Wairarapa International Women's Day Hui 2025

The Hui, held on Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 9:30AM-5PM, was a call from The Wairarapa Women’s Centre

to put Women at the Centre. We worked to plan 2025 together!

The Hui acknowledged the mana of the wāhine of the Wairarapa and asked one question:

“If we could create one powerful change for women in the Wairarapa—one that truly lifts gender equality, embraces Tangata Whenua, celebrates inclusivity, and shines a light on real solutions—what would it be?

How can we work together to make it a reality?”

Panel 1️⃣ Culture & Place: Women and Belonging in the Wairarapa

Theme: How can we create inclusive spaces where all women feel seen and valued? Where they feel a sense of community and belonging?

Yasasi Gunaranthe - Treasurer, Wairarapa Multicultural Council - why multiculturalism is important for the Wairarapa
Aroha Beck, Senior Lecturer, Massey University, School of People, Planning and Environment- Framing our own stories of discovery, place, mana wahine, and belonging.
Tooba Shahid is President of the women's organization of the Ahmaddiyya community in Masterton. - Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association(Lajna Imaillah New Zealand

Panel 2️⃣ Community Perspectives & Partnerships: Working Together for Change

Themes: Pathways to self-emancipation, education, training and working together. Working together, collaboration, and pooling resources.

Bethan Greener, PhD. Head of School, Massey University, School of People, Planning and Environment - How to bridge the ivory tower and community action; collaboration & partnership at the grassroots
Tracey Cook, Manager of the Bachelor of Nursing programme, UCOL - A locally grounded perspective of education in the Wairarapa

Panel 3️⃣ Women in Business: Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Growth

Themes: What are the opportunities and challenges for women in business today? How do we foster female entrepreneurship and leadership? What policies or support systems can help women thrive in business? What bold steps can we take to make Wairarapa a leader in gender inclusion?

Stella Lennox. At large Councillor, Masterton District Council - Leadership - the role of local government in strengthening opportunities for leadership for advancing women in business
Nicola Belsham. Manager of Women In Business Wairarapa, Chamber of Commerce- Entrepreneurship - Having transferable skills and a ‘portfolio’ career – giving breadth of skills to tackle challenges and creating flexibility - good communication skills are a must!
Sharne Fairbrother, Co-Founder Adeptus Leaders -Growth - how to GROW strong women. The challenges women face in business and leadership and the importance of a deliberate approach to growth.

Co-Creation Conversations

Opening Performance

"Aya and the Butterfly” is inspired by a book of the same name, written by Dr. Maysoon Salama, who wrote the story to help her granddaughter Aya, deal with the grief of losing her father in the Christchurch Mosque attacks in 2019. “Although it touches on feelings of sadness and grief, it also encourages ‘letting go’ and laughter, resilience building and dealing with change, all metaphorically reflected by the life-cycle and metamorphosis of the monarch butterfly.” (Source: Stuff.) The puppet show raises serious themes of disability, discrimination, and grief — the performance delivers this message in an accessible way for children, as young as 3 years old. This whimsical story depicts a child’s journey from grief back to happiness through the medium of puppetry and music.

The WWC has made this award winning performance free and accessible to the families of the Wairarapa in order to celebrate our capacity for resilience and bravery in the face of overwhelming and unprecedented circumstances.