Women in Politics, a brand-new organisation for New Zealand women in political office, was met with overwhelming support at the 2014 Local Government New Zealand Conference held this weekend in Nelson.
The National Party Women’s Caucus paid tribute to New Zealand’s first National Party Member of Parliament, Dame Hilda Ross, at an event held last night in her honour. The Party also holds a Memorial Fund in her name.
In the year that New Zealand marks 120 years since women won the vote, the number of women vying for local body seats is stagnating.
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands says more women should run for Parliament but need to get there on their own merits.
Henry Puna says he strongly encourages women to take up positions of power in Cook Islands communities.
This week our Prime Minister will join the leaders of 15 Pacific Island countries at the 44th meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum.
What is it about the “woman question” that drives so many pundits and politicians to despair in New Zealand? To call the all-women shortlist a “man ban” shows how clearly many of them see politics as being all about them, men.