Panui March 2009

Click HERE for a PDF version of Panui

Table of Contents

Economic recession key issue at women’s workshop
From the Chief executive - Let’s talk about the future
Message to Pānui subscribers
Women and the economic recession
Equal sharing of caregiving top theme in New York
Challenge on International Women’s Day to end family violence
Networking hard work but worth it
International Women’s Day
Women on the Move
Understanding the effects of crime
Women on Boards - Rachael Selby, (JP)
In brief

• Older New Zealanders keep working
• Benefits, Student Allowances, NZ super and War Pensions to increase
• Stories of family violence
• Wage gap widens after study
• Number of teenage mums rising
• HPV vaccine immunisation programme extended
• Help after an unexpected death

 

Economic recession key issue at women’s workshop

How to ease the effects and make the most of opportunities for women in the economic recession was high on the agenda for a Women in Business workshop held by MWA last month.

Thirty-five women representing small, medium, and large businesses and unions, directors, and experts on issues related to women and employment met in Auckland on 24 February for the workshop which was hosted by the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Pansy Wong, and facilitated by Ministry of Women’s Affairs’ Chief Executive, Shenagh Gleisner.

In her opening address, the Minister told the group that it was critical women were able to play an active part in the debate about the recession and its impacts.

‘All of you in your positions are well-placed to make a knowledgeable and valuable contribution to that debate.’

The women were also asked to contribute their ideas on how to increase women’s participation in senior leadership and governance in both the public and private sectors; what the business sector could do to help the government; and, the Minister said, ‘perhaps, most importantly, we would like to know what areas we can all work together in to enable women to have real choices about their participation in the economy.’

Challenges for women in the recession that were canvassed at the workshop included redundancy, reduced hours of work and the resulting loss of income, and social and financial issues for vulnerable groups such as casual or minimum wage workers and migrants.

Suggestions for easing the impacts of the recession included focusing on communities, and particularly how to integrate family, churches, and communities in a way that better uses existing resources; supporting employers to take on apprenticeships in a wider range of occupations and extending apprenticeships to people who have been made redundant; and encouraging flexible workplaces.

The Minister advised the women that the specific issues that were raised at the workshop would be provided as another input into work related to the Prime Minister’s Summit on Employment being held on Friday 27 February.
 
‘We had a number of key women who are involved in the Prime Minister’s job summit attending the workshop and they will be feeding the ideas through. Also, as a member of Cabinet I will ensure that women will have a voice in any decision made as a result of the job summit’.

More information on the job summit is available at www.beehive.govt.nz.

From the Chief executive

Let’s talk about the future

I have just returned from representing New Zealand at the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York.

Although it was not the main theme for this year’s session, there was much talk about the global recession and the impact this could have on women.

The whole world is facing significant change and uncertainty and we are no different here in New Zealand. Change brings opportunities as well as risks and now is a good time to be talking to each other about what has changed, what we must hold on to, and what are the best ways forward.

I have been thinking about those issues and have decided that now is a good time to get out and talk directly to women and men around the country, so I am in the process of setting up a series of meetings. The five-year Action Plan for New Zealand Women has successfully run its course and is coming to an end. We also have a new government and Minister, and a different economic environment, so now is a good time to talk about our future focus. Please keep an eye on our website for meeting details.

Our Minister, Hon Pansy Wong, has confirmed a set of priorities that has strong continuity with our work over the past few years, but also challenge us to do more. The Minister has already taken a very strong public stand on ending violence against women, and this will remain at the top of our agenda. We will also continue to have a very strong focus on increasing the numbers of women in leadership thoughout the economy. And we will continue to focus on eliminating the barriers to women entering and succeeding in the labour market.

Overarching these themes is a commitment to women having real, positive choices thoroughout their lifetimes – you can expect to see us looking at girls as well as women. One of the challenges the Minister has set us is to take a more integrated ‘life-cycle’ approach to women’s choices and to focus more on the linkages as well as on the specific problems like ending violence. This is one of the issues I want to discuss as I meet people around the country. I look forward to engaging directly with at least some of you as we work towards better choices for women and ensuring that we emerge from the recession strengthened, not weakened.

Women having real choices

The Minister of Women’s Affairs’ goal for New Zealand women is ‘Women having real choices and using their strengths to maximise social and economic success’. New Zealand prospers when women are healthy, empowered, resilient, and safe; women have the opportunity to develop and use their skills and talents; and society recognises caring as integral to economic and social success.

