WOMEN LEADERS IN NEW ZEALAND

LARGE AND IN CHARGE!

Don’t get me wrong—there are still plenty of gains women need to make in NZ. But for the most part—women hold many if not most of the highest positions in New Zealand. It is my understanding this is reason alone to make the Australians think the New Zealanders are a vegemite jar short of a full breakfast. From what I gather, Australia doesn’t have women leadership high on their priority list—but I will figure this out first hand and for now, will give them the benefit of the doubt.

I do know in New Zealand—girls rule and if you don’t like that, you should work on getting over it (or move to Australia). For example, here is a short list of some of their finest women leaders. I will start with the Queen of England herself as she is held in high regard with “heaps” of respect from New Zealanders. What I find most important are these same people have always had a deep respect for the Queen—ever since she succeeded to the role when she was only 21 years old. Others include: Prime Minister, Helen Clark, Governor General, Sylvia Cartwright, A Supreme Court Justice, Speaker of the House, Margaret Wilson, Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergas, Chancellor of Victoria University, Rosemary Barrington, CEO of Telestar Clear—Eisenhower Fellow Rosemary XXX and NZ golden girl, 2005 athlete of the year and Olympic Gold Medal Cyclist, Sarah Ulmer.

I think a recent quote in the New Zealand Herald sums up the positioning of women in critical roles: “Forget about women being able to do anything. The problem vexing some men is that women appear to be doing everything!”