Branch Xmas Brunch 13 Dec 08 - We had a very nice brunch at The Thirsty Whale and it was a nice relaxed chance to reflect on 2008 and to look forward to events of 2009. The biggest newsflash was Evangelene announcing her engagement to Deon and pending nuptials Easter 2009!
Prime Minister's Job Summit 27 February 2009 - Caren attended the Job Summit as a Pacific community representative along with fellow PACIFICA member Mele Wendt and 5 other Pacific people. Caren and the PACIFICA National Executive worked quickly during the week of the summit to put out a press release emphasising the importance of Pacific women being at the table when discussions of national significance were occurring. Caren produced a report following on from the Summit which was submitted to the National Executive, and reiterated the importance of our PACIFICA members being involved in the subsequent regional job summits around the country.
HB Regional Job Summit 6 March 2009 - The Hawkes Bay Regional Job Summit was the first regional summit following on from the national summit, and Pacific women were ably represented by Diane. While there was not much opportunity for interactive discussion between participants, this at least provided a chance for us again to flag that we need to part of the conversations around responding to the recession.
Fundraising Batons Up 1 October 2009 - We joined with the Tangiia Nui branch to run a Batons Up to raise funds for our contribution to the scholarship as well as our branch expenses for travel. We raised $425 for each branch which was very pleasing. We are now investigating further ways of getting funds.
Contribution to National Conversation about Work 14 October 2009 - We hosted Dr Judy McGregor, EEO Commissioner and Sue O'Shea, Princial Advisor EEO from the Human Rights Commission, who are currently getting around the country having a national conversation about work with employers, employees and industries to find out people's views on what makes good employment conditions. They came to see us to get some views of Pacific women in Hawkes Bay. Our branch members were able to share their thoughts and perspectives on the factors that support and hinder good working conditions. We will be encouraging our other branches around the country to add their views as Judy and Sue get to their regions, and will be raising this at the National Council meeting.
Attendance at local community events - members of our branch attended the following Pacific community and wider community events during the year:
- Opening of Te Apii Kuki Airani Early Childhood Centre 16 May
- Spacifically Pacific Hawkes Bay "Take It ON" Hip Hop competition and Cultural Explosion July and August
- Samoa Tsunami Memorial Service 12 October - this was an opportunity to reflect on the devastation caused by the tsunami in Samoa and Tonga, and share our thoughts, hopes and prayers for our Samoan and Tongan sisters in PACIFICA and in our communities.
And on a personal note....
- Branch members joined Evangelene and her new husband Deon at their beachside wedding at Clifton at Easter 2009.It was a great day and night, made all the more special by the fact that the wedding ceremony was conducted by Vange's Dad the Reverend Nio Daniela.
- Maryanne and Diane have been working on various pieces of research work about aspects of our Pacific communities, including a Pasifika student mentoring programme at EIT and a project on chronic illness in Pacific people.
- Berry has been continuing her work encouraging more of our Pacific women to undertake breast and cervical screening. Caren has joined her in the work around breastscreening, having taken up a 0.5FTE position with BreastScreen Coast to Coast to coordinate services and health promotion work, particularly for Maori and Pacific women.
- Other members are keeping very busy with study, work, family and community!
Looking to the future....
Our branch focus for the rest of 2009 and early 2010 is to continue to lift the profile of Pacific women in Napier, as well as continue our encouragement of Pacific women to be screened. Other planned activities are:
- making a submission to Napier City Council supporting the move to reduce the number of gambling outlets in Napier
- hosting a breakfast event for Pacific women in Hawkes Bay to encourage women to think about standing for local and central government positions - our local MP Chris Tremain has agreed to come and be guest speaker for this event which we will hold late 2009/early 2010.
Overall, we wish to continue to uphold the important role of Pacific women in the Napier, HB and NZ community, by supporting each other and our Pacific families and communities to be successful, healthy and happy. Roll on 2010!
