Women’s Ministry Head Hears Worries (Press, 14 March 1989)

On 14 March 1989, Dr Judith Aitken, the newly appointed head of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, met with 30 women from various groups in Christchurch to discuss pressing issues affecting women in the community. Attendees included representatives from organisations such as Women Against Violence, health groups, the Christchurch City Council, the Labour Department, and the Housing for Women’s Trust. This visit marked Dr Aitken’s first engagement in the city since her appointment in 1988. One of the key concerns raised during the meeting was the lack of funding for the wages of community workers. Ms Anna Thorpe, one of the organisers of the meeting, highlighted that most of the government’s financial support for community groups tends to focus on new projects rather than sustaining existing initiatives. This creates challenges in maintaining essential services that support women and families. Another significant topic discussed was the importance of having women involved in the creation and governance of area health boards. The attendees expressed the necessity of female representation in these decision-making bodies, emphasising the unique perspectives and needs that women bring to health care policy. Following the discussions, Dr Aitken noted that the Ministry was engaged in a government-established working party aimed at addressing funding for groups that assist victims of sexual abuse. This initiative stems from a decision made by the Accident Compensation Corporation the previous year, which sought to eliminate funding for all health professionals, excluding physiotherapists. Such a move would have had detrimental effects on counselling services across the board. To counter this, the government had provisionally funded these services, while the working party was tasked with preparing a report on the funding situation within six months. Dr Aitken also mentioned that a key component of the Ministry’s role would be to encourage other government departments to re-evaluate their funding policies, particularly in light of the increasing trend towards devolving funding responsibilities to local communities. Overall, the meeting exemplified the collaborative efforts of women from various sectors in advocating for better support and representation in policies that directly affect their lives.

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