Awards announced to honour Auckland women

Mayor Len Brown has marked both Suffrage Day and the anniversary of the founding of Auckland to announce of awards to mark the contribution of women to the city.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the 122nd anniversary of Suffrage Day at Lower Khartoum Place, Len Brown said inaugural awards will be announced on International Women’s Day 2016 (eds: 8 March 2016). They will be an annual event.

“Auckland’s outstanding women simply must be identified, recognised and remembered as an integral part of this city’s history, growth and brilliance,” says Len Brown.

“I am proposing a roll of honour that we can add to annually which I think will go some way to addressing Auckland’s gender imbalance and give the women who have served this city the accolades they deserve.”

Details of the awards would be worked out in coming months in liaison with Auckland’s deputy mayor, Penny Hulse and women councillors.

“Whatever we do, we will be ensuring Auckland is a city where women are well represented and recognised for their contributions. If Auckland is going to be the world’s most liveable city it also needs to be the world’s most liveable city for women.”

Meanwhile the Mayor has announced that Auckland Council is making good progress on the gender balance of senior staff. There are now five women and seven men in Auckland Council’s Executive Leadership Team. In the council’s top three tiers there are now 92 women and 107 men.

Today’s Suffrage Day ceremony celebrated 122 years of New Zealand women having the vote. The Mayor noted that in the same year, Elizabeth Yates became Mayor of Onehunga, the first time such a post had been held by a woman anywhere in the British Empire.

Today is Auckland’s actual 175th birthday. On September 18th, 1840 officials authorised by Hobson performed a foundation ceremony on the site and named the new settlement Auckland in honour of Hobson’s patron and friend, George Eden, the Earl of Auckland.

ENDS

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