Beverley Shore Bennett's connection with Zonta began in 1969 when she became the Charter President of the Wellington Club. From 1976-1978 she was District Governor (Australia and New Zealand). From 1978-1980 she was a member of the International Nominating Committee. She has always been grateful for the enhancement that Zonta provided to her career and the friendships that she made.

Beverley had a wonderful collaboration with Roy Miller for over 10 years, producing over 170 single lights in over 57 commissions. Windows ranged in size from ten-foot church windows to small decorative panels for houses. Later, Beverley worked with glass craftsman Paul Hutchins, producing almost 60 commissions, some comprising multiple windows.

Beverley also designed and made church vestments and hangings, the largest being the dossal in Wellington Cathedral. This was installed in 1990. In 1976, for her artistic contribution to the diocese, Bishop Edward Norman, eighth Bishop of Wellington, installed her as a Lay Canon in the Wellington Diocese. She was the first woman in the diocese to be so honoured. She was also appointed Canon for the Arts to Wellington Cathedral

In 1980 Beverley was awarded the MBE.

Staring Kate Winslet, Alexander Skarsgard, Andrea Riseborough, Josh O'Connor and Marion Cotillard.

You are welcome to purchase wine and food from the onsite cafe.

Purchase movie and raffle tickets via Events Pronto - click here.

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At a time when some world leaders are stepping down from international affairs, local women in the Wellington Region are stepping up to facilitate strong positions on the world stage.

Recently at the World Zonta Convention in Brisbane, four members of the Zonta Club of Wellington were successful in being appointed to senior leadership roles within Zonta.  No mean feat as New Zealand is one of over 60 countries represented at the Convention. 

These four amazing women are:

• Souella Cumming ONZM who, unopposed, continues in her role as Treasurer/Secretary on the Zonta International Board

• Helen Bowie who will Chair the Zonta International Advocacy Committee

• Jen McKinlay-Birkin who takes on the role of Governor of Zonta in New Zealand 

• Sarah Barclay who is Lieutenant Governor of Zonta in New Zealand

These most capable women all follow in the footsteps of a fellow member of the Zonta Club of Wellington.   Lynn McKenzie ONZM was President of Zonta International and Foundation in 2012-2014 – the first New Zealander to achieve this office and still actively involved promoting the Zonta brand, mentoring and guiding its members.

“The Zonta Club of Wellington is very proud of its members” says Belinda Himiona, President of the Club.   “They champion Zonta’s local, national and international service and advocacy work, which is underpinned by the mission statement ‘Build a Better World for Women and Girls’”.

“We empower women worldwide, but first, we have to empower ourselves!  That includes supporting each other and the leaders who volunteer to carry Zonta forward.  And YES I emphasise they are all VOLUNTEERS!”

Belinda Himiona

President Zonta Club of Wellington

Profiles and photos available in the full PDF below.

Enquiries to zontamana@gmail.com

This is a five-part series, kicking off on 14 August, covering an array of interesting topics lead by women.

All money raised is going to support the Wellington Women's Refuge.

1. Wednesday 14 August, 5:15-7.30pm, You Can Say That!

2. Wednesday 4 September, 12-1.30pm, Slipping Through the Cracks

3. Wednesday 25 September, 12-1.30pm, Act Like a Leader

4. Thursday 17 October, 12-1.30pm, It's Time We Talked About Menopause

5. Wednesday 30 October, 5.15-7.30pm, Making Money

eventbrite link to register for any or all of the five events

Organised by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

Date: 6 August 2024

Time: 12:30 -1:30pm

Venue: Online

Register now: https://events.humanitix.com/women-s-empowerment-principles-measure-reflect-act

Applications are now open for the prestigious 2024 White Camellia Awards, celebrating businesses that champion gender equality. This year's theme, "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" highlights the importance of advancing women's empowerment in the workplace and beyond.

Applicants to the White Camellia Awards also gain free access to the internationally recognised WEPs tool, supporting measurement, reflection, and action across seven key categories, to be discussed during this insightful hour.

Webinar Highlights:

• Best Practices and Success Stories in Implementing the WEPs

• Challenges and Solutions in Implementing the WEPs

• Leveraging the Monitoring Tool for Continuous Improvement

This is a fantastic opportunity to ask questions, share insights, and hear from the New Zealand Policy Research Institute, White Camellia Awards Judges and previous White Camellia Awards winners about their commitment to gender equality and the positive impact of such recognitions on their organisations.

