Kia ora koutou,
Matariki is a time of year to reflect and celebrate. It is also the time of year in Aotearoa New Zealand that BPW NZ holds our candle lighting ceremonies. Last year I acknowledged Matariki and do so again this year.
Matariki -the Māori New Year, is rich with tradition. Matariki was officially celebrated on 28 June 2024 as it is strategically positioned each year on the Friday closest to the new moon following the rising of the Matariki star cluster. Matariki is the Māori name for a group of seven stars known as the Pleiades star cluster. Note, some hapū know the Matariki as nine stars (although the last two can be hard to make out with the naked eye). Some people think of Matariki as a mother star with six daughters, and it is often referred to as the Seven Sisters. Matariki has two meanings, both of which refer to the cluster of stars. Mata Riki means Tiny Eyes, and Mata Ariki means Eyes of God.
This is a time when New Zealander’s can reflect on the past year, set intentions for the future, and spend quality time with family and friends. As the nation collectively embraces this cultural celebration, the Matariki public holiday becomes a symbol of unity, gratitude, and the resilient spirit of the New Zealand people. BPW NZ is also a resilient organisation and in this 85th year of being established in New Zealand, we reflect on the tireless work our sisters have done over the years to advocate for a better future for us all.
Inspiring Inclusion is the theme for our Leadership Forum in 2024, and we have an exciting agenda coming together for us on Saturday 5th October starting with networking at 8.30am, official welcome at 9am, then 9.30am our guest speaker Dr Karanina Sumeo – current Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner; Acting Chief Human Rights Commissioner; Acting Race Relations Commissioner. We look forward to hearing about her journey in this challenging space as her term comes to an end. Following this a panel of our own members will discuss their lived experiences with different perspectives walking in the mainstream spaces where we are not all treated equally or with any understanding of our personal challenges. Over lunch we will present BPW NZ Award winners for 2024 with their trophies, Long Service Certificates and Keys to Achievement Gold Keys while also celebrating our 85th birthday with a cake. There will be other workshops including one on Leadership Personalities led by Past President Angela McLeod. A full agenda will be out soon.
I had the opportunity to meet with NZ First list MP Tanya Unkovich, to tell her about our organisation and discuss the challenges we see women and children face in the current environment. Her experience as a life coach and author, with a passion for mental health including helping women with food issues, addiction, grief, and self-esteem, showed me she is interested in promoting issues our organisation has in our policy. As an A-Political organisation, I hope to connect with other women MPs across the different parties to build a
network of support for our mahi.
National List MP, Tanya Unkovich and Janet Gibb, President BPW New Zealand
I will continue to deliver my highest value through compelling influence. Nga Mihi Nui President Janet