New Horizons for Women - Hine Kahukura (Nov 2025)
- secbpwnz
- Nov 28, 2025
- 6 min read
Inspiring women to create their new horizons through education and research
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. My strength is not that of an individual, but that of the collective.
Kia ora, my name is Kāren Shepard and I am a trustee with New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura and it is my honour to introduce this edition of our newsletter. We are super excited to share with you the recipients of the 2025 Awards round. Congratulations to the incredible wāhine who are carving out new pathways for themselves, their whānau and their communities. A very warm welcome to our two new Awards Sponsors this year - Shakti Women’s Refuge Trust and Mumtaz Parker. Your support is making a huge difference to women in Aotearoa. Looking ahead, we’re exploring new ways to grow our funding, including a Giving Circle and opportunities for leaving a gift to the Trust in your will. If you’d like to learn more or discuss other fundraising initiatives, we’d love to hear from you. Ngā mihi nui |
- Kāren Shepard, Board Member for New Horizons for Women: Hine Kahukura |
Welcome to our new Trustees |
Janet Gibb |
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We’re delighted to welcome Janet to the New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura Board of Trustees. Based on a dairy farm in the Waikato, Janet brings a deep commitment to community and leadership. She has spent more than 40 years in community banking and management roles and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors NZ. Her extensive governance experience includes 12 years as an elected member in local government.
Janet is also a Justice of the Peace, the National President of Business and Professional Women NZ, and a committee member for United Nations Women – WEPs (Women’s Empowerment Principles). A strong advocate for equality, she’s passionate about creating opportunities for women to advance in their careers and personal lives.
We’re thrilled to have her knowledge, energy, and heart join our mahi supporting wāhine across Aotearoa. |
Jenni Hohepa-Tupu |
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We are delighted to welcome Jenni back to the New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura Board of Trustees. Of Māori and Pacific heritage, Jenni lives in West Auckland with her whānau in a vibrant, multi-generational home filled with tamariki and mokopuna.
A lecturer and Programme Director at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), Jenni’s teaching is grounded in the principles of te ao Māori, weaving these values into every aspect of learning. Her research explores the identity journeys of Māori adoptees and the importance of reconnecting with whakapapa — a kaupapa that continues to shape her mahi.
Jenni’s dedication extends far beyond academia. She contributes to community and education through roles such as serving on the Matua Advisory Group for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, and has previously served on numerous Auckland school boards. A former Trustee and Chair of Hine Kahukura, she remains deeply committed to supporting opportunities for wāhine in education and in life.
Guided by the whakatauākī “Mā te kahukura, ka rere te manu” — through empowerment, women can soar — Jenni’s leadership embodies the strength and wellbeing of whānau, for tamariki and mokopuna across Aotearoa. |
We are delighted to announce the recipients of the 2025 New Horizons for Women: Hine Kahukura Awards! |
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Workplace giving is an easy, lasting way for your business to support our community and to demonstrate leadership and corporate responsibility. |
Workplace giving is one of the easiest ways to make a lasting impact for women across Aotearoa — one small contribution at a time. By donating through your payroll, you can help empower wāhine through education, research, and personal growth opportunities that change lives.
It’s simple and seamless: donations are made directly from your pay, and you’ll receive an immediate 33% tax benefit. There’s no paperwork, no end-of-year tax claims, and every contribution goes directly toward supporting women’s futures.
For employers, it’s an easy way to build a culture of generosity and social responsibility within your organisation.
Workplace giving not only helps women thrive — it also strengthens workplaces and communities by connecting people to a shared purpose. Together, small regular contributions can create extraordinary change.
