NATIONAL COUNCIL OF COOK ISLANDS WOMEN OF NEW ZEALAND

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CAMP GROUND,
HASKELL PARK,
PARRISH LINE,
ARDMORE

Kia orana kotou katoatoa. Kia orana te rangatira o te pa'i e to'ou matoro. Kia orana te au metua vaine, tatou katoatoa tei tai mai ki teia ra ma'ata no te Au Vainetini Kuki Airani No Aotearoa, kia orana rava.

Pacific Islands women have made a significant contribution to the development and achievements of Pacific Islands people in New Zealand, and indeed in our society as a whole.

This conference provides an opportunity to celebrate the strength and successes of Pacific Islands women. Pacific Women succeed across a wide range of professional arenas.

As we look forward let us take time to acknowledge the many women who worked tirelessly to create opportunities for the future generations of Pacific Islands people in New Zealand.

The late Louisa Crawley was instrumental in elevating the profile of Pacific Islands people and challenging mainstream services. She was the first Pacific Islands woman elected to the Christchurch City Council. Other Pacific Islands women achieved similar success as Council women: Paddy Walker in Auckland and Tala Cleverly in Wellington. In Television and Broadcasting, Susanna Hukui was responsible for introducing Tagata Pasifica to national TV. Mi'i Pamatatau, Sinoa Ostler, Eti Laufiso, and the work of Poko Morgan with Anau Ako Pasifika. This illustrates the range and diversity of successful Pacific Islands women. These women and the many other quiet achievers of their era were influential in securing better opportunities for Pacific Islands people in New Zealand.

Today, key policy positions within Government agencies are occupied by Pacific Islands women - specifically, in the Ministries of Women's Affairs, Health, Education, and the Department of Social Welfare. These agencies represent important areas of influence to the future development and well-being of Pacific Islands people.

In 1993, the Ministry of Women's Affairs conducted its first consultation with Pacific Islands women. This was important in identifying the specific needs and concerns of Pacific Islands women. The outcome from this meeting was an agreement, that Pacific Island women would continue to meet and assist the Ministry in the development of Government Policy.

It was recommended that a full-time Pacific policy position be created within the Ministry. Jean Mitaera was appointed to this position in January of this year to help the Ministry in its work with Pacific Island women

During the 1996/97 year the Ministry of Women's Affairs will be introducing a new focus. The Ministry's vision, 'Making a difference for Women in Aotearoa-New Zealand' is directed at achieving tangible and positive outcomes for women. In particular, it is proposed to:

i) Address policy areas where there is a significant disparity between women and men which disadvantages women;

The key policy areas focus on women and the labour market specifically;

women's financial security
women's access to resources
measurement of women's contribution to the economy and society through unpaid work
improved data and statistics about all aspects of women's lives.

This work will provide the opportunity to improve the quality of support for the advancement of women in New Zealand.

Pacific Island women and their families have a strong interest in education. The Ministry of Education started work on a plan for Pacific Islands Education. This plan will be a significant move towards raising the achievement levels of Pacific Islands students. The Pacific Islands Adviser Lesieli Tongati'o (Tongan) is a key member of the project team working extensively with secondary schools with high Pacific Islands rolls. We hope to help students do well and gain strong community support for colleges. Education and educational achievement is essential in the development, achievement and success of Pacific Islands people.

In the health area, the Ministry of Health has launched several key initiatives that affect Pacific Islands health. These include:

the publication of the first national directory of Pacific Islands Health services;
a review of the role of religion and its influence on the health status of Pacific Islands people;
organising two major conferences on Cultural barriers - on cultural issues affect the health and lifestyle opportunities of Pacific Islands people in New Zealand, and the first national conference on Sexual and Reproductive health for Pacific Islands people.

The Ministry's Policy Advisor of Pacific Island's Health, Michele Vanderlanh Smith, is currently developing a draft of a national strategic health plan for Pacific Islands people to the year 2000 and beyond. The strategy sets out clear directions for the development and management of health services, to improve access and health outcomes for Pacific Islands people. A national public consultation programme will be undertaken with individual Pacific Islands groups.

Like Health, the Department of Social Welfare has identified the need to look at Pacific Island issues. Its Pacific Islands Unit has been considering the relevant sections of the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act for Pacific Islands family and communities. Sinoa Ostler, the original coordinator and current acting manager is responsible for:

translation of material on family and welfare matters into Cook Islands and Samoan languages
working with Pacific Islands communities throughout New Zealand to understand the objectives and key features of the Act
ensuring that policy proposals, decision making, and services for the Department of Social Welfare include Pacific Islands perspectives.

This unit has been instrumental in ensuring the inclusion of the cultural perspective of Pacific Islands people within the Act.

I would now like to say something about my role as Minister for Consumer Affairs. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has a major part to play providing information about people's rights when purchasing goods or services. Over the years, the Ministry has developed an effective service to meet the needs of consumers. Part of that development has been to target information to meet the needs of Pacific Islands people.

In 1993, a research project was undertaken by the Ministry to establish how women in target groups received information on consumer issues. The report provided an insight into the experiences and knowledge of a group of Pacific Islands women on consumer issues. It highlighted how Pacific Islands women wanted information disseminated to their communities and how this was best achieved.

The findings and recommendations included live radio talk back interviews and face to face workshops. This provided an opportunity to develop education that was effective and culturally appropriate for Pacific Islands people.

In identifying the needs of Pacific Islands women , the Ministry has developed leaflets and booklets on consumer issues. These have been translated into Pacific Islands languages. This is to give greater understanding of consumer rights. The Ministry has involved Pacific Islands people in the production of eduction videos.

Currently, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is reviewing its advice service. This involves consultation with Pacific Islands people. Recommendations will be sought about the best delivery process to follow, when disseminating information to Pacific Islands communities. From this perspective, I expect the Ministry and its Advice Service to continue to provide a more efficient service to meet the needs of Pacific Islands people.

This conference 'Pacific Islands Women Challenges and Opportunities' is an important event to commemorate the establishment of the National Council of Cook Islands Women of New Zealand.

Cook Island Maori people are New Zealand's second largest Pacific group. They make up 21 percent (approximately 38,000) of the Pacific Island population in New Zealand. Almost 20,000 of that number are females.

It is a fact of our society that women are considered the primary, if not sole, caregivers for children and elderly parents. The pressure to provide appropriate and quality care for our families is increasing. This pressure falls particularly on women.

Census statistics have shown that: in 1991, there were approximately 16,029 dependent children in the Cook Island population. Of these, the majority live in two-parent families (65 percent). However just over one-third (35 percent) live in one-parent families. half of all Cook Island families earned under $20,600 a year.

Nevertheless the same statistics show that: Cook Islands women are more likely than men to have a qualification. Women are also more likely than men to be attending study or training courses. Cook Island women are widely employed in community, social and personal services, and manufacturing areas.

The issues of child health, income, education and employment are critical to the future aspirations and well being of Cook Islands people. This conference is an opportunity to discuss the role of the National Council of Cook Islands Women and how it can be best used to support the future development of Cook Islands Women in New Zealand.

Thank you for the opportunity to part of this historic occasion. I wish you well in your work.

Home || Ministers || Policies || Speeches || Departments