Tini Wetting attended this on behalf of CWL. 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING, QUALITY INN, MANUKAU
28-30 SEPTEMBER 2007
 

I was asked to attend the above conference as proxy for Catholic Women’s League National President Tui Pasco. I gladly obliged and have enjoyed the experience.
The executive meeting was uplifting, with several excellent speakers and interesting reports.
The conference theme was: “Inspiring Influential Leadership”.
 

FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER
Manukau Branch NCW hosted the event and thus we were welcomed by their president Mrs.Sailau Simanu, one of that branch’s several Pacific Island members, who throughout the conference wore her Samoan costume with pride and grace.
NCW’s National President Christine Low then gave her opening address, welcoming us all and wishing us all a good conference.
The keynote speaker for that day was Jo Brosnahan QSO, MA Hons.
She spoke inspiringly on leadership.
 

Leadership is about people, there is no leadership without a community, but leaders create that community and share their values. Leaders have to
 

• have ability to inspire
  
• strategise
  
• identify a common value
  
• focus on a mission
  
• have a passion about learning and teaching
  
• nurture innovation and creativity
  
• lead by example
  
• take personal responsibility (the buck stops with you!)
  
• require energy
  
• communicate and listen
  
• care about people
  
• have humility
  

How do leaders develop? They become servants first and will empower others. Good leaders will not do things on their own.
 

The speaker Jo Brosnahan founded and chairs a leadership programme Leadership New Zealand (www.leadershipnz.co.nz)
 

A business session followed, during which appointments were made for a resolutions committee, timekeeper, tally clerks and a constitutional advisor.
The voting strength at that session was 55.
We dealt with two of the remits, confirmed the previous National Executive minutes, then listened to the NCW annual report and the financial report.
Following afternoon tea some of the Standing Committees’ reports were presented.
 

Later that afternoon we were bussed to Manukau Civic Centre where a mayoral reception took place with drinks and nibbles. Manukau City’s Deputy Mayor Anne Candy QSO, a vibrant and colourful personality, welcomed us to the city.
After the reception we were transported to the nearby Salvation Army, where we concluded the day with a simple but delicious dinner.
 

SATURDAY 29 SEPTEMBER
I was invited to attend the President’s breakfast at 7 am with 15 other NOS (Nationally Organised Societies) representatives. This was a good opportunity for President Christine Low to meet people in a smaller group. She spoke on the importance of regular input of  NOS into the monthly Circular, e.g. change of presidents, conferences, press releases and other newsworthy items. Send to Head Office before the 8^th of each month,(they have got your logo!)
 

After breakfast the full meeting resumed with a business session. Some remits were discussed and voted on, then some more Standing Committee Convenors presented their reports.
 

The keynote speaker for that day was Ruth Bush BA Wisc. JD (Hons) Conn., an Associate Professor at Waikato University. She was an impassionate speaker on violence to women and children and on the breaching of protection orders.
Implementation of the law on these is grossly inadequate and often not acted upon by authorities. Applications for the above are often declined or take up to three months to come into power.
Violence begets violence; children that were abused or witnessed abuse will nearly always become abusers themselves. Sentencing against violence is very inadequate in New Zealand.
 

After this excellent speaker it was announced that the winner of the 2006 Rosebowl competition was Dunedin Branch NCW.
 On the theme”Liberating Leaders Locally” this branch has successfully organised workshops for their members and the wider community that covered the following topics:

• meeting procedures
  
• speaking with confidence
  
• working with a committee or executive
  
• working through an agenda smoothly
  

Back from lunch we were faced by a panel of female politicians, who in turn spoke on women’s issues in their parties. The politicians were:
v     Heather Roy, ACT
v     Katherine Ransom, Democrats for Social Credits
v     Dr. Jackie Blue, National
v     Judy Turner, United Future
v     Sue Kedgley, Greens
v     Sue Moroney, Labour (chair)
v     Hon Tariana Turia, Maori
There was opportunity to ask questions about the different policies.
 

A workshop followed about “How NCW influences.”
NCW works through research, campaigns, meetings and the media.
 Meetings are held at local branches, national executives and at annual conferences.
The media covers: press releases, newspaper articles, radio- and TV interviews, website and circular.
The workshop continued with a inside look at the Parliament Watch Committee. The convenor Beryl Anderson explained how the NCW book of Solutions is continuously updated or solutions “retired” if they have been overtaken by newer solutions.
 

The Conference dinner that night with multi-cultural entertainment was not attended by me, as I  had a prior commitment in Auckland.
 

SUNDAY 30 SEPTEMBER
The morning started with an Interfaith Service, followed by a business session.
 

Heather Henare, CEO Women’s Refuge spoke on her organisation, which was founded 34 years ago.
There are 50 refuges in New Zealand. Their biggest age group at refuges is 35-45 . Some women coming in a refuge are third generation clients. Only 25% of women leave their husband or partner after the first abuse. Work with clients is now more whanau-orientated. Government funding is inadequate at only 42%.Women’s Refuge have to pay market prices for their rental accommodations, there are no free houses.
Involvement in Women’s Refuge has to come from the women themselves, although family-planning clinics will now ask women about violence in their families or their relationships.
Education programmes are now offered and are the best thing that can be done for the women victims.
 

INTERNATIONAL SESSION
Board member Barbara Arnold, International Secretary presented her annual report, followed by Beryl Andersen and Anne Todd-Lambie who gave a vivid description of their time in New York where they  had the responsibility to present the Alternative Shadow Report to the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) Monitoring Committee at the United Nations.
There they were given 12 minutes to speak on their report.
 

Daniella, a young woman from Macedonia who attended the NCW National Executive as a guest, then spoke briefly on the more than 100 women’s organisations in her homeland.
 

The final speaker at this worthwile Conference was Lyn Dawson, who is the Programme Manager and founder for the Books in Prison Trust. The Trust was started in 1999 and has now established libraries in 4 women’s prisons. They run programmes and workshops in dealing with illiteracy and help for mothers to read to their children. Writing courses are also provided.
 

REMITS:
ü      Remit 1 Research into Sexual Violence Complains.   Passed unanimously.
ü      Remit 2 Emergency Housing for People with Disabilities.  Passed unanimously.
ü      Remit 3. Juries Right to Know.  Lost
ü      Remit 4. Treaty to ban Cluster Munitions.  Passed unanimously.
ü      Remit 5. Paid Parental Leave.
Passed with 42 votes for, 15 votes against, one abstained. This remit created a lively debate. It was argued that this is about the welfare of the child, not the welfare of the business that can or cannot afford to pay for 12 months of PPL. The welfare of the child is paramount. The “against” votes should not be based on economics..
ü      Remit 6. Sexualisation of Children. Passed unanimously.
 

There was also an urgent notice of motion from NCW National Board.
It was voted unanimously to invite a UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women to New Zealand.