Banks need to continue accepting cheques - RWNZ
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says a survey among members has found strong opposition to the decision by banks to stop accepting cheques in 2021.
On July 29, 1925, the launch of the Women's Division Farmers Union (WDFU) was to change farming women's lives.
A small group of farmers’ wives had come to Wellington with their husbands for the New Zealand Farmers Union (NZFU) conference.
However, there were rumblings of discontent. The needs of the women and their families out in the ‘backblocks’ were being overlooked by the NZFU, raising serious concerns about their health, and the effects of isolation. The farmers’ wives formed the WDFU with the aim of finding ways to improve living conditions on New Zealand farms and support the NZFU.
Florence Polson who became the first president of the WDFU said that the members of the NZFU had “too much church, children and kitchen in their attitude.”
She felt strongly that women should have financial independence and introduced a market system - the Women's Exchange which enabled women to sell produce.
In 1927, the Bush Nurse and Housekeeper schemes were implemented. As changes to health services improved, the Bush Nurse scheme was wound up.
In 1999, the Housekeeper scheme became Access Homehealth Ltd, one of the largest home care providers in New Zealand. Access was sold in 2014 as the organisation refocused its vision for the future.
Over the years, there have been huge successes for the organisation and eventually it became known as Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ).
"Some of those successes achieved during our 90 year history include funds raised for a Spitfire to support the war effort, significant fundraising for leptospirosis research, cot death research, a mobile library service, and support for communities during adverse events. Life is very different today for families on farms but there are still challenges," says RWNZ national president Wendy McGowan.
"Mental well-being has become a significant concern, along with family violence, biosecurity issues and limited access to adult learning opportunities for rural women. These are just some of the many issues we are addressing today, as an authentic advocate for rural communities. Our advocacy role in rural health, education, safety and environmental issues make our organisation as relevant today as it was in 1925," says McGowan.
Members are celebrating this milestone birthday with various events and activities around the country.
The Ministry for the Environment (MfE) has found itself in a stoush with NZPork over the controversial National Policy Statement for Highly Productive Land (NPS-HPL).
Fonterra says the sale of its global consumer business and its Oceania and Sri Lankan operations could take 18 months to complete.
The lobby group the Methane Science Accord (MSA) says it welcomes a recent government move to seek outside advice on reducing biological methane targets, rather than relying on recommendations made by the Climate Change Commission.
Well-known scientist Jock Allison has passed away.
After a decade of consultation and court battles, Environment Southland has officially adopted a plan to prevent further decline in the region's water quality.
Farmers are throwing down the gauntlet to politicians - hold an independent inquiry into rural bank lending or face tough questions from the farming sector.