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Stand Up for Trans Rights & Te Tiriti
Tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa New Zealand should feel safe, welcome, and connected in their schools and communities. All our diverse whānau, whether takatāpui, LGBTQIA+, cis or straight, should feel protected and able to enjoy full access to human rights, including the right to live in safety, and the right to live free of discrimination based on gender and sexuality.
Trans people have existed for as long as there have been people, and Aotearoa New Zealand has traditionally been one of the most pro-trans rights countries in the world. In 2023, Aotearoa New Zealand overwhelmingly agreed (84%) that transgender people should be protected from discrimination in employment, housing, restaurants and stores. But right now, many politicians worldwide are attempting to remove the rights of trans people and to erase their representation – including the current coalition government in Aotearoa New Zealand.
For the next week (until Friday 9 May) we all have the opportunity to stand up for trans rights and push back on transphobia by giving feedback on the proposed changes to the relationship & sexuality education (RSE) guidelines for schools.
Email feedback on the proposed RSE changes
RSE guidelines can have enormous impact on the physical, mental, cultural and social health of children, rangatahi and all our future generations – RSE can affirm young people in their identities, and guide them to treat others with respect and care. Since 2020, we have had rich, diverse and inclusive RSE guidelines reflecting contemporary Aotearoa NZ – for primary and intermediate students Years 0-8; and separately for secondary students Years 9-13.
But now the government’s proposed changes will put children and rangatahi of all gender identities at higher risk of harm. We need to tell the Minister of Education Erica Stanford and the Ministry that the following proposed changes are dangerous:
- The erasure of all mentions of trans and non-binary people
- The erasure of all mentions of te ao Māori, contrary to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- The erasure of Pasifika, Asian and other cultures
- The lack of discussion about misogyny (and how it operates via media, stalking and pornography)
- The inadequate representation of consent, with little mention of coercion and control, offering less protection from sexual violence than current guidelines.
This is about protecting and empowering all tamariki and rangatahi.
It’s time to speak up!
Aotearoa needs RSE guidelines, which are honest, inclusive, and actually useful – and we already had these in place until they were removed by the Government last month. Schools need to be encouraged, and possibly mandated, to use the 2020 Years 1-8, and Years 9-13 guidelines, which are far better at acknowledging diversity and relevant issues that students face.
In your own words, let the Minister and the Ministry know by Friday 9 May 2025!
- Email the Minister of Education Erica Stanford e.stanford@ministers.govt.nz, and your local MP (firstname.lastname@parliament.govt.nz), and let them know in your own words (strongly but politely) what you want to see in the relationship & sexuality education framework (most simply: reinstating the 2020 RSE guidelines and considering making them mandatory).
- Offer feedback on the changes by emailing NationalCurriculum.Refresh@education.govt.nz or using the Ministry of Education feedback form by Friday 9 May.
- Tell your friends and help them to also email the politicians and ministry.
For more information see:
Have your say! Together we can create a fair and inclusive relationship & sexuality education (RSE) guidelines for our rangatahi.
Leonie Morris On behalf of the Auckland Women's Centre
SAVE THE DATE
New Zealand College of Primary Health Care Nurses (NZCPHCN) 2025 AGM and Symposium
Theme: Te Oranga Mātua To Tatou Anamata, Primary Health, Our Future.
Date and time: Saturday, 4 October 2025, 08:00-17:00
Location: Rydges Latimer, 30 Latimer Square, Christchurch.
Who: All Primary and Community Health Care Nurses.
For other events of interest please visit the NZNO events calendar.
Past Conferences and Events
Wellington members only
Nurse Executives Aotearoa (NEA) would like to invite Wellington-based members of the CPHCN to their face-to-face Wellington symposium being held next week on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, 09:00-16:00 @ Ministry of Health.
Please see the programme attached. If you would like to join us, we invite you to register as a member of NEA ($50) which gives you free access to the day. Full information on membership can be found here: Nurse Executives - Join (nurseexecutivesaotearoa.org.nz). Note, NEA is not affiliated with any other nursing organisation and has a focus on supporting and mentoring emerging nurse leaders.
NZCPHCN (NZNO) 2024 AGM and Guest Speaker
Date: Thursday, 14 March 2024
Venue: NZNO Christchurch Office, 17 Washington Way, Christchurch
Drinks & nibbles: 5:30-6:00 pm
Virtual link was emailed to members on 7 March.
LARC Train the Trainer courses (CPD approved)
Saturday 16 March, 2024 - Nelson: 9am - 5pm.
Thursday 25 July, 2024 - Wellington: 9am - 5pm.
For more dates and locations of other courses please check out the LARC TTT flyer.
ACC Webinar: "How to complete an ACC45 Injury Claim Form"
Following the success of our recent ‘Beginner’s Guide to ACC’ webinars, we’re excited to continue our new ‘How To’ bite-size webinar series. In 30 minutes, these webinars will provide concise and actionable answers to common questions about working with us. Next in our webinar series is ‘How to complete an ACC45 Injury Claim Form.’ Join us on 15 November 2023 at 12pm to hear more about what to include on an ACC45 and why it’s important.
Who should attend?
This webinar is for medical practitioners, nurse practitioners, and all allied health professionals who lodge physical injury claims, no matter how experienced. Find out more about our provider education webinars on our website.
Ngā mihi
Victoria Moore, (She/Her)
Health Partner 00515007, ACC
Wellsouth Primary Health Network
The Wellsouth Primary Health Network have shared a link to their conference which happens on 13-14 October in Dunedin.
See Primary Health Care Nurses Conference 2023 for more information.
Coeliac NZ Conference 2023
Following on from our successful medical seminar at the beginning of our 2021 virtual conference, we are offering a medical seminar before the general conference on 18 November at the Coeliac New Zealand Conference to be held at Due Drop Events Centre in Auckland.
Health Professionals are aware that knowledge of coeliac disease continues to evolve, challenging you to keep up to date. Therefore, our expert medical and dietetic panel will have a plenary session (for doctors, nurses, dietitians, nutritionists, and other health professionals) before the main conference at 9 am on the 18 November.
Topics include atypical presentations, monitoring after diagnosis, and dietetic considerations of the gluten-free diet. It is only $40 plusthe fee to purchase the medical seminar ticket only, or you can also purchase the main conference tickets too.
NZCPHCN and CNANZ Symposium 2023
Caring for ourselves, caring for communities, caring for Aotearoa/ Te tiaki i a tatou ano, te tiaki i nga hapori, e tiaki ana i a Aotearoa
Saturday, 11 March 2023 - 8:30-17:00
Arawa Park Hotel Rotorua, 272 Fenton Street, Rotorua
Check out the NZCPHCN and CNANZ 2023 Symposium Flyer and/ or the CNANZ Workshops page.
Immunotherapy in patients with cancer - 11 March 2023
St. George's Cancer Care Centre are organising a free one-day seminar on immunotherapy in cancer patients. It may appeal to Primary Health and/ or Southern based and/ or community based. Specialist colleagues also welcome.