17 October 2012

New President takes the helm at NCWNZ

At the recent biennial conference of the National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ), Barbara Arnold MNZM was elected President for 2012 – 2014. Barbara succeeds Elizabeth Bang who held the role for 4 years.

Barbara has had a long and distinguished involvement with NCWNZ as a branch member, branch Vice President, Environment Standing Committee Convenor and national Board Member. She has served as First Vice President from 2008-2012 and represented NCWNZ internationally at the International Council of Women (ICW) General Assemblies in Perth 2003, Kiev 2006 and Johannesburg 2009. In 2010 Barbara attended the Commission on the Status of Women meeting at the UN in New York as a member of the NZ Government delegation.

“It is a privilege to lead NCWNZ which has, over many years helped achieve rights for women that many take for granted today,” Barbara Arnold said.

She noted that despite significant progress in reducing inequalities between men and women, inequalities still exist. For example:

• For every $1 earned by men, women earn 88 cents
• In their first year of work female graduates earn 6% less than male graduates with the same degree. After 5 years the gap is 17%
• Women receive less industry training than men
• There are some occupations where there are virtually no women
• 9% of NZX top 100 company directors are women
• 1 in 3 women will experience physical or psychological abuse by a partner in their lifetime
• 90% of sex offences are unreported. Of the 10% that are reported, 3% are likely to go to court and 1% will result in a conviction

“These statistics demonstrate just how much work there is still to do. I look forward to working with NCWNZ members and helping to make an impact in some of these areas to make a difference to the lives of New Zealand women now and in the future,” Barbara Arnold said.

ENDS

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