President Janet-January 2026

Tena koutou katoa

Once again, we are facing different weather patterns to usual – unpredictable extremes of flooding and storms. I think of all our BPW members in different parts of Aotearoa New Zealand in varying degrees of challenges with properties and business. I know there is stress and worry affecting us all. Support both emotionally and physically is so important in these times. Please reach out if you need help – do not attempt to cope alone.

In December an article was published through UN Women on why gender and intersectionality matter in disaster risk reduction. It quotes:

‘As climate change accelerates and disasters grow more frequent and intense, the urgency of building resilience has never been greater. Yet, many disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts still overlook a fundamental angle: people experience disaster risk differently.

Women, girls, persons with disabilities, older people, ethnic minorities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and other (LGBTQI+) individuals often face greater impacts, not because they are inherently vulnerable, but because of persistent structural barriers. These include limited access to information, restricted mobility and fewer resources to prepare for or recover from disasters.’

It goes on to say that disasters are not gender neutral.

‘Disasters expose and magnify existing inequalities. Gender roles and social and cultural norms influence who is most at risk, how people are affected and who can access support. In many communities, women manage caregiving, food security and water collection –tasks made more dangerous by floods, droughts or displacement. Yet, despite their front-line roles, women are often excluded from disaster planning and decision-making.

Intersecting factors such as gender, age, disability, ethnicity, class and sexual orientation also shape disaster risks. Women already face barriers, but for a woman with a disability in a remote area, these challenges multiply – leaving her less likely to receive timely warnings or evacuate safely. LGBTQI+ individuals may be turned away from shelters or face discrimination in aid distribution. Recognizing and addressing these layered risks is essential to building inclusive resilience.’

In our country we are fortunate to have local councils and civil defense staff working to support communities with continual communication reporting road closures and where to evacuate to. They provide warnings and helpful information. Other countries do not have the same systems, and our thoughts are with the women, children and vulnerable people.

Our BPW work locally and internationally is important to continue to advocate for women and children for adequate housing, resources, health and safety policies. Please continue to keep up to date with what we are doing as an organization. There are opportunities to join online meetings to discuss local matters and online meetings internationally to broaden our knowledge of world events affecting our sisters in other countries.

BPW International has launched a survey to get your views. It is called BPW LISTENS. The survey has been trialed and will soon be sent out for all members to complete. It is important to interact with this. BPW LISTENS – Your voice matters global survey is one of the most important strategic initiatives of this triennium. Its purpose is both simple and profound: to shape the future of BPW by genuinely listening to the voices of our members across regions. Please look out for further information on this.

Ngā mihi nui

President Janet