Message to Pānui subscribers

Help us reduce costs and save the planet! Switching to receiving Pānui by email saves about $1.50 in postage for each copy – and saves trees. If you would like to swap to receiving Pānui electronically – or would simply like to change your order for printed copies – please let us know. You can either:

1. Email mwa@mwa.govt.nz with ‘Pānui’ in the subject line. Provide your name, organisation (if relevant) and ‘email please’ and we will change your order. If you want to change the address or numbers of hard copies instead, just let us know what you want in the email.
2. Phone Pat on (04) 916 5812.

Thank you from the Pānui team.

Women and the economic recession

Figures released by The Treasury indicate New Zealand has been in economic recession since the beginning of 2008. Assistant Policy Analyst at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Dale Warburton, says this is measured by falling economic activity.

‘New Zealand has experienced three consecutive quarters of declining economic activity. During that time, labour market patterns for women have changed significantly.’

Here are examples of some trends for the period December 2007 to December 2008:

Labour force participation

Data for the December 2008 quarter show that women’s labour force participation was at its highest recorded level at 63.2 percent, compared with 75.8 percent for men. Men’s and women’s labour force participation rate increased by 0.5 percentage points and 0.9 percentage points respectively.

Unemployment

Unemployment rates for women and men have increased in the December 2008 quarter, to 4.7 percent for women and 4.4 percent for men. Since December 2007, women’s unemployment rate has increased by 1.2 percentage points, compared with an increase of 1.1 percentage points in men’s unemployment rate.

Occupation

There were 9,200 fewer women employed as ‘service and sales workers’. The second largest occupational decline for women has been 3,100 fewer women employed as ‘plant and machine operators’. However, 10,200 and 11,700 extra women are now employed as ‘professionals’ and ‘technicians and associate professional’ respectively.

Age

Young women again have the highest unemployment rate of all age groups. The unemployment rates of women aged 15-19 and 20-24 have increased by 6.0 and 3.1 percentage points respectively.

Ethnicity

Pacific women’s unemployment rate increased by 2.3 percentage points to reach 9.5 percent. At 9.7 percent, Māori women continued to have the highest unemployment rate for any ethnic group while Pākehā women (3.0 percent) have the lowest unemployment rate.

Qualifications

Both men and women with no qualifications have experienced a disproportionate increase in their unemployment rate. The unemployment rate for women with no qualification has increased from 4.7 percent to 7.9 percent over this time period, while men’s unemployment rate has increased from 5.4 percent to 7.5 percent. The unemployment rate for men and women with post-school and school qualifications have each increased by 0.4 percentage points to reach 2.3 percent and 3.0 percent respectively.

Unemployment Benefit

The number of women receiving the unemployment benefit increased by 1,960 (25.2 percent) to reach 9,734. Over the same period the number of men receiving the unemployment benefit increased by 6,040 (34.8 percent) to reach 21,266.

Assistant Policy Analyst Dale Warburton has been with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs since August 2008. His policy work areas include retirement, population ageing and fertility, employment, work-life balance, and recession issues.

Equal sharing of caregiving top theme in New York

Equal sharing of caregiving between men and women was the major theme at the 53rd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), held in New York from 2-13 March 2009.

Ministry of Women’s Affairs’ Chief Executive, Shenagh Gleisner, headed the New Zealand delegation to CSW. Other members of the delegation were: Samantha Hung (NZAID), Jo Spratt (Family Planning International); Eleanor Hale (MWA Policy Analyst); and Nicky Hill (UN Mission for New Zealand in New York). Professor Marilyn Waring was also there representing New Zealand.

Shenagh Gleisner said during the first week of the session the participants heard many other country statements, and participated actively in debates on women in decision- making, the economic crisis and finding ways to encourage equal sharing of caregiving between men and women. The second week was taken up with detailed and busy negotiations.

She said there were some important developments to share from this session.

‘First, the United States’ delegation took a very different approach in this CSW from the last few years. I met with the delegation of the USA and, amongst other things, they affirmed that they were working towards ratifying CEDAW (the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women).

‘Second, the profile of New Zealand was enhanced through Marilyn Waring’s impressive presentation on the expert panel, and at many side events. She focused on challenging states to find ways of valuing women’s unpaid work and explaining the rich value to be gained by policy-makers from good analysis of data from time use surveys.

