Call for action ahead of International Women's Day
This International Women's Day, there are calls to address a reported gender disparity gap between men women New Zealand's horticulture industry leadership.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says it is celebrating and promoting the achievements of rural women in New Zealand this International Women’s Day.
The organisation’s national president, Gill Naylor says that recognising the global contributions of women and the part RWNZ plays in those contributions each year is an important day on their calendar.
“This year’s theme of Embracing Equity particularly resonates deeply with RWNZ,” Naylor says.
“As an organisation, RWNZ has been seeking equity for rural women, their family and communities including access to health services, educational resources and social inclusion since the organisation’s inception,” she says.
Naylor says that although the expression of issues facing rural communities may appear differently today, there are still parallels in the underlying challenges rural women continue to face.
“For example, the issues of rural isolation and connection are not necessarily focused just on physical access but also about a lack of connectivity in a world moving increasingly towards digital information and opportunities,” she says.
“The devastation caused by the recent cyclone and flooding have created yet another level of complexity regarding issues of isolation and access to communication and services experienced by many rural families."
“RWNZ mission to strengthen, support and connect people and communities through its charitable and policy work, encouragement of entrepreneurial rural businesswomen and as a strong rural voice lies at the heart of creating and embracing equity in Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Naylor.
“International Women’s Day provides an excellent reminder to take stock and celebrate what has been achieved and focus us on our goals for the future.”
On the edge of the hot, dry Takapau plains, Norm and Del Atkins have cultivated a small but exceptional herd of 60 Holstein Friesian cows within their mixed breed herd of 360 dairy cows.
The DairyNZ board and management are currently trying to determine whether, and to what degree, their farmer levy payers will support any increase in their levy contributions.
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Dry conditions are widespread but worse in some places, with rain and drought affecting farms just a few kilometres away.
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