National Council of Women Announces New Patron

More than 200 delegates at the National Council of Women conference will welcome their new Patron, Rt Hon. Helen Clark, when she arrives at the Auckland conference venue tomorrowmorning.

Making the announcement on Friday evening at the Waipuna Conference Centre in Mt Wellington, NCWNZ President Vanisa Dhiru told delegates that it was a great honour to have the former Prime Minister and Head of the UN Development Programme - the first woman to lead the organisation, as Patron of the National Council of Women.

“This is particularly significant as we mark the centenary year of achieving women’s suffrage in New Zealand and the Auckland Branch’s 100th birthday,” she says.

The Auckland NCW branch is hosting the 2018 conference and branch President Carol Beaumont agrees. “Regardless of your political colours, Helen Clark personifies much of what the NCW’s founder, Kate Sheppard wanted for women and wider society, at home and globally,” she says.

Helen Clark is the keynote speaker at the conference in Mt Wellington, at 9.15am on Saturday and will be followed by a panel discussion entitled Four Generations of Feminists – where Sandra Coney, Prue Kapua, Vira Paky and Kiritapu Allan MP will share their thoughts on the issues and leadership styles of their generation.

Ms Clark says she is delighted to be the NCW’s patron particularly in such a significant year.

“The council works extremely hard to ensure their work is relevant in addressing the causes of inequality. They represent more than 350,000 people through branches, members and member organisations, and are also well connected to National Councils of Women across the world. I’m looking forward to being a part of the NCWNZ as we continue the work of Kate Sheppard and her indefatigable team of women; work that in the 21st century still faces many challenges that must be overcome.”

See more about the conference here

Read more about (and donate to) the NCW 1000 Strong fundraising campaign here

The National Council of Women leads the Gender Equal NZ campaign.

ENDS

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