Te Whakatakoto Kaupapa Mō Te Tari

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From the Chief Executive

This was a big year for the Ministry of Women's Affairs - a year when gains were made in a number of key areas and in which the foundations were laid for further progress.

It was the year when the Ministry completed and successfully launched the Action Plan for New Zealand Women (Action Plan / Plan).

It was the year when the Ministry greatly strengthened its capacity to deliver well-researched, robust policy advice by beginning to address the capability issues identified in the State Services Commission (SSC) review of the Ministry. This included successfully recruiting a number of permanent staff after a period of heavy reliance on temporary staff.

It was a year when New Zealand's record in promoting the role of women was highlighted internationally by the presentation of New Zealand's fifth report to the United Nations (UN) on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

And, from a personal perspective, it was a very significant year for me as I joined the Ministry of Women's Affairs in February 2004 as Chief Executive.

In this regard I have to thank the Acting Chief Executive Anne Carter for her work in bringing the Action Plan to fruition and laying the foundations for the rebuilding of the Ministry following the SSC review. Anne was Acting Chief Executive for nearly a year and led the Ministry through a period when significant decisions were taken about its future.

I would also like to thank the rest of the staff of the Ministry who worked incredibly hard to develop and launch the Action Plan. The Plan provides a truly whole-of-government approach to achieving the vision for women and it clearly sets out a path forward for the next five years.

We approach the coming year with a great deal of optimism. We have a clear and agreed government plan of action that addresses women's needs and which provides guidance to ensure the work of the Ministry is effectively prioritised. We have already greatly strengthened our capacity to deliver advice and are making further progress in this area. And we are working more closely with other government agencies, with women's groups and with other stakeholders, recognising that real change can only be delivered when all those involved work together. We are on our way.

Shenagh Gleisner
Chief Executive

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