‘Third, we were busy supporting the Pacific countries who were at CSW. The size and quality of the participation of the Pacific countries in this year’s CSW was impressive.

‘And fourth, we were able to learn a lot from other countries about innovative policies and practices. The Scandinavian countries are leading in the way men are taking significant responsibility for caring, particularly through parental leave policies. It was also most interesting to hear how many countries have established public campaigns or other interventions to reduce gender stereotyping, for the sake of both men and women. The methods used to build the numbers of women in decision-making in many countries also offers us good learning.’

Shenagh Gleisner said the delegation heard some devastating accounts about the appalling treatment of women and girls in some countries that are engaged in conflict.

‘This makes one realise quite how far the world has to go to achieve basic rights for women. And, although what we can say about New Zealand is largely positive, we come away from New York once again aware that there is still very much more to do in our own country.’

Challenge on International Women’s Day to end family violence

At a breakfast held on 6 March to celebrate International Women’s Day, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hon Pansy Wong, challenged New Zealand to become the first nation in the world to eliminate domestic violence.

‘New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote, now we must follow that up by challenging ourselves to become the first nation to eliminate domestic violence.’

The Minister spoke of her strong commitment to ‘significantly reducing the terrible toll of family and sexual violence, both of which impact heavily on women’.

‘This commitment is shared by the rest of Government and I can assure you that it will remain near the top of our agenda because it is an issue that affects every New Zealander.

‘There is nothing more destructive to women than violence or the fear of violence. Being safe and having the freedom to feel safe are the most basic of human rights and they are rights that every New Zealander has the right to enjoy’.

The United Nations’ theme for this year’s International Women’s Day was ‘women and men uniting to end violence against women and girls’.

Networking hard work but worth it

Networking takes hard work, but is one of the most important tools for anyone who is looking for opportunities, Minister of Women’s and Ethnic Affairs, Hon Pansy Wong, said at an International Women’s Day celebration on 8 March.

Speaking to an audience of 150 guests at Te Papa Tongarewa, the Minister said when talking about networking, she liked to use the analogy of a spider web.

‘Like a web, networking takes hard work, diligence, and patience and brings together individual strands to create a strong and powerful environment that can capture almost anything.

‘The benefit of spinning a strong network is that we have the opportunity to utilise our individual talents and bring them together for strength and prosperity.’

The Minister encouraged the audience to ‘trade phone numbers and to talk about business opportunities and interests with each other here today and, most importantly, to keep in touch with each other because you never know what’s around the corner’.

The event was organised by the Office of Ethnic Affairs and the Wellington Regional Ethnic Women’s Network.

Women on the Move

Congratulations to all the women who received an honour in the 2009 New Year’s honours list. The full list can be seen at www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/index.asp.

Dr Meaola Amituanai-Toloa has been appointed New Zealand’s first Associate Dean, Pasifika to the Faculty of Education at the University of Auckland.

Port Taranaki employee Amanda Gunn is the first female in the country to complete a level 4 national qualification in cargo supervision and planning. She is also the only female operations co-ordinator at Blyde Terminal.

At the Westpac Halberg Sports Awards ceremony in February, shot put champion Valerie Vili won 2008 Sportswoman of the Year and the supreme Halberg Award. Rowers Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell won the Team category and coach Kirsten Hellier won the SPARC Coach of the Year category. Commonwealth Games middle distance gold and silver medallist during the 1980s Anne Audain was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, and former New Zealand squash representative Susie Simcock, President of the World Squash Federation since 1996 and National Olympic Committee Board member for more than 20 years, was presented with the SPARC Leadership Award.

Kate Wilkinson has been made an Associate Minister of Conservation, and Tariana Turia has been made an Associate Minister for Disability Issues.

Cathy Quinn, senior corporate partner with law firm Minter Ellison Rudd Watts, has been appointed chair of the firm’s board.

Understanding the effects of crime

Interviews are underway for the New Zealand Crime and Safety Survey (NZCASS) 2009.

Between February and June this year, about 5,400 randomly-selected people over the age of 15 years throughout the country will be interviewed in their homes for the Ministry of Justice survey.

The survey asks people their views of crime and public safety and about the impact of crime on their lives. Respondents who have been victims of crime in the past year are asked detailed questions about their experience, including their level of access to support agencies, and contact with Police.

