18 Apr 2005

Mana Wahine Week is one week in the year when Maori women and men can take time to recognise what has been done and achieved in the past year by our mothers, taua, nga hoa, whanau and other female contributors to the community. It is about celebrating the spirit and achievements of Maori Women throughout New Zealand.

Tariana Turia Speech: She who rocks the Cradle, rocks the World

Mana Wahine Week is celebrated in the different localities around New Zealand. In Wellington, FoMA was able to join in the celebrations at two events.

A farewell reception was held for the NZ Shearing and Woolhandling team hosted jointly by the Hon. Parekura Horomia, Minister of Maori Affairs and the Hon. Ruth Dyson, Minister of Women’s Affairs.

A talented team of Maori women who are part of this team were celebrated:

• Joanne Kumeroa from Wanganui;
• Tina Rimene from Masterton; and
• Team manager Mavis Mullins from Dannevirke.

Mavis is the first women to fill take on this position in the history of the team. Congratulations Mavis on this achievement. FoMA wish the team all the best for the competition.

The Hon Ruth Dyson also launched a Fact Sheet on Women in the Workforce

On Thursday, the Ministry of Womens Affairs celebrated Karanaga: Nga reo, o nga wahine Maori, the Voices of Maori women at the Civic Art Gallery. The women who participated a decade ago were there to celebrate the success of the growing rate of te reo usage in New Zealand and their voices as Maori Women today.

So often we do not take the time out to celebrate the great strides that are being made within our communities, as a result of initiatives that are being developed and lead by Maori Women, to benefit not only themselves, but their whole whanau, hapu, and iwi.

There is a public perception that women experience equal treatment among most things, but not all things. So what are these things that we understand as being unequal between men and women, wahine and tane? Both our current and previous prime ministers are women, women are in every government department. Women now have the vote, paid parental leave and anti-sexist legislation such as equal pay legislation.

Despite this there are a number of statistics that show women at a disadvantage.

There are significant pay inequalities still apparent. In this area women receive significantly less remuneration for the same job. There are areas that could be better for Maori women. The unemployment rate has dropped significantly but it is still higher than for non-Maori women. In fact Maori is disadvantaged in comparison to non-Maori women across a range of other indicators as they are yet to experience the same economic, health and social indicators as non-Maori.

These inequalities are addressed in the New Zealand Action Plan for Women released in March 2004. The Action Plan's key themes are economic independence, a balanced life and improved well-being. As the Hon Ruth Dyson mentioned in her speech on Monday, the Action Plan also recognises the special place and role of Maori women, both as the heart and soul of their whanau, hapu and iwi, and also as tangata whenua.