For more information and to use the free tool, visit:

UN WEPs NZ x New Zealand Policy Research Institute Survey (unwomen.org.nz)

This event is hosted by the NZ WEPS Committee, a coalition of four organisations, UN Women Aotearoa NZ, New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women, New Zealand Human Rights Commission and Zonta International District 16 that promote and champion the Women’s Empowerment Principles throughout New Zealand.

#WomensEmpowerment #GenderEquality #DiversityAndInclusion #Leadership #WEPs

This is a free event; registration is encouraged. Participate in person or online.

Tuesday 17 September, 5:30-8pm

Room 03, Mezzanine Floor, Rutherford House, Victoria University of Wellington, 33 Bunny Street.

Register here: On the Money! Annual Women’s Debate 2024 | Humanitix

The Wellington Branch of National Council of Women New Zealand, in collaboration with Graduate Women Wellington and Zonta Club of Wellington, are hosting The Annual Women’s Debate 2024. This debate intends to put women and gender at the centre of a conversation about the economy.

The economy is top of mind for Wellingtonians due to the current fiscal situation. Families are struggling with the rising cost of living, including household costs which have increased 6.2 per cent in the last year. At the same time, the number of job cuts in the public sector sits above 6000 and continues to rise. This is expected to disproportionately affect women, as women make up the majority of the public service workforce and the public service gender pay gap was 7.1% in 2023.

The current economic climate will widen existing gaps and increase the severity and urgency of problems that people are facing. We already know that women and other gender minorities face economic disadvantages in the labour market. Now, women and children will bear the brunt of a cost of living crisis, described by a phenomenon dubbed the ‘feminisation of poverty’. This reality is harshened when compared with the fact that banks made a record profit of $7.21 billion in 2023.

This is not a short-term problem, and communities are feeling uncertainty around the future of work and income. The Retirement Commission has recently released data that shows the gender gap in pay will result in a gender gap in retirement. Many people are concerned about how advancements in technology may affect employment opportunities.

Let’s become collectively informed at the #NZWomensDebate24 and learn more how economic empowerment for women and gender minorities can contribute to a more #GenderEqualNZ.

We hope you'll join us in-person or online for this kōrero.

5:30pm: Networking and refreshments provided

6:00pm: Panel begins

7:30pm: Panel finishes

#zontaconvention2024 #zonta

#zontaconvention2024 #zonta

#zontaconvention2024 #zonta

https://www.zontawellington.org.nz/

#zontaconvention2024

https://zontasaysno.com/

#ZontaSaysNO

The Coalition for the Safety of Women and Children and AVA Anti-Violence Action are presenting a petition to the Minister of Justice, Paul Goldsmith on Wednesday 26 June at 12:45 at Parliament Buildings.

The petition calls for stalking to be made illegal. Read more here and sign the petition:

Protect Women: Make Stalking Illegal | OurActionStation

#nvw2024 #zontawellington #zonta

The Zonta Club of Wellington proudly announces Dr. Hadee Thompson-Morrison as the distinguished recipient of the esteemed Zonta Science Award for the year 2024. Dr. Thompson-Morrison's exceptional dedication to advancing scientific research, particularly in the realm of sustainable resource management and ecosystem conservation, has earned her this prestigious recognition.

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As a passionate advocate for the sustainable management of natural resources and the conservation of unique ecosystems, Dr. Thompson-Morrison's academic career has been driven by a profound commitment to making a positive impact on environmental sustainability.

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Dr. Thompson-Morrison's research plan focuses on further developing and applying a model she developed during her PhD studies at the University of Canterbury, which predicts the accumulation of trace elements in soils over time. This innovative model aims to safeguard soils against potentially toxic elements, and ensure effective nutrient composition, thereby enhancing soil fertility, crop growth, and human health. Through her proposed research, Dr. Thompson-Morrison seeks to advance understanding of biogeochemical processes in the soil-plant system, leading to improved agricultural practices and ecosystem health.

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Dr. Thompson-Morrison is currently a researcher in soil health and environmental contaminants at Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research. In addition to her scientific endeavours, Dr. Thompson- Morrison is a staunch advocate for women in science and promotes healthy work-life balance within the scientific community. She actively engages in outreach activities to disseminate her research findings and communicate with diverse audiences, including media outlets, international universities, and community groups.

