 |
current news |
BPW New Zealand News
Want to find out the latest about Pay Equity?
Click on the link to visit the Pay Equity website: www.payequity.wordpress.com.
Pay Equity
Challenge Coalition Work for Free day (PDF file 722kb)
On November 18 members of the Pay Equity Challenge
Coalition gathered outside parliament in Wellington to present
the government with a bill for some $4 billion - the estimated
amount owing to women to close the Pay Equity Gap. On average
women are paid 12% less than their male counterparts for each
hour worked. The significance of the 18 November is that it is
8% of the way through the year. With the pay gap, it means that
effectively women are working for the remaining 12% of the year
for free! Angela McLeod, President of BPWNZ was interviewed by
TV1 Breakfast on 18 November 2009 and TV3 Sunrise on 19 November
2009. The event as also covered by TV3 News on 18 November 2009.
Follow the links below to view the media clips on Youtube.
TV1 Breakfast 18 November interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6OlsB1xK5Q
TV3 News 18 November - coverage of the Pay Equity Challenge Coalition
Media event at Midland Park, Wellington: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsSF2T0vJjc
TV3 Sunrise 19 November: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5TeBlWiepk
Pay Equity Media Release - 6 Nov 2009
Media release for immediate use.
Which Gender Pay Gap?
"Which gender pay gap?" asks Angela
McLeod, President of the New Zealand Federation of business and
Professional Women (BPWNZ), "the 12% per hour worked OR the
42% median weekly income?"
"Which one does the majority of the Transport
and Industrial Relations Committee think they an sweep under the
carpet?" In the report released by this select committee
this week it was tated that 'the majority of us have no matters
to bring to the attention of the House'.
The government have acknowledged that there is
a gender gap through the Minister of Women's Affairs, Hon Pansy
Wong who has said that women "should enjoy equal pay and
employment opportunities".
There are many pieces of research, here and internationally,
stating the many ways women are disadvantaged in the workplace
including the findings of the Department of Labour's Pay and Employment
Equity Unit (now defunct) and the Ministry of Women's Affairs
publication 'Indicators for Change'.
New Zealand has also signed international agreements
such as CEDAW, ILO Convention 100 and MDG 3, all of which outlaw
pay inequity.
"We are not meeting our international obligations".
"The Minister is right when she says "the
gender pay gap is clearly one of the main challenges we face"
but the government is wrong to dismiss, in a one page statement,
15 808 signatures asking the government, among other things, to
develop a strategy to eliminate the gender pay gap in New Zealand"
states Mrs McLeod.
Ends
For more information or to schedule an interview
please contact
Angela McLeod on 027 497 761.
Pay Equity Update
from Sue Moroney (PDF file 16kb)
The Media Release
of 18 September (PDF file 13kb)
Pay Equity Speech (PDF
file 14kb)
White Ribbon Day
(PDF file 150kb)
Click here to download the Media
Press Release 30 June 2009 (PDF file 12kb)
Many of you will remember Judi Klein who attended
our conference in Hamilton – an amazing young woman. Below
is a transcript of her email she sent to BPW on her return from
the Global Young Leader’s Conference and attached is a copy
of her full report – with pictures (attached
is her email as a word document and her report as a PDF).
Information for New Members
Our founder Lena Madison Phillips said:
What a member must do
"Individuals who are without office, chairmanship,
or other special responsibility usually underestimate their importance
to the club's programme network. Too often each considers her
part done by the payment of dues and a single appearance upon
the programme. She feels free to attend meetings or to stay at
home, to come late and leave early, to complain, criticize and
behave generally like a disinterested onlooker. Such an attitude
reveals a dangerous misconception. The members of any club are
the most important and should be the most vital part. To express
their will, to do their bidding, all else exists. Without their
interest, comprehension, forceful activity, the organisation is
but an empty shell."
http://www.bpwintl.com/pdf/2005-01-welcome-eng.pdf
Angela Mcleod, BPWNZ 1st Vice President attended
a celebratory breakfast for the Quality Flexile Work Legislation,
held in Wellington on a cold and frosty morning on 1 July 2008.
Click here to display Angela’s speech
(PDF file 4.4kb)
Click here to display
the Quality Flexible Work Speech (PDF file 31kb)
Click here to display
the Media Release 6th November 2006 (PDF file 13kb)
BPW International News
UN Women’s Agency Set back
Dear all,
Sadly, there is a disappointing setback in establishing a new
composited UN Women's agency.
It was reported yesterday, Thursday, Sep 10, 2009. that a number
of women's groups, including the UN's own body UNIFEM, are angry
at some countries which may now vote against the creation of a
new women's body within the UN system. The push for the adoption
of the resolution to reform UN Women's agencies by 14 September
2009 would likely not materialize like many women groups have
hoped for. A long delay is now anticipated.
Please see the attached file for more details.
Warm regards,
Dr. Chonchanok Viravan
Immediate Past President
BPW International
Link:(PDF
file 284kb)
GEAR – Gender Equality Architecture Reform
14 September – GEAR Resolution passed at the UN! Read a copy
of the draft Resolution by clicking on the document link below
(document GEAR SWC draft relos Sept.pdf attached above. Some feedback
details are given below. For more information on the campaign,
follow the link: http://www.un-gear.eu
Power to make a Difference
Dear all,
As you already know, 2009-2011 Triennium Theme for BPW International
is "Power to Make a Difference".
