UN Women's Empowerment Principles launch

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga iwi o te motu me nga manu tioriori, e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou.  Kia ora tātou katoa.  Distinguished guests from across the motu, and especially the ladies, gathered here, I extend warm greetings to you all.

I specifically acknowledge: Hon Jo Goodhew, Minister of Women’s Affairs - tēnā koe; Rae Julian, President of the UN Women NZ National Committee and your committee members – tēnā koutou; David Rutherford, Chief Human Rights Commissioner - tēnā koe; and the three other people who have a speaking part today: Mai Chen, Michael Barnett and Carolyn Savage – tēnā koutou.

It is a great pleasure for Janine and me to welcome you to Government House this evening.  As joint Patrons of the UN Women National Committee for Aotearoa New Zealand, Janine and I are delighted to host this reception to launch the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles.

Before doing so, I would like to speak briefly on the importance of these principles in New Zealand.
New Zealand has always been a country of “firsts”. We have a pioneering spirit within us.  We have limitless ingenuity.  We have a sense of pride in our heritage, our virtues, and our way of life.  We have a passion for and a responsibility to protect our future.

Looking back into our history, men and women have shared experiences bringing life to this beautiful country.  Women and men shared the perilous journey here and shared living in a sometimes harsh environment.  That partnership has produced a culture which values diversity, equality, and the well-being of all members of our society.

In 1893 New Zealand women became the first in the world to win the right to vote in national elections.  Fast-forward to 1919, when women could stand for Parliament, and then to 1933, when we celebrated the election of the first woman member of Parliament, Elizabeth McCombs.

For more than 60 years our Head of State has been Queen Elizabeth.  If we recall 2001 with the swearing-in of my predecessor, Dame Silvia Cartwright, as New Zealand’s 18th Governor-General, which marked an era when the country’s top constitutional positions were all filled by women – almost certainly a world first!

Those women included Prime Minister Helen Clark, Opposition leader Dame Jenny Shipley, Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias and Attorney-General and later Speaker of the House, Margaret Wilson.  I should point out that at the time one of New Zealand’s largest corporations was also led by a woman – Theresa Gattung; and the Chair of the Securities Commission was a woman – Jane Diplock.

The push for gender equality has not just been at those top levels of leadership.  Women with many varied interests and backgrounds have stepped forward to pave the way for others.  In 1927 Dr Nina Muir, New Zealand’s first woman house surgeon, became the first woman president of the Medical Association of New Zealand.  In 1941 Edna Pierce walked the beat as the first woman police officer and Mary Anderson became the country’s first woman judge in 1945.

New Zealander Anne Barry became the first woman professional fire-fighter in Australasia in 1981.  She had to struggle long and hard to achieve this goal – like all those that were the ‘first’ woman in their field.  Her initial application was declined, so she took her case to the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Human Rights Commission and to members of Parliament before being accepted for the recruitment course.  She passed with flying colours and went on to a distinguished career in the Fire Service for more than 20 years.  Of her battle to achieve this goal, Anne, in typically self-effacing New Zealand words, said:  “Some people say to me that I did something really difficult, but I think it’s important to realise it wasn’t too difficult. It was tiresome, a bother and a nuisance, but I knew I had to win because it was right.”

What I’ve just recounted you know because women have had to know just a bit more, do a bit more to be accepted.  Addressing that imbalance is what the launch of the Women’s Empowerment Principles is about – doing what is right. The principles have been established to inform and help shape common values throughout our society and in this case, in business.

The principles are a guide for New Zealand businesses and enterprises, in ensuring that women are given an equal chance to take up leadership positions.  They promote the establishment of high-level corporate leadership within organisations for gender equality.  They promote the need for education, training and professional development, enabling women to progress to leadership positions.  They promote business practice which empowers women and gives them confidence to reach their potential.  Yet if you read the principles carefully, only two are specific to women, all seven are about empowering women and men, and girls and boys!

In just under a month’s time, on 8 March, we celebrate International Women's Day. It is a global day which recognises the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. While New Zealand has come a long way over the last decade, it is important to remember that we still have much work to do.

Supporting and enabling women to be active at all levels within business and enterprise is important and I acknowledge and congratulate the UN Women National Committee for Aotearoa New Zealand, along with the Human Rights Commission and the NZ Federation of Business and Professional Women for their commitment to promoting gender equality within all facets of our society.  To our minds, Janine’s and mine, there are three reasons this is important.  First, it is right.  Second there is a practical benefit in empowering a greater pool of talent.  Thirdly, there can only be economic benefit in increased competition and sustainability when women are properly empowered. 

However, I have three personal reasons for supporting the principles: my wife and two daughters who are exceptionally talented, capable and respected people.

I would like to conclude by reading a piece from one of my predecessor’s memoirs, “Cat amongst the pigeons”.  Dame Cath Tizard describes a gathering she attended on 19 September 1993, as Governor-General, to unveil a sculpture wall, located in Christchurch beside the Avon River, depicting Kate Sheppard, and a number of other women’s rights advocates.   She said the following, in her notoriously witty way: “It was a notable gathering.  On the platform were the Governor-General of New Zealand, the President of Ireland, the Māori Queen, the Mayor of Christchurch, an Anglican Bishop, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, the Leader of the Opposition and a High Court judge.  A memorable assemblage by any criteria, and every one of them a woman.  The rumbling sounds were not an earthquake, but John Knox rotating in his grave!”

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa.