Update from VP Issues- July

BPW NZ Continues Advocacy Through Key Policy Submissions

I continue to learn more about our Policies and how they impact on decisions made at a

government level. I am grateful for all members of the Taskforce for their ongoing support

and in particular Teresa Mee and Helen Baucke for their critiquing and filling in the

information I am still learning.

As new as I am, though, the issues surrounding women continue.

Over recent months, we've either submitted or have currently drafted responses to

government consultations on:

• Our Pay Equity. This submission focuses on closing wage gaps that continue to

disadvantage women, particularly those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

• Online Harm response tackles the growing issue of digital violence against women,

calling for stronger protections and accountability measures.

• The Housing for Growth submission addresses how current housing policies

disproportionately affect women's economic security.

• Review of Retirement and Income Policies - this highlights the gendered impacts of

superannuation and retirement planning.

• Freshwater National Direction – this submission will highlight the Sustainable

Development Goals Numbers 6, (Clean Water and Sanitation) 13 (Climate Action)

and 15 (Life on Land)

We are also working on our submission to CERD (Committee on the Elimination of Racial

Discrimination) 23rd & 24th periodic Review of New Zealand report, emphasising the

intersectional challenges faced by Māori, Pasifika, and migrant women.

The Issues Taskforce aims to have a representative from every Club. If you can’t make the

meetings, please ask another member to take your place. It is imperative that the work

being done at an Executive Level be fuelled by your input and feedback and that every Club

is kept up to date with current issues and what we are doing to address them.

Feel free to email me at issues.bpwnz@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Ngā Mihi

Sherryll Markie-Brookes

VP Issues