Events for Mana Wahine 2007:

Monday 23 April – Sunday 29 April

Māori women - leaders, creators and innovators

This year, Mana Wahine is bigger than ever with the Ministry joining forces with Te Puni Kōkiri, Toi Māori and Greenstone Pictures to celebrate Māori women in New Zealand as leaders, creators and innovators. The Ministry’s Action Plan for New Zealand women aims to assist Māori women to progress the aspirations of their whānau, hapū and iwi and contains programmes specifically targeted at improving women’s participation in leadership and decision-making roles in the economic sector. Mana Wahine is one such programme. So what can we expect to see in this year’s celebrations? Here’s a taste of the events we have in store:

Monday, 23 April 2007, 5:00 - 6:30pm at Te Puni Kōkiri

Regional celebrations of Māori women in iwi governance

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs will join forces with Te Puni Kōkiri in celebrating Māori women in iwi governance around the country. These celebrations will take place on a regional level with the first of these celebrations kicking off at the start of Mana Wahine Week in Wellington. The MC for the evening in Wellington is Georgina Beyer. Speakers are:  Judge Caren Fox (nee Wickliffe) - Māori Land Court Judge; and Cathy Tait-Jamieson - BioFarm founding Partner. This event will be held at Te Puni Kōkiri, Naumai Room, 143 Lambton Quay. RSVP to Rachel Ellison ellr@tpk.govt.nz by 18 April.
Kia ora koutou. Thank you to those who attended this event. Cathy Tait-Jamieson and Judge Caren Fox were absolutely inspiring!  And our MC Georgina Beyer was stunning as ever! We had MPs there, an Ambassador, dignitaries, and business women.  I hope you all made some new contacts. Special thanks also to Te Puni Kōkori. Nga mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa!

Wednesday, 25 April 2007

ANZAC Day

Thursday, 26 April 2007, 12 - 1pm

‘Ask your Auntie’ comes to Wellington

‘The Aunties’ from the popular Māori TV show ‘Ask your Auntie’ will hold a special Mana Wahine panel discussion. We will have Aunty Ella Henry, Aunty Mabel Wharekawa-Burt and Aunty Aroha Hathaway - who will be joined by guest panelists Jacqui Te Kani - General Manager Māori Women's Welfare League; and Gail Parata - ex-NZ netball player. This will be held at the TSB Bank Arena on the Wellington waterfront. Attendance to this is free but because space is limited availability will be on a ‘first come first in' basis.
What can I say? Those Aunties are exactly as they are on Māori TV - straight up! And just as beautiful in person. Thank you to Jacqui and Gail who made excellent guest panelists; Greenstone Pictures for sharing the Aunties with Wellington - Aunty Mabel, Aunty Ella and Aunty Aroha; and attendees. Ka Mau te Wehi!

Friday, 27 April 2007, 12:30 - 1:30pm

MĀORI MARKet 2007 - Showcasing the Māori Weavers Collective

As part of the inaugural MĀORI MARKet at the Event Centre, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Toi Māori are showcasing a demonstration by the Māori Weavers Collective. A floortalk by the weavers will form part of the demonstration. Focusing on weaving as a creative, traditional and contemporary art practice in Māori culture undertaken predominantly by women. MĀORI MARKet opens with a Gala Evening on 26 April, to be held at the TSB Bank Arena on the Wellington waterfront. The event will open to the public from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 April, TSB Bank Arena, Wellington, contact Toi Māori Aotearoa, email: toimaori@xtra.co.nz; phone: 04 801 7914; fax: 04 801 9412.  http://www.maoriart.org.nz/events/maori_market. Tickets are $10 at the door from TicketTek.
Thank you to Toi Māori for allowing the Ministry of Women's Affairs to be part of the first  Korowai Fashion Show during the MAORI  MARKet three-day event. We are still  receiving  glowing comments from those who attended with our Minister.
E hara taku toa i te taki tahi, he toa taki tini ke - My strength is not that of a single person, but it is that of many.

Thank you to everyone that organised or participated in any event during Mana Wahine Week 2007.