Current issues - Maori and Pacific women
NACEW identified Maori and Pacific women’s employment as a key priority for 2006/07. Young Maori and Pacific women in particular are seen as an important driver in achieving increased participation and diversity in the workforce. Within this priority area, NACEW has focused on two objectives: to improve participation in leadership and decision-making in the economic sector; and to improve participation in employment and earnings. The objectives are supported by the provision of good information and role models for Maori and Pacific women to help them make informed employment and career choices.
NACEW is committed to promoting awareness of and increasing participation in enterprise. The launch of NACEW’s first brochure in the series If you could be anything...what will it be? is targeted at women of all ages and provides case studies of three self-employed women from Maori or Pacific backgrounds.
The second brochure is aimed specifically at young Maori and Pacific women and provides role models to inspire them to think about career paths outside the norm. A group of high school girls were fortunate enough to meet with Tutina Pasene, one of three women interviewed for the brochure, who spoke at the brochure’s launch. Tutina is owner and designer of Otaki based fashion label Tutina Pasene.
A third brochure released in May 2007 targets unemployed women and encourages them to consider options in the workforce.
