‘Wāhine Kākano – the 1st New Zealand Young Women’s Festival’
On Saturday 26 May, 2018, Auckland University of Technology hosted 300+ young women leaders ranging in age from 16 to 22 attending ‘Wāhine Kākano – the 1st New Zealand Young Women’s Festival’. AUT was the venue sponsor and the entire event took place in the Sir Paul Reeves Building (WG) on City Campus from 7am until around 7pm. Yes, it was a very long day – but immensely satisfying as well.
‘Wāhine Kākano’ is the brainchild of Lizzy Marvelly, editor of ‘Villainesse’ and organisers/sponsors included The NZ Human Rights Commission, the team from AUT ‘Women on Campus’, MC Michele A’Court and a whole bunch of very stroppy women. It’s a genius idea designed to prepare a new cohort of strong, smart and capable young women to take on the challenges of the future and, if last Saturday is any indication, they are certainly up for the challenge.
Attendees were told that they will play an important part in forging New Zealand’s path over the years to come, sowing seeds of hope, innovation and creativity. ‘Wāhine Kākano’ is about empowering this new generation of movers and shakers in ways they can actually relate to – without boring them to death. The marketing tells us that ‘the one-day event includes warts-and-all conversations about navigating the world after finishing school and university (‘adulting’), figuring out who you are, and not being afraid to claim the word ‘bossy’. As if this wasn’t enough the Keynote Speaker was the Prime Minister the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, resplendent in her slippers, and fully on form as always. The audience peppered her with a bunch of very serious questions and the PM answered with the refreshing humour and candour that she is already so well known for.
There were four 90 minute panels throughout the day. The first took place in the Wave Room at a breakfast for invited guests and sponsors that was moderated by Young New Zealander of the Year Rez Gardi. On her panel were Race Relations Commissioner Dame Susan Devoy, Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Dr Jackie Blue, entertainer, columnist and provocateur Lizzie Marvelly, and Editor of the Spinoff Ātea Leonie Hayden. The conversation was challenging and forthright and set the tone for the day.
Next up was a panel for all of the attendees moderated by Leonie Hayden. WG404 was completely full of bubbling young women and the excitement was palpable. The theme was ‘Authenticity’ and the panellists included former Black Fern’s captain and the first woman elected to the New Zealand Rugby Board Dr Farah Palmer ONZM, television and radio host Stacey Morrison, comedian and lawyer Alice Sneddon and AUT’s Lexie Matheson. The storytelling was rich and the narratives candid and honest.
The 2nd panel was moderated by TV presenter, writer and columnist Verity Johnson and included Dame Susan, Rez Gardi, CEO and Founder of Figure.NZ Lillian Grace, and Miss World New Zealand Jess Tyson. The topic was ‘She’s So Bossy’ and addressed the challenges faced by women being identified as ‘intimidating’ when in fact all that was happening was good leadership. Toxic masculinity certainly got a bit of a serve from this panel.
The final panel of the day was titled ‘Adulting’ and was moderated by Lizzie Marvelly by way of a series of quick-fire questions. Panellists were SpinoffTV Television Editor, NZ Herald film reviewer, and author of many opinion pieces on contemporary culture and gender Alex Casey, co-host of The Edge breakfast show and popular YouTuber Megan Annear, and actress, comedian, musician and star of ‘Super City’ Madeleine Sami. It’s fair to say that none of the panel claimed to be good at ‘adulting’ and, as the oldest person in the room, neither do I. It was a riot of laughter with some serious overtones and went down like a bottle of very good wine at the end of a long, thirsty day.
Interspersed between the panels was a series of workshops, and each participant was able to attend two. The workshops were moderated by sone great women and included:
- Time’s up for sexual harassment
- Back yourself, girl
- Dealing with sexism online
- Money stuff
- Uncover your purpose
- The feminist club
- Surviving discrimination
- Let’s talk about sex
- Ending sexual violence together
- Dream seeding: Growing big dreams
- Get lost, find yourself
- Te kōrau: Become your own boss
Themes became evident during the day and these included dealing with Imposter Syndrome, finding and being your authentic self, the role of young women in modern feminism, retaining a sense of humour, not pulling the up ladder behind you when you’ve got to the top, and not limiting your goals to what others (men) say is possible.
Perhaps the most pervasive theme echoed throughout the day, and certainly stressed by the Prime Minister, was the need for women to back each other and to not to tear each other down. Challenge ideas, for sure, but not in ways that are destructive and debilitating to the individual.
My overall feels at the end of the day and, now, a few days later, are of shared laughter, an easy rapport, intelligent debate, and that special positive energy that only a large group of women gathered together in one place can generate.
It was a fantastic experience and I felt proud that AUT had chosen to be a sponsor of ‘Wāhine Kākano’, proud to have been chosen as a presenter, and deeply affirmed as to the future of our society.
E hoa ma, ina te ora o te tangata.
Lexie Matheson ONZM
dykiegirl 