The survey is important to fully understand crime and how it affects victims, families and different communities. The information from the survey is used to better inform the work by justice sector agencies to create safer neighbourhoods and communities. Without the survey, there would be a big gap in the justice sector’s understanding of crime in this country.

The NZCASS provides a broad measure of criminal victimisation as it collects information on both reported and unreported crimes. Previous surveys have shown that as little as 32 percent of surveyed offences became known to the Police. As the survey includes unreported crimes, the information gathered by the survey can be incorporated with Police data to create a fuller picture of crime and victimisation in New Zealand.

The Ministry of Justice carried out similar surveys in 1996, 2001 and 2006. The NZCASS is now conducted every three years.

Fieldwork will be finished near the end of June 2009. A draft report on the key findings is expected to be available by mid-2010.

For more information, visit the Ministry of Justice website: www.justice.govt.nz.

 

√ Action Plan Action Plan for New Zealand Women Well-being 3.2.2.  Crime Reduction Strategy. Improve safety for women, girls and older women by continuing the implementation of the Crime Reduction Strategy. In particular, develop interventions aimed at potential or actual offenders, and potential or actual victims, especially Māori, Pacific peoples, at risk families, and those affected by drugs, alcohol or gambling.

Women on Boards

Rachael Selby, (JP)

Ngāti Raukawa

Winston Churchill Trust Board (2009 - )

Member, Social Workers Complaints and Disciplinary Tribunal (2008 - )

Member, Te Rūnanga o Raukawa Board (2003 - )

Member, Ōtaki and Porirua Trust Board (2001- )

Member, Executive Committee, National Oral History Association (2001 - )

Rachael Selby of Ōtaki is a senior lecturer in Māori Development, Social Policy and Social Work at Massey University in the School of Health and Social Services. Her research interests include Māori and indigenous women’s oral history, education aid in the South Pacific, whānau, hapū and iwi development, and Māori and indigenous education.

Rachael was manager of the Ōtaki Children’s Health Camp for two years where she managed a staff of 40, and of the Horowhenua Learning Centre, where she was responsible for developing community education courses for unemployed groups.

Rachael has extensive committee and board experience and spoke to MWA about her membership of the Ōtaki and Porirua Trust Board.

Q: Can you tell us about the role of the Ōtaki and Porirua Trust Board?

A: In 1852 a block of 580 acres of land in Ōtaki was given by the Crown to support the school run by the Church Missionary Society. This property later came to be administered by the Ōtaki and Porirua Trust Board, for the benefit of the education of young people from the area’s three tribes: Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toarangatira, and Te Āti Awa. The land is used for two dairy farms and the Board grants education scholarships from the profits to the children of those iwi.

Q: That’s an interesting and unusual way to fund education

A: Yes, the Board has two roles, administering education grants and managing dairy farms!

We are tied to legislation that was enacted in 1942 when secondary education became compulsory in New Zealand and it says the funds are to be used for post-primary education. It was aimed at encouraging Māori children to go to secondary school. I was a recipient in the 1960s and went to boarding school in Auckland. Thousands of children have used bursaries to go to boarding school or to assist with fees at their local secondary school.

Q: How does the process work?

A: Each year in October we have 200-300 applications for scholarships. Each applicant presents us with a report from the school principals and a report from their Marae Committee. All the members of the board are Māori and most have been recipients of a scholarship or bursary.

Q: Would you encourage other women to serve on a board?

A: Yes, I think it is good to serve on committees and boards. It gives you experience in how to be a part of that committee or board and how to share your expertise. It also allows you to contribute to your community and, importantly, allows you to network. I have learned an enormous amount from other board members.

Q: How would you suggest other women start to gain experience?

A: Most women start with school committees, kohanga reo, kindergartens, and marae committees. Pre-school education is a fantastic way to learn about being an office-holder, for example secretary, treasurer and to get that initial experience. I started off in committees that related to my family’s interests like sports clubs. It is best to perhaps not stay too long though, and move on to other committees.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your family and interests?

A: I have three children, one mokopuna who is five months old and one soon-to-be-born. Quilting is my passion, and I sew and knit. I enjoy going to opera, theatre, and musicals. I am heavily involved with my marae and I am involved in a mentoring programme with youth.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Nominations Service, check out the Ministry of Women’s Affairs website: www.mwa.govt.nz/women-on-boards.

 

√ Action Plan Action Plan for New Zealand Women Economic Sustainability 1.4.1: Improve women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles by monitoring women’s representation and participation at senior levels in business and the education sector, and by providing nominations to government boards.

