Issues - January 2026

Happy New Year everyone. As we head into 2026, it already feels like it’s going to be a big

and important year for women in Aotearoa New Zealand.

There is a lot happening already — ongoing conversations about women’s health and safety,

and changes in policy and legislation that directly affect how women live, work, and lead. In

this election year, the issue that stands out for many of us is pay equity. We can expect to

see plenty of rallies, meetings, media coverage, and letters to government on this issue, and

rightly so.

I encourage you to stay informed about what’s happening locally and to keep talking about

pay equity with friends, whānau, and colleagues. The more people who truly understand

what pay equity means, and the unfairness that still exists, the more pressure we can place

on government to make real change. Personally, I believe we shouldn’t even have a pay

equity bill; equity should be there from the outset. This is an issue we must continue to push

forward. Our government should reflect equality and fairness across all areas of policy, not

just in words, but in action.

I look forward to seeing some of you at our Retreat in March and online in May for our AGM.

Have a great month everyone!

Kia kaha

Sherryll Markie-Brookes

VP Issues

BPWNZ