Summer School 2023
In early February, to coincide with Brigid's Day, Ireland's celebration of creativity and influence of women and girls, we held our annual Summer School.
The theme of this year's Summer School was 'Agents of Change - a reflection on the legacy, influence and role of women and girls'.
It was particularly fitting as this year also marked the 130th anniversary of women getting the vote in Aotearoa.
Gender equality
We were delighted to have as our keynote speaker, Ambassador Louisa Wall, Ambassador for Gender Equality (Pacific)/Tuia Tāngata in conversation with Andrea Vance.
The panelists included:
- Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner
- Dr Forough Amin
- Professor Sonja Tiernan
- Logan Byrne
- Órla Harkin
- Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke
- Loren Savage
- Rebecca McKeown
- Sophie Handford
and our diplomatic colleagues Caroline Lambert (EU) and Piakura Passfield, Acting High Commissioner for the Cook Islands.
Summer School 2023 Wellington
Lives and legacies of Irish diaspora women
Thanks to Culture Ireland and EPIC, we were also fortunate enough to have the Blazing a Trail: Lives and Legacies of Irish Diaspora Women exhibition on display.
This celebrates the lives and legacies of 21 pioneering Irish diaspora women of the 19th and 20th centuries who blazed a trail in a wide range of fields from sports to politics.
Community-based urban development project
We were also fortunate to have the Remakery Kitchen as our caterers. The Remakery are part of Common Unity, a community-based urban development project that started off as a community māra kai (food garden) at a local kura (school), and grew into a sustainable, renewable venture that gives back to the community.
Some of the staff and guests were a little dubious about a totally vegetarian menu but the tasty kai(food) soon won them over.
This event would not have been possible without the support of our colleagues at the Delegation of the European Union to Aotearoa.