Women’s March Aotearoa New Zealand is marking the first anniversary of the global Women’s March with a hui that will #LookBackMarchForward #KaMuaKaMuri.
The hui, to be held on Saturday 20 January 2018, at Te Puna M?tauranga o Aotearoa, National Library of New Zealand,
Wellington, is also the first major event in a significant year in Aotearoa New Zealand’s history – the 125th
anniversary of Women’s Suffrage and kicks off approximately 66 Women’s March anniversary events and marches planned in
26 countries.
One year ago, on 21 January 2017, millions of people around the world took part in the largest global human rights
demonstration ever – the Women’s March. Since then, many Women’s March groups have supported critical issues including
marriage equality, indigenous rights, the rights of undocumented migrants, and encouraged women to make their voices
heard at the polls. But there is still much work to do. The hui will continue the discussion on what comes next.
Alison Mau, one of New Zealand’s most respected broadcast and print journalists will deliver the keynote address on the
day. The cornerstone of the hui will be a panel co-moderated by Radio New Zealand National’s Susie Ferguson and filmmaker and
founder of The Granary, Amber Marie Smith. Panellists include: Sharnay Cocup, winner of the 2017 Women of Influence
Young Leader and the Kiwibank New Zealand Local Hero of the Year award whose work includes establishing the Taupiri
Youth Group; reproductive rights activist Shannon Mower; young Pasifika leader Melissa Lama whose work for the Ministry
for Pacific Peoples as a regional adviser offers a cultural lens to government and private sectors on better ways to
engage with Pacific peoples; Mengzhu Fu the Youth Project Coordinator at Shakti Youth, an organisation that focuses on
eliminating family violence in Asian, Middle Eastern and African communities in Tamaki-Makaurau (Auckland); and Judy
O'Brien, the Programme Coordinator for the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network.
Following the panel discussion, a picnic lunch and k?rero will be held on the grounds of Parliament. After, delegates
are invited to participate in a free guided tour of Te Puna M?tauranga o Aotearoa, National Library of New Zealand,
including the Suffrage Petition.
Pre-ordered lunches will be catered by Pomegranate Kitchen. Co-founded by Rebecca Stewart, Pomegranate Kitchen is a
social enterprise that trains and employs cooks from a refugee background.
He waka eke noa - we’re all in this together.