 

In brief

Older New Zealanders keep working

More and more New Zealanders are continuing in employment beyond the age of entitlement for New Zealand Superannuation (65 years). Statistics New Zealand’s report Labour Force Participation of New Zealanders Aged 65 Years and Over, 1986-2006, released last month, indicates the number of people aged 65 years and over in the labour force increased from 22,000 in 1986 to 82,000 in 2006 – a rise of 278 percent. Among the youngest superannuitants (aged 65-69 years), 43 percent of men and 25 percent of women were working.

In 2006, 66 percent of older women and 43 percent of older men in the labour force were working part time.

Benefits, Student Allowances, NZ super and War Pensions to increase

Superannuitants, students, and people on Veteran's pension and benefits will receive increases of between $4 and $13 each week from 1 April 2009. For more information on the increases go the Ministry of Social Development website www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/newsroom/media-releases/2009/pr-2009-02-23.html

Stories of family violence

 It’s Time We Started Telling These Stories is a new book published by the It’s Not OK campaign against family violence. It tells the stories of eight New Zealanders who grew up in an environment of family violence.

The book will be distributed to libraries, family violence prevention agencies, agencies working with children and through community networks. It is intended to help others who have suffered from family violence and to help New Zealanders understand the impact of family violence on individuals, their families, and their communities. Copies of the stories will be available soon on the campaign website: www.areyouok.org.nz.

Wage gap widens after study

The earnings gap between men and women a year after they leave study is wider than it was six years ago.

Statistics New Zealand figures released at the end of 2008 show that last year men received an average annual income of $31,560 after they had left study in 2006. Women who had left study in 2006 received an annual income last year of $27,910, 13 percent less than men.

Men who left study in 2002 received an income 6 percent higher than women in the year after leaving study and five years later, in 2007, the gap had increased to 20 percent (men on $39,060 and women on $32,680). The trend was consistent across all fields of study, levels, and providers. By 2007, men who left university in 2002 earned an average of $50,240, 21 percent more than the average for women, who earned $41,400.

Number of teenage mums rising

The proportion of girls aged 15 to 19 years having babies rose for the sixth year in a row in 2008. Figures released by Statistics New Zealand last month show the numbers climbed from 2.6 percent in 2002 to 3.1 percent in 2007 and 3.3 percent last year. There is still, however, a trend towards women having babies later in life. The median age of mothers giving birth rose from 25 in the 1960s to 30 by 2002 and has stayed around there ever since.

HPV vaccine immunisation programme extended

The new human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme in schools has started. Girls and young women born from 1 January 1990 are eligible to participate in the programme.

Since September 2008 family doctors, practice nurses and health clinics have been offering the HPV vaccine to young women born in 1990 and 1991 and younger girls who have left school. During this year and next year, the vaccine is being offered through school based programmes for girls in Years 8 to 13, and to girls aged 12 to 18 from their family doctor, practice nurse or health clinic.

From 2011 and onwards, the HPV vaccine will be offered through school programmes for Year 8 girls and to 12 year old girls from their family doctor, practice nurse or health clinic.

The HPV programme aims to reduce cervical cancer in New Zealand by protecting girls against HPV infection. Currently, each year around 160 New Zealand women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 60 women die from cervical cancer.

Help after an unexpected death

A new handbook is designed to give support to individuals and families/whānau affected by any kind of sudden or unexpected death.

Death without Warning offers key New Zealand information in an easy to read format and features personal quotes from New Zealanders who have experienced the unexpected death of someone close to them.

The book was written by Skylight – a not-for-profit national organisations that provides support to children, young people and their families/whānau through change, loss, trauma, and grief – with support from ACC and the Funeral Directors Association of New Zealand.

Copies of the book, at $9 per copy, can be ordered through Skylight, www.skylight.org.nz, ph: 0800 299 100, fax: 04 939 4759, email support@skylight-trust.org.nz.

 

---

Pānui is published quarterly. If you would like to receive Pānui via post or email, send your details to MWA with your preference.

Pānui is published by the Ministry of Women's Affairs, New Zealand. We welcome your feedback and ideas. Send them to The Editor, Pānui, Ministry of Women's Affairs, PO Box 10 049, Wellington 6143, New Zealand. Email: mwa@mwa.govt.nz.

The viewpoints expressed in Pānui do not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Women's Affairs.