skills and knowledge. They pulled in key people such as Danielle Poyzer who has built a website and Bel van Noorden to utilise her knowledge from her studies especially in psychology and sociology. From there and with
many other generous supporters the initiative has grown and flourished. 

The process of making seeded paper alone is very therapeutic and allows a gentle way to approach and discuss the attacks which can be especially helpful for parents but great in school and workplace settings as well.

The idea of using wildflowers in rich in symbolism as they are diverse and beautiful and also extremely resilient. This is used to represent and support the sense of unity this situation has evoked. The idea of gifting or sewing them is an outward and visible way to show you promote and stand for unity.

A short clip has been made to show how to do this and the instructions are able to be downloaded and are being translated into many different languages. There has been a
huge number of requests for the group to provide workshops and opportunities to do this in a public setting and for groups which they are trying to meet.

A charity called NZ Gifts of Love and Strength who are giving practical support to 100 of the families directly affected have request that every child they are supporting is given a terracotta pot with a seeds of love heart planted in it which is being worked on at the moment and what anyone who comes to a workshop can choose to participate in.
www.givingseedsoflove.com/  
www.krama.nz/
www.facebook.com/Giving-Seeds-of-Love-361150791150623/
www.facebook.com/nzgiftsofloveandstrength/

 

Her Voice Market

Saturday Morning a small market stall at the front of The lake Wānaka Centre from 9am ~ & the weather is looking just fine! 

Here’s some of what was found ~

Bridget Hall Design is an art print and greeting card business based in Wanaka. This art is inspired by the ever-changing drama and beauty of the natural world, it provokes a sense of connection and history in a modern way with much of the work focused on geometric and contemporary abstract mountain art. The goal of Bridget Hall Design is to provide customers with art that is modern, beautiful and affordable. All products are made with heart in Wanaka, New Zealand, and are printed on eco friendly paper.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Krama & Co~ Our hand-loomed krama (scarves) come from Cambodia. Profits help fund education for girls and opportunities for women through our chosen charities.

Our beautiful, hand-loomed krama (scarves) are from small villages in Cambodia. Our profits help fund education for girls and opportunities for women through our partner charities.

Her Voice Yoga

During Her Voice 12th-13th April ~ Yoga practice was freely available.

Yoga was available to our community in the Armstrong Room of The lake Wānaka Centre. 7.30am on Friday & Saturday morning. No equipment or experience was required. This, another opportunity  to be nurture our Her Voice guests. The instructors for stretching leisure & goodness are below.  Both of these Women teach at ‘Ground Yoga Wānaka’ 

 

Friday Morning ~ Danielle

Saturday Morning ~ Michelle

Her Voice Gender Pay Gap Discount for you meals ~ Oh YUM

Gender Pay Gap Discount ~ YUM 

There were four special little places offering a Gender pay Gap discount in 2019 ~ Soul Food Organic Shop, The Big Fig, The Beanie cafe & The Good Corner.

Our guests only needed to present their Her Voice tickets to the door to receive their Gender Pay Gap discount tokens & vouchers.

“On 15 August 2018, StatsNZ announced that the gender pay gap was 9.2 percent. The gender pay gap has reduced since 1998 (16.3 percent), but has stalled in the last decade.” ~ Ministry For Women

10% at The Good Spot available for the two days.

The Big Fig 10% Gender Pay Gap discount voucher ran out upon the expiry date.

The Beanie Cafe is also offered a %10 Gender Pay gap discount ~ & was available for the two days.

&

The Intersectional Gender Pay Gap Discount

Soul Food  took it one step further & offering a 15.1% discount, this was an average of sorts ~ this helped us highlight the issue around varying pay gaps among Women.

Recently it came to light that Pacific Women working in the public service earned, on average, 21 per cent less than the mean wage for all employees.

The pay gap is not just about Gender ~ it’s also about discrimination. Māori and Asian Women earn less that their Pākehā counterparts.

 

So ~ WHAT DOES INTERSECTIONAL FEMINISM ACTUALLY MEAN?

~ Click here to learn more.

The weft ~ dear support for ‘Her Voice’ Our Sponsors.

Kia ora thank you. For whom The Weaving House is ‘forever’ grateful for your interest, participation & support for the essential stories shared & happenings at at our 2019 gathering. It cannot be underestimated each drop ~ and cannot be estimated how far that ripple. Your support has enabled further steps towards a more equitable, sustainable & peaceful future ~ & you’ve assisted in empowering the work of our advocates.

~ wave upon wave ~ Interwoven interweaving ~ #TogetherWeaving

Ngā mihi mahana & BIG ahroha nui ~ X ~

~Support for 2019 Her Voice NZ speaker series~

 

Soul Food Organic Store & Cafe

 

 

 

The good Spot ~ caravan cafe

 

The Beanie Cafe

 

Ray White Wānaka 

News Media Articles on HerVoiceNZ

 

~ Yes, we do have brains!

From The Wānaka Sun ~ “Dangerous Ideas From Women With Brains” 21st February 2019.

 #HerVoiceNZ as reported by The News Central Otago prior to opening in April. 

Lectures feature prominent NZ women

April 5th 2019 ~ ‘‘..gender equality is integral & a precondition for peace, for the eradication of poverty, for equitable & sustainable development, & for the protection of our environment.’’

Wānaka radio ~ interview pre Her Voice Lecture Series with Amy Pearl

Audio Player ~ On it’s way……. Stay tuned..

Partial Screen shots of Reporting by The Wānaka App ~ 10th April 2019 

~ Thursday 11th April 2019 Wānaka Sun.  Marilyn Waring at Her Voice.

Re-defining Feminism – Wanaka’s Her Voice a big hit ~ Crux Media Queenstown

“Wanaka reporter Georgia Merton discovers that bra burning has been replaced by a more moderate approach that has seen feminism making permanent, overdue and positive changes to society.”

‘Hard Topics Raised at Conference’ from Sue Wards & The Wānaka App.