March 2025

The world really feels like there is so much negative turmoil and concerning developments out there. As I reflect on this, I think about the Circle of Concern model by Stephen Covey. Look it up if you are not familiar with it:
Circle of Control: What we can directly control – ourselves! What we say, how much time we scroll
social media, our thoughts, our actions.
Circle of Influence: The concerns we can do something about. People, places, and things we can influence.
Circle of Concern: That wide range of concerns we know about but can’t influence.
We need to focus our energies on what we can control and influence.
The point to this is: as an individual, you may feel that you have no influence on some of the greater
concerns you have. But as a member of BPW at the local, national, and international level we can influence to create that change we want.

The resolutions that will be voted on whether the become BPW NZ policy at the AGM in May is an example of the process to shift our concerns into our circle of influence. Please take the time to review the resolutions and provide your feedback. We will vote on them as a club in April. Once a resolution is made BPW NZ or BPW International Policy BPW then has the mandate and can influence at higher levels.
We have seen examples of this recently with BPW NZ presenting on our behalf to the Justice Committee on the BPW submission for the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi Bill.
If you have an idea on something you would like to become BPW NZ or even BPW International policy, please start putting your ideas together and we can work on getting it submitted in time for next years AGM. If you haven’t checked it out yet, all current policy is saved under the Members Only section on the BPW New Zealand website. https://www.bpwnz.org.nz/members-only
Message or email me if you require the password to access.

There is or has been so much good stuff happening in our community you can take advantage of:
 Taranaki Women in Leadership Series, Hawera Friday 21 st March. This is a FREE event, but you need to register for it. The event is being run under the Global Women umbrella, the same organisation as the Activate Leadership course Gwen and I completed last year. Link to get tickets is on our Facebook page or reach out if you need it emailed out.

 It’s too late for the timing of this newsletter but the Lysaght Watt Gallery hosted a pop-up panel discussion with the topic “Beyond Aesthetics: Creativity as a Social Responsibility”.
This was to run along side an exhibition by Lucie Blaze, an internationally renowned graphic artist/designer. Lucie’s exhibition is Born to Create: Catalyst for Change and is described as a transformative journey showcasing vibrant portraits of resilient women who defied societal norms and reshaped society. Her exhibition is on until 22 nd March, so you still have time to view it.

March 8 is International Women’s Day, with the theme this year of “March Forward: From Promises to Progress”. It is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements, and the diversity of women. We need to celebrate the value of women we know every day. Call out discrimination whenever we see or experience it. We do this not just for ourselves, but for those that aren’t strong enough to have a voice, are not in a position where their voices can be heard. And to pave a way for the young women and girls that will live in world that is hopefully a little bit better, and more gender equal.

UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand points out that it has been thirty years since the world committed to a vision for gender equality through the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Despite some strides forward, we are not there yet.
Go the UN women’s website for more information. https://unwomen.org.nz/international-womens-
day.
In recognition of International Women’s Day we are going to have one of our newer club members, Cindy Koen, talk to us about her experiences from living in South Africa and her reasons for observations since moving to South Taranaki.

Easter is coming up also, as the third Monday of the month in April will fall on Easter Monday, we will change the date of our monthly dinner meeting to the week earlier on the 14 th April – put that in your calendars now so you don’t forget!

We recently received links to the 2023 Household Disability Survey. The HDS captures information about the prevalence of disability and the experiences of disabled people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The survey is one of the most comprehensive sources of disability data in the country. If you are
interested, please visit the Stats NZ website to read the findings:
 Disability statistics: 2023 | Stats NZ
 1 in 6 New Zealanders are disabled | Stats NZ
 Disabled people need more care and support | Stats NZ
 Household Disability Survey 2023 – findings, definitions, and design summary | Stats NZ
 2023 Household Disability Survey infographic | Stats NZ

Reminder, if you are on Facebook and do not currently follow our page, I recommend you do so, you’ll find us easily at BPW Hāwera. We will be posting more information and content on our Facebook page to supplement our monthly newsletter, our monthly meetings, and our Web Site content.

Toni Hunt - BPW Hāwera Club President

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