For a guideline on BPW activities to support this triennium theme,
the focus for each year is as follows:
- 2009 - Power to Make a Difference through Leadership
- 2010 - Power to Make a Difference through Action
- 2011 - Power to Make a Difference through Advocacy
Wishing you all the success in bringing out BPW power to make
a difference, especially during this financial crisis.
Warm regards,
Dr. Chonchanok Viravan (Nok)
Immediate Past President
& chair of "Power To Make a Difference" triennium
theme taskforce
BPW International
2009-2011
Power to make
a difference advocacy (PDF file 80kb)
Power to make
a difference leadership (PDF file 80kb)
Power to make a
difference action (PDF file 80kb)
For Power to Make a Difference through Advocacy:
I remember that in Valencia, many BPW members
were talking about success stories in advocating on women issues
to increase % of women in parliaments, in increasing women at
executives level, in increasing women participation in politics
and other things like Gender Pay Gap, etc. I also learn about
so many other advocacy work to improve women right, women health,
etc. I was very impress. So I would like you to submit nomination
for the work of your club / federation so that the world would
recognize such contribution.
For Power to Make a Difference through Leadership:
I'm certain that there are BPW member who made
a difference that you can nominate for Business category, Professional
Category and/or for Young Leader categories. The profiles of these
women leaders would be considered not just for this award. If
there are worthy awards outstanding women (such as Global Summit
of Women, Leading Women Entrepreneur of World, some UN agencies,
etc), BPW International can further nominate people from this
database collection for those awards in the future.
For Power to Make a Difference through Action:
We are welcome both newer projects as well as
projects that were past winners of "Beyond 2000: Helping
Women Help Themselves awards" -given that you update the
activities and contribution of these projects in the last 3 years
(2005-2007). This way we can update the total number of women
that the projects of your federation or associate club did help
to date. Twinning projects that help women to sustain themselves
economically are also eligible.
Nominations for the BPW Power to Make a Difference
awards are now closed.
The winners will be informed at least 10 weeks
prior to the XXVI BPW International Congress, Mexico City in October
2008 so they can prepare to come to the award ceremony and speak
at the Congress.
The winners must come to receive the award at
XXVI BPW International Congress in Mexico City. If the winner
declines to come accept the award in person, the award will go
to the next runner up.
All submitted projects and activities that have
qualified will be posted on BPW International's website www.bpw-international.org.
Warm regards,
Chonchanok Viravan (Nok)
BPW International President
2005-2008
 |
|
Opening Ceremony Hall
|
Presidents' Seminar, New York, March 2009
What a great opportunity - while we have the Executive Board in
New York for CSW and so many members from around the world accredited
to attend, why not bring all the Presidents from all the affiliates
together to share their experiences and learn from each other
and from the Executive Board and Past Presidents? This was our
BPW International President's vision.
And so XX Presidents or their nominees gathered
in the beautiful Harmonie Club in New York for two days of learning
and sharing. President Liz Benham welcomed participants and set
the objectives for the seminar.
 |
|
Winning Bid 2014 Congress
|
Past President Dr Antoinette Ruegg made us all
think with an insightful presentation on the strengths, strategies
and goal of BPW and how BPW is a 'university' that develops know-how
by experience and emotional intelligence. She helped us draft
a 'mind map' of our successes and challenges to guide our discussions.
Vice President Gabriella Canonica presented her
communication strategy and the plans for the new BPW International
website, and explained her vision for increasing membership through
her 1+1, Open Eyes and Face Lifting initiatives.
 |
|
BPWNZ Advocacy Award
at Gala Dinner
|
Vice President Freda Miriklis enthused us all
with the history of our involvement with the United Nations, and
the BPW pioneers who prepared the way for the great contributions
our representatives and members continue to make to international
forums.
Executive Secretary Jean Murray provided coaching
on managing Executive Boards and conflict resolution, and later
on explained the Constitutional requirements for submitting nominations,
Resolutions and Constitutional Amendments and the importance of
early planning.
 |
|
Joan received Badge
of Honour
|
Finance Director Sujey Albert provided an explanation
of BPW International financial arrangements and funding sources.
And through the whole seminar, Regional Coordinator
for Europe, Amélie Leclerq, translated every word in French
for her members who did not understand English.
Regional Coordinators organised displays from
their regions, and on the second day participants gathered in
their regions for a discussion about regional matters.
There were many friendships made and strengthened,
including over dinner at the restaurant in the evening. The evaluations
completed by participants were overwhelmingly positive about the
learning experience and the usefulness and relevance of the seminar.
Another Presidents' Seminar is projected for 2010, and Regional
Coordinators are planning to hold similar seminars in their regions.
The presentations from the seminar are all available online.
 |
|
For full details of what's happening
on the BPW international scene, visit the BPW International
web site - www.bpw-international.org. |
Empowering
Women
|