Let’s make giving part of your workplace culture.To find out more, contact us at enquiries@newhorizonsforwomen.org.nz. |
Her Story: Zoe Walsh, Doctorate of Clinical Psychology Candidate |
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Research Spotlight: Supporting the Sleep and Wellbeing of Mothers in Aotearoa
Meet Zoe Walsh, a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology candidate at Massey University, whose research focuses on how sleep impacts the wellbeing of mothers in Aotearoa. Guided by a team of accomplished wāhine supervisors from Massey University and the University of Auckland, Zoe is taking a fresh, strengths-based approach to understanding maternal mental health — one that highlights women’s resilience, resourcefulness, and support networks. With her own lived experience of mental distress, Zoe brings empathy and insight to her work.
Her research explores how improving sleep can serve as a practical, stigma-free way to support mothers’ mental health and overall hauora. By analysing data from the Moe Kura and Wāhi Kōrero studies, she aims to identify the factors that help mothers sleep well, feel supported, and thrive.
Zoe’s findings will be shared with healthcare professionals and Well Child providers to help shape more compassionate and effective maternal care. Her long-term goal is to continue this work as a clinician in maternal mental health — ensuring that every mother in Aotearoa has the support, understanding, and rest she deserves. |
Thank you to our 2025 Award Sponsors |
Alexandra Kilpatrick Fund Chenery Memorial Trust Dawn & Arthur Ibbotson Fund Deborah East Edward Kay Charitable Trust Ellen McCrae and Graeme Matheson Fisk-Wake Educational Charitable Trust Gwen Ryan Educational Trust Fund Graduate Women Manawatu Charitable Trust Graduate Women New Zealand (GWNZ) Charitable Trust Graduate Women North Shore Charitable Trust Dr Sally Hasell Margaret Shields and the Society for Research on Women Fund Marlene Smith Mumtaz Parker Nga Pae o te Maramatanga NHWT:HK Endowment Fund NHWT:HK 50% Nga Pae o te Maramatanga 50% Olive Tree Charitable Trust Outward Bound Ria McBride Fund Second-Chance Group Shakti Sonja Davies Peace Award Fund Teupoko'ina Utanga Morgan Memorial Fund Waikato Graduate Women Educational Trust Women's Studies Association Pae Akoranga Wāhine Fund Zonta Club of East Auckland |
In Memory of Alison Cook |
We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Alison Cook, a respected Wellington sharebroker, long-standing member of the Zonta Club of Wellington, and valued advisor to the Trust on investment matters.
Alison’s wisdom, generosity, and commitment to empowering women through education and opportunity have left a lasting legacy. Her contribution to the work of New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura will be remembered with immense gratitude. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and the many lives she touched. |
New Sponsor Spotlight |
We are thrilled to welcome two inspiring new sponsors to the New Horizons for Women: Hine Kahukura Awards whānau — Shakti Women’s Refuge Trust and Mumtaz Parker.
Shakti Women’s Refuge Trust has long been a powerful advocate for women’s safety, empowerment, and equality. Their commitment to supporting women from diverse backgrounds aligns beautifully with our mission to create new opportunities through education, research, and personal growth.
Mumtaz Parker, a respected leader and champion for women in business and community leadership, joins us as a passionate supporter of education and empowerment. Her belief in creating pathways for women to reach their potential makes her partnership especially meaningful.
Together, these new sponsors are helping us expand our impact and continue uplifting wāhine across Aotearoa. We are deeply grateful for their support and commitment to women’s advancement. |
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Honouring 30 Years of Courage, Advocacy, and Empowerment |
Congratulations to Shakti Women’s Refuge Trust, who recently celebrated their 30th anniversary at Three Kings. Founded by Farida Sultana, Shakti has spent three decades providing safety, advocacy, and empowerment for women of Middle Eastern, Asian, and African backgrounds facing family violence in Aotearoa.
Marie Schmidt (Trustee) and Robyn Dixon (former Chair) attended the celebration on behalf of New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura, to honour this milestone and the incredible work of Shakti’s staff, former staff, and volunteers. We are proud to partner with Shakti, who now sponsor a tertiary education award for women from these communities — continuing their mission to uplift, educate, and empower wāhine. |
Keen to support New Horizons for Women: Hine Kahukura? |
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