Global Women Honorary Life Membership Presentation

E ngā rau rangatira mā, nga wāhine toa o te motu, e huihui mai nei i tēnei wā, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tīnara o Tāmaki Makaurau.

I'd like to specifically acknowledge: Katie Bhreatnach, CEO of Global Women; Global Women's newest Honorary Life Members: the Right Honourable Helen Clark, the Honourable Margaret Wilson, Dame Theresa Gattung, and Dame Ranjna Patel; Dame Silvia Cartwright, former Governor-General.

And to all our very distinguished guests - tēnā koutou katoa. I am delighted to welcome you all to Government House Auckland for today's special celebration of these remarkable women.

Early in her career, Margaret Wilson observed that women in the workplace can be treated differently from men - and for no good reason. I commend Global Women for working so staunchly and effectively to address this difference - by helping to develop leadership pathways for women.

We are beneficiaries of sweeping changes in the 20th century, when women broke free from a narrow range of employment options and entered in greater numbers the professions, academia, boardrooms, and the political milieu.

We are fortunate to enjoy opportunities never experienced by our great-grandmothers. However, progress with gender equity is not necessarily linear, and remains a work in progress.

It is not uncommon to hear pronouncements that things have gone "too far" when it comes to women's rights - and pressing for even the most basic of human rights can be dismissed. All the more reason to celebrate the courage and determination of your four new Life Members, who did not allow outmoded social attitudes to hold them back taking on leadership roles.

Their careers are resounding proof that women can rise to the very top, flourish, and use their power to achieve public good. Their example has inspired other women to seek advancement and greater acknowledgement through their skills and expertise.

Helen has achieved extraordinary global influence, building on her nine years as our first elected female Prime Minister and two terms as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, where she led the implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which of course included gender equality. Her Foundation, and her work with other distinguished members of The Elders, is drawing urgent attention to the existential threats of our times.

Margaret's life has also epitomised extraordinary service to public good. She has blazed a trail for women in law, academia, and politics, and did not hesitate to take on so many challenging leadership roles, including Dean of Waikato's Law School, Law Commissioner, President of the Labour Party, Minister of the Crown, and the first female Speaker of the House.

Dame Theresa's influence has been so broad-ranging - as a business titan, where she forged a pathway for women to take on leadership roles of major companies - and also as such a generous and energetic champion of various causes, including gender parity. Her numerous accolades acknowledge her work as a Chief Executive, Chair of boards, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and investor, as well as her determination to improve the lives of women and girls in New Zealand and around the world.

New Zealand's shameful statistics around domestic violence led Dame Ranjna to direct her energies and resources into finding new ways to reduce family harm in Auckland homes. Her Gandhi Nivas programme takes men at risk of violent behaviour out of the family home, and provides them with opportunities to learn new non-violent ways to communicate and respond to stressful situations. The impact of that work will ripple out into our communities and transform the lives of generations of New Zealanders.

All four of these new life members of Global Women have helped to transform Aotearoa in different ways. We deeply admire your achievements, and we owe you an enormous debt. Your courage, energy, dedication, and vision are an inspiration to so many.

Congratulations, and on behalf of New Zealand women, I thank you most sincerely for everything you have done in the service of public good, the status of women, and the wellbeing of our communities.

Kia ora huihui tātou katoa. I'd now like to invite Dame Theresa Gattung to speak.