Power to the ‘ordinary people’
It’s been a year since New Zealander of the Year Kristine Bartlett celebrated a historic government payout to address pay inequity in the aged-care sector.
It’s a series of events that Bartlett says she still looks back at in a state of disbelief. Bartlett was the face of a legal battle that spanned five years, three court cases, two appeals and one $2 billion pay settlement.
The Lower Hutt resident spoke at an event on Thursday at Te Papa Museum, the second event marking the opening of nominations for the 2018 Women of Influence awards.
She told the room full of women, and a few men, that she looks back on parts of the battle to be paid more than minimum wage with anger, for having had to fight so hard for so long. But in the end she says prevailing was a testament to the power of ‘‘ordinary people’’.
Like any ordinary person, Bartlett finds being called a woman of influence humbling.
But there’s no denying the wave of change her actions have caused.
Because of her actions, 55,000 lowpaid, mainly female care and support workers have seen ‘‘the biggest pay rise they will ever get’’ and will continue to see their wages rise over the next five years.
‘‘There are so many women out there that are just like me, but they need to stand up like I did and it’s sad that they can’t have that courage and believe in themselves,’’ she said.
‘‘An ordinary person can get up there and do something, and unless they do, nothing’s going to change.’’
At last year’s awards, former prime minister and United Nations development programme administrator Helen Clark took home a lifetime achievement award.
My Food Bag co-founder Cecilia Robinson, who has recently stepped down as the company’s chief executive, won last year’s supreme award.
This year’s awards, which will be held on September 18, will highlight the 125-year anniversary of women being granted the right to vote.
The theme – the next 125 years; where to from here? – is a nod to what women can achieve next.
Stuff chief executive Sinead Boucher said the awards celebrated an ongoing ‘‘paradigm shift’’ that would continue to open doors wider for women.
Women will be recognised across 10 categories, from young leaders to board members. They will be judged on their demonstrated vision, leadership, innovation, impact and action in and beyond their field.
❚ The 2018 Women of Influence awards are sponsored by Westpac and Stuff, publisher of the Dominion Post. Nominate an influential woman at womenofinfluence.co.nz.