Rural Women New Zealand welcomes the Government’s announcement of new investments to strengthen the rural health workforce and improve access to healthcare services for people living in rural communities.

Rural Women New Zealand welcomes the Government’s announcement of new investments to strengthen the rural health workforce and improve access to healthcare services for people living in rural communities.

RWNZ has submitted in opposition to the Legislation (Definitions of Woman and Man) Amendment Bill. We don't believe this Bill will improve the rights, opportunities, or wellbeing of women and girls in New Zealand, and think this time and resource could be far better spent on issues that genuinely improve women's lives.

Rural Women New Zealand this week submitted on the Draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2026-2036, because a person’s postcode should not determine the quality of their mental health support.

‍Rural Women New Zealand is part of a coalition that has filed a formal complaint with the United Nations, asking it to investigate whether the government's changes to New Zealand's pay equity laws amount to systemic discrimination against women.

Rural Women New Zