UNIFEM Reception

May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language.

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni, and as it is evening [sign].

May I then specifically greet you: Jean Corbin Thomas, President of New Zealand National Committee of the United Nations Development Fund for Women or Unifem New Zealand as it better known; Liz Brown, Vice-President of Unifem New Zealand; Joy Dunsheath, editor of the organisation’s newsletter; the national committee, members and friends of Unifem New Zealand; and other distinguished guests .

My wife Susan and I have great pleasure in welcoming you to Government House Vogel this evening for this ceremony to honour four women for their long service and support for Unifem New Zealand.

We are both very pleased to be joint patrons of the New Zealand arm of the United Nations’ Development Fund For Women.  It is a specifically women’s organisation within the United Nations, with a dedication to gender equality and the attainment of women’s human rights throughout the world.

That mandate rests squarely on the United Nations Charter which, within its first 30 words in the Preamble, unequviocally states that it was:
“To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small…”  This statement is backed up by Article 8, in the substantive part, which states that “The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs.”

What these words emphasise—and even more so those of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—is that equality for men and women in civil and political rights is fundamental and integral to all human rights. 

In the United Nations, New Zealand has played a continuing principled role.  New Zealanders, such as then Prime Minister, Rt Hon Peter Fraser, and diplomats such as Dr Colin Aikman and George Laking among others, played a significant role in the writing of the Charter.    Fraser was part of what can be described as the fatherhood of the United Nations.  His work at the San Francisco Conference in 1945 helped establish the international world order that prevails today.

Likewise, it was New Zealanders and New Zealand women in particular who led the world in the battle for universal suffrage. 

It is extraordinary to think now that the final of the three petitions taken to Parliament on this issue carried the signatures of about one-quarter of all New Zealand women, and that some 1000 women took part in the work of collecting these signatures.  Bearing in mind that this was in the early 1890s when there were no cars and that much of the work was done on foot and horseback, this was a remarkable effort and an amazing achievement.   

Shortly after that petition was delivered, New Zealand women became the first in the world to vote in national elections - two and a half decades before British and American women.

In the time since then, I suspect New Zealand was again unique in the world when, in 2005, all the key constitutional positions in our nation: Head of State, Governor-General, Prime Minister, Chief Justice and Speaker of the House of Representatives, were all held by women.

Even so, much remains to be done on the road ahead.  I think it is fair to say that the women who belong to Unifem New Zealand today have similar issues at heart, and similar goals in mind, as their counterparts more than a century ago.

As former Unifem Executive Director, Dr Noeleen Heyzer, who is now Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, noted so well in a quote that is repeated on the Unifem website: “Women want a world free from hatred, violence and poverty, a world of equal opportunities and rights, and a world that is prosperous and secure for all.”

Unifem New Zealand makes a major contribution to those goals, in New Zealand, in the Pacific region and further afield.

Within New Zealand, one of the organisation’s more successful initiatives has been White Ribbon Day, which Unifem New Zealand began in 2005 when a campaign that was being run by men in Canada was adapted for here.

25 November is designated as by the United Nations as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Last year on that day more than 500,000 New Zealanders wore white ribbons – as “a personal pledge to always speak out against violence towards women and children”.

While the Families Commission now runs White Ribbon Day, I note that Unifem remains on the campaign committee and that the White Ribbon cards continue to carry the organisation’s logo.

In the Pacific region, Unifem New Zealand’s project for gender equality in decision-making in the Marshall Islands has been very successful in helping men and women become partners in the political process.  

I understand that the first part of this project, which began four years ago, and which is conducted in partnership with the local organisation, Women United Together in the Marshall Islands, has resulted in a number of women being elected to local government, including three mayors.

Further afield, Unifem New Zealand works in with the 16 other national committees of Unifem, brokering relations among women’s organisations, governments, the United Nations system and the private sector towards gender equity.

The four women who will receive honorary life memberships of Unifem New Zealand tonight, and whose names will be announced in a few minutes, have all devoted a huge amount of time and energy to this effort. I would like to pay tribute to them for their contribution and to issue a challenge to those following in their footsteps to keep up the momentum they have set, to the benefit of women in this country and beyond.

Just before I hand over to Unifem New Zealand president Jean Corbin Thomas I would like to offer everyone greetings and to wish you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours – and in New Zealand’s first language, Māori:  No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.