Executive Secretary - Helen

Wow! What a full year 2025 has been!

I've been privileged to support a fantastic Executive team at BPW NZ, from a hugely successful Conference in May, through submissions to the People's Select Committee on Pay Equity, planning and conducting our online Leadership Forum, and looking forward to opportunities in 2026. I'm really impressed with the number of issues upon which our team has been able to advocate for women and girls with strong letters communicating our mandate, and sharing information to inform about these and more. I've really appreciated the opportunity to represent BPW in the Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa and look forward to a very vocal 2026 on this topic as we hear back from the People's Select Committee and lead into elections later in the year.

One focus I have this year, as I have some time over the holiday break (for which I'm really grateful - it doesn't always happen), is to raise awareness about planned changes to the Employment Relations Act which proposes to remove one of the key tenets of employment law in NZ: acting in good faith. The Bill would introduce unjustified dismissals that are currently prohibited and I think this would have hugely negative impacts on our human right to avoid unemployment, a commitment that our Government ratified with Sustainable Development Goal 23 in 2015. Consider writing to your local MP as I will be doing.

I am really looking forward to 2026 and our Leadership Retreat in March, and what resolutions will come of our AGM online this year. It's a great opportunity to be part of the process without travel logistics (including costs) and hope that Clubs and individuals will all make the most of this chance.

I'm hugely proud of the work that BPW does and being able to contribute in my small way to making women's voices heard and hope to develop this further in the coming year.

Best wishes of the holiday season to all of you and your loved ones

Helen Baucke

Executive Secretary