Women Rise Up: 2025 Women’s Council Conference

On July 4 and 5, NZCTU Women’s Council welcomed over 120 wāhine toa at the biennial Women’s Conference “Women Rise Up” at the Lower Hutt Event Centre.

The programme was designed around “anger, hope, action.” We wanted members to leave feeling connected, well-equipped and confident to organise and use our collective strength to stand up and fight back against this one term government.

We heard from speakers invited to challenge, educate, and inspire members over the 2 days. Highlights were Hon Jan Tinetti, Riana Te Ngahue, Chlöe Swarbrick and Fiona Mansell.

We developed a workshop programme, facilitated by excellent wāhine from across the movement, including pay equity, Talanoa, the working women’s charter, the living wage movement, and social media to share ideas, and set goals for the future.

Anger

We have plenty to be angry about.

Since the coalition government came to office in 2023, we have seen the biggest attacks on workers since the 1990s:

• the repeal of pay equity legislation in May in favour of employers. 33 live claims cancelled, review processes removed, higher thresholds for new claims,
• a raft of changes to the Employment Relations Act in favour of employers,
• proposed changes to health and safety legislation in favour of employers,
• proposed changes to sick leave, and
• pathetic increases to minimum wage rates during a cost of living crisis, and
• a Regulatory Standards Bill prioritises private profit.

Anger is a powerful emotion. What we do with it is what matters most.

“This is one of anger’s most important roles: it is a mode of connection, a way for women to find each other and realize that their struggles and their frustrations are shared, that they are not alone, not crazy,” (Traister, R. (2018). Good and Mad, the revolutionary power of women’s anger. New York: Simon & Schuster.

We have a responsibility to ensure our next government is committed to supporting all working people in Aotearoa New Zealand. We know this anger is felt widely and deeply amongst our communities. These attacks are not fair or just. It is time for us to channel our anger, connect with others and to stand up and fight back.

Hope

The flip side of having a government hell bent on making bad choices, is that there are plenty of opportunities to connect, organise, build power and win.

We have seen an outpouring of collective action opposing the coalition government’s decisions since October 2023.

• The hikoi opposing the Treaty Principles Bill saw the largest mobilisation of our communities in living memory,
• Protests and rallies following the repeal of Pay Equity legislation have demonstrated that the harm of this action is felt widely and deeply across the motu,
• Maranga Ake actions across the motu, coordinated by NZCTU have been well attended, and strengthened cross-union ties,
• Members from all walks of life contributing to Reimagining Aotearoa Together policy development, with support across the breadth of the union movement.

This is our glimmer of hope. We must use every opportunity we have to connect, organise and build power. We know we are stronger together. It is time for us to stand up and fight back.

Action

Hon Jan Tinetti’s message to conference was a reminder to ensure we (women) prioritise our needs as we resist the coalition governments’ attacks on women, workers, families and communities and plan for a progressive future.

Chlöe Swarbrick’s message to conference was that, as a movement, we know what solutions are needed. We need to ensure that that these ideas are developed and socialised to pose a unique and progressive future for Aotearoa.

These actions wind back decades of progressive legislation in all areas of government, and they disproportionately impact women, with Māori, Pacific and migrant women bearing the brunt.

We are at a crucial juncture and what we choose to do next, in our unions, our workplaces, our homes and communities will shape the future. We are stronger together.

There are 2 ways you can take action now:

• Sign the Protect Pay Equity – stop scrapping equal pay claims and law before it is handed over on July 23, 2025.
• September 20, a nationwide day of action
  • A Day of Action across the motu for pay equity and working women
  • Reach out regional working groups to begin work on what local action will look like on this day.

As my late grandmother would say: “a goal without a plan is just a dream”. It is time to tap into our collective feminine rage. It is time to make a plan. It is time to stand up and fight back.

Allanah Clark

Women’s Council Co-convenor

Allanah is a campaign adviser at NZEI Te Riu Roa and Co-Convenor of the NZCTU Women’s Council. An early childhood teacher by profession and proud māmā of two, she brings decades of experience in the education sector and union movement. Allanah’s journey began in the student union space as Women’s Rights Officer at AUSA, and she’s continued to fight for fairness, equity, and the voices of working women ever since