RURAL WOMEN NEW ZEALAND/ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH SCHOLARSHIP IS OPEN

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) and Access Community Health are excited to announce that this year, they will be offering a scholarship of $3000 to a health worker who wishes to further their studies in the health and/or disability fields.

“We want to encourage people to pursue studies in health professions, and to miss out on doing so due to financial reasons would be a real shame,” says RWNZ National President, Fiona Gower.

"We are delighted to partner with Access Community Health to award the scholarship.

This scholarship is to recognise the importance in having trained health professionals wanting to work in rural sector, ensuring better health outcomes for our rural communities.

“Access Community Health is very proud of their longstanding relationship with Rural Women New Zealand, and once again we are delighted to be a sponsor of the RWNZ/Access Community Health Scholarship in 2018,” says Access Community HealthChief Executive Officer, Simon Lipscombe.

“We are very pleased for last year’s successful applicant Roberta Kaio, and we hope that the Scholarship awarded helps the recipient further their ongoing learning journey,” says Mr Lipscombe.

“RWNZ and Access Community Health look forward to reviewing the applicants – applications for the scholarship close Sunday, 1 July 2018, application forms can be downloaded off our website,” says Ms Gower.

 

 

To find more information, visit the bursaries page of our website here. 

 

Rural Women New Zealand has released a media release regarding safe firearms practices this duck shooting season.

Please read the media release below.

 

DUCK HUNTING SEASON BEGINS THIS WEEKEND

 

The ending of one hunting season and the start of another is a timely reminder about safety with firearms says Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ).

 

“It is important that hunters remember the golden rules of firearms safety, especially given that the roar has finished for the most part, and duck shooting season starts this coming weekend,” says RWNZ National Finance Chair, Rachael Dean.

 

“Understand and follow the Arms Code, particularly the seven basic rules of firearms safety, and reinforce safe use of firearms with other users – none of us want any more hunting tragedies.

 

“The Arms Code has been designed to ensure safe measures and precaution when using firearms.

 

“Please, look after your personal health, be aware of those around you and your surroundings, and leave the celebrations until the shooting day is over and the firearms are safely locked away.

 

“RWNZ wants everyone to be safe when hunting and gathering so that at the end of the day rural families and communities enjoy the fruits of living off the land – that which is quintessential to rural New Zealand” says Ms Dean.

 

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Rural Women New Zealand

National Office

 

[email protected]

 

04 473 5524

 

(photo source: pinterest.com)

 

 

(Pictured: RWNZ Board Member and National Finance Chair, Rachael Dean, and Manager of Government, Public Sector and Academic Relationships, Angela McLeod presenting to the Primary Production Committee.)

 

RWNZ has released a media release about our oral submission to the Primary Production Committee on the Sentencing (Livestock Rustling) Bill.

Rural Women New Zealand has released a media release today, outlining our concern with the announcement of a proposal to curtail rescue helicopter service bases in Taupō, Rotorua and Te Anau.

 

Please follow this link to the media which we have responded to. 

 

Read our media release below. 

 

 

RESCUE HELICOPTER DECISION PUTS LIVES AT RISK

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is concerned with the announcement of a proposal to curtail rescue helicopter service bases in Taupō, Rotorua and Te Anau.

“The closure of these bases will inevitably mean that people who are in need of immediate care are consequently waiting longer for medical attention, which is a concern”, says RWNZ Board Member and Health Portfolio Convenor, Margaret Pittaway.

“People traveling through, living, working or enjoying outdoor pursuits within these areas are already isolated due to the nature of the geography.

“With winter fast approaching, there will be harsher conditions on the roads and along tracks where accidents are more likely to happen.

“This decision fails to recognise the golden hour – where minutes can mean life or death.

“It is vital that communities and people travelling through areas which are a significant distance to major hospitals can feel safe knowing that medical care is accessible.

“It’s about making sure everyone has access to immediate medical care, and we are concerned that the closure of helicopter bases critically impacts on the emergency services required for travellers and our rural communities in need,” says Mrs Pittaway.

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(img source: www.youtube.com)

 

Friday, 6 April was the date of the National Rural Health Conference, held in the Pullman, Auckland. 

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) presented at the Conference on the shortage of midwives currently faced by New Zealanders, particularly rural communities.To read more about the conference, you can follow their website here. 

RWNZ Board Member, and Health Portfolio Convenor, Margaret Pittaway has done substantial work in urging support for New Zealand midwives and women living and working rurally. The paper presented at the National Rural Health Conference was written by Mrs Pittaway and presented by RWNZ National President, Fiona Gower.

 

To read the paper, you can download it here. 

 

 

 

Rural Women New Zealand has today released a media release following the announcement that the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (RHAANZ) will move to shut down if it does not receive funding.

Read the announcement here.  

 

 

ANOTHER SET BACK FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF RURAL COMMUNITIES

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) are saddened to see that the Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (RHAANZ) will cease operating if it does not receive government funding next week.

 

“RWNZ supports the work already done by RHAANZ in bringing together various rural groups and rural health providers to develop initiatives for rural communities,” says RWNZ Board Member and Health Portfolio Convenor, Margaret Pittaway.

“Remarkable work has been done to deliver the Rural Health Road Map which sets out a plan and priorities for achieving healthily rural communities.

“Being geographically isolated, often with significant distance to the nearest town or health centre means that rural communities have an immediate need of affordable and reliable access to all health services.

“The Government has committed to rural proofing government policy, and RHAANZ has a vital part to play in this development – without the continuation of RHAANZ, and the work it does, rural communities will go backwards.

“There is no other place where issues impacting the health and wellbeing of rural communities are considered concurrently, and the loss of achievements met and efforts made by RHAANZ will be detrimental for our rural people.

RWNZ urges the Government to recognise the good work that has been done by RHAANZ and to support its continuation," says Mrs Pittaway.

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Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) has released a media release today following RWNZ's oral submission on the Trusts Bill. 

 

Please read the media release below. 

 

RURAL WOMEN NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN DECISION MAKING

 

 

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) influenced positive change for rural families and communities recently, through their oral submission to Parliament on the Trusts Bill.

“RWNZ submitted that both a rural impact and gender impact analysis be conducted on the legislation and intersectionality so that the Bill does not discriminate against women in any way,” says RWNZ National Chair, Penny Mudford.

“RWNZ research indicates that women can be shut out of a share of the family farm through old trusts that fail to acknowledge them in the family as beneficiaries.

“This can lead to women being discriminated against in the dissolution of a relationship where a trust is used to exclude them from a share in the family farm or farm business.

"These situations should not be happening in 2018 and we urge the government to uphold the international instruments and outcome statements when updating legislation such as with the Trusts Bill currently before the Justice Select Committee.

"In particular, the agreed conclusions that came out of the United Nations 62nd session of the Commission on the Status of Women, which were held in New York in March 2018, make it abundantly clear that government's policies and legislation should not disproportionately disadvantage women and girls living in the rural sector.

"Since trusts are a common type of farm ownership structure in New Zealand we need to be sure they are not being used to disadvantage those who would otherwise be entitled to a share of the farm asset through relationship property or inheritance if the asset was not held in trust," says Ms Mudford.

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If you wish to read our oral submission, you can find it here. 

 

 

 

RWNZ has released a media release responding to the introduction of the 5G network in New Zealand.

 

Please read relevant media here.

 

Thursday, 8 March marked this year's International Women's Day. As this year also celebrates 125 years since women in New Zealand won the the right to vote, the day was marked with significance.

Wednesday, 7 March was the launch of the Suffrage125 celebrations which was held at Government House and was attended by RWNZ Board Chair, Penny Mudford, Chief Executive Officer, Penelope England and Office Manager, Felicity Bunny. The launch was hosted by the Governor General, and RWNZ Patron Dame Patsy Reddy. The event was MC'd by journalist, Mihingarangi Forbes, and guest speakers included Minister for Women, Hon Julie Anne Genter and 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year, Rez Gardi.

The following day, Thursday, 8 March marked International Women's Day celebrations. RWNZ attended a breakfast at Parliament hosted by Zonta Wellington and the UN Women. RWNZ Chief Executive Officer Penelope England, and Communications, Marketing & Events Assistant, Catherine Stabb both attended the event.

Discussion topics at the event included recognition of the milestones made by women in New Zealand and the challenges that we still face. Rt Hon Helen Clark spoke of her successes, the obstacles she has faced and the how her rural background contributed to her personal strength, saying "rural people have to be very resilient".

Watch Rt Hon Helen Clark's Q&A with National Council of Women CEO Dr Gill Greer at the breakfast through the link here.

 

(Pictured below: Executive Officer Women’s Institute - Colleen Dryden, National Board Chair - Penny Mudford ONZM, National President Women’s Institute – Kay Hart, RWNZ Chief Executive Officer – Penelope England at the Suffrage125 launch at Government House.)

 

 

 

(Pictured: RWNZ Board Member and Health convenor, Margaret Pittaway)

 Rural Women New Zealand are concerned with New Zealand's midwifery shortage, particularly for rural women. Please read our media release below in response to the current media regarding this issue. Board Member and Health convenor, Margaret Pittaway, has been working hard to ensure our concerns for this issue are heard. 

You can find the relevant media here.

 

 

125 YEARS SINCE THE VOTE AND RURAL WOMEN STILL STRUGGLE

It’s ironic that in the 125th year of suffrage, New Zealand women are struggling to gain and retain health services, says Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ).

“New Zealand is still hailed as a world leader because New Zealand women won their right to vote in 1893, the first nation in the world, however, we are behind in maternity care,” says Board Member and Health convenor, Margaret Pittaway.

“RWNZ has been observing the developing dilemma for midwives and those they care for, with increasing concern.

“Rural midwives are simply not receiving a living wage due to the expectation they travel many more miles to visit patients than their urban counterparts.

“RWNZ holds grave fears for the wellbeing and safety of rural mums-to-be – decisions on maternal care are putting the mother’s life and the life and intellect of new born babies at risk.

“On top of this, is the insidious progression in the closure of small community hospitals and maternity units in the belief that centralisation of essential services is the best method.

“RWNZ firmly believes that not only is it vital to retain community hospitals for the wellbeing of our new mothers and families, but is vital for the sustainability of rural communities.

“The Government needs to empower rural communities by urgently addressing the crisis in rural health services, particularly resignations as midwives seek better and more attractive opportunities,” says Mrs Pittaway.

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