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"I am deeply honoured to receive the Zonta Science Award and am grateful for the opportunity to further my research efforts," said Dr. Thompson-Morrison. "I am committed to advancing scientific knowledge and fostering collaborations that promote environmental sustainability and empower women in STEM fields."

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Dr. Thompson-Morrison's dedication to excellence in scientific research, coupled with her passion for environmental stewardship and advocacy for women in science, exemplifies the values upheld by the Zonta Club of Wellington. The club extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Hadee Thompson-Morrison on this well-deserved honour.

Zonta Club of Mana hosted the Young Women in Public Affairs (YWPA) award ceremony on

12th February 2024.

The YWPA Award Program encourages young women to participate in public affairs by recognising the candidate’s commitment to the volunteer sector and volunteer leadership.

Our Wellington recipient, Josie Aitkin (Wellington East Girls' College) and Mana recipient, Camille Sutherland (Newlands College) also shared the evening with the Mana Club awardee for their 2024 Whitireia Health and Social Sciences Scholarship, which was awarded to Sophie Beca.

All three award recipients each responded with grace, expressing their gratitude for the awards, their admiration for Zonta’s work, and speaking of their future plans with hope, vision and determination. These are truly admirable young women, setting out strongly, and with great promise on their path as future leaders in our community.

The award winners were decided on through a collaboration between Wellington and Mana Zonta Clubs.

The Mayor of Porirua, Her Worship Antia Baker graciously attended the ceremony, providing inspiring words for the young women. Several members from our Club also attended to share in the celebration of these outstanding young women.

Find out more about the YWPA award program and other Zonta scholarships.

Hosted by the Hon Louise Upston, acting Minister for Women, the theme for 2024 is #InspireInclusion.

This event brings together some great speakers focused on how we can collectively forge a more inclusive world for women.

The keynote speakers are:

• Hon Louise Upston - acting Minister for Women, Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector, Minister for Social Development and Employment and Minister for Child Poverty Reduction

• Dame Miranda Harcourt - Internationally acclaimed actress and acting coach

• Dame Farah Palmer - Pou Akonga (Executive Director) Māori Student Success, Massey University, and a former captain of the Black Ferns and Deputy Chair of New Zealand Rugby

• Chloe and Florence Van Dyke - co-founders of Chia Sisters, a majority women owned and led health beverage company

We look forward to you joining us on Friday 8th March online.

When we inspire inclusion, we create a better world for women. 

Please contact us at iwdbreakfast.wellington@gmail.com if you have any questions

Dame Miranda Harcourt DNZM, actor, coach, director, writer

World-acclaimed acting coach Dame Miranda Harcourt works with stars like Nicole Kidman, Dev Patel, Saoirse Ronan, Paul Mescal, Zac Efron and her own daughters, actresses Thomasin and Davida McKenzie. The former head of acting at Toi Whakaari — New Zealand Drama School, Miranda began her career at the age of two in the performing arts family led by her mother Dame Kate Harcourt and father, broadcaster Peter Harcourt. 

Miranda and her husband Stuart McKenzie are at the global forefront of verbatim theatre. This year they will present TRANSMISSION: BETA, the sequel to their acclaimed verbatim show TRANSMISSION, using verbatim interviews to investigate the fallout from New Zealand’s pandemic response. 

Stuart and Miranda co-directed the feature film THE CHANGEOVER in 2019, based on the novel by Margaret Mahy and acclaimed as “a perfect genre film” by US film critic Roger Ebert

World-famous in New Zealand for her role as Gemma in the 1980s TV Series Gloss, Miranda committed her career to the impact of drama as a therapeutic force, working throughout all New Zealand’s prisons and with the Deaf community.  

Her many accolades include awards for Best Actress, Best Production, Best Short Film, the Media Peace Prize for the play VERBATIM, the NEXT Woman of the Year in Arts and Culture, the Westpac Woman of Influence, the Women in Film and Television Award for Outstanding Achievement and a Lodestar award for Film London.

Dame Miranda is proud to be an Ambassador for Women’s Refuge.

We look forward to you joining us on Friday 8th March, in-person or online.

When we inspire inclusion, we create a better world for women. 

Please contact us at iwdbreakfast.wellington@gmail.com if you have any questions.