A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Last Sunday — International Women's Day — was a great opportunity, not only to remember the work of all women, but to acknowledge 2020 is World Health Organization's International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said the union and professional organisationwelcomed the day as one in which to celebrate the crucial role of nurses, midwives, healthcare workers and kai mahi hauora as 92 percent of its 52,000 members are women.
“Aotearoa New Zealand can be proud of the wahine who have paved the way and who continue to fight for justice, equality and equity.
“We especially honour and take inspiration from our nursing ancestors like Akenehi Hei and Ellen Dougherty who set the foundations for how we practise now.
“The road to equality and equity is not the same for all women, and we need to acknowledge the systemic racism and colonisation that make things a lot harder for our internationally qualified nurses and particularly for our Maori nurses.
“Our collective effort for gender equality and equity needs to recognise those power structures and be grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi.”
NZNO Industrial Services Manager Cee Payne says the union and professional organisation have been working towards gender equity for its members.
“We are in the process of a historic pay equity settlement which, when completed, will provide all our health board members undertaking nursing and midwifery work with pay rates that are free of gender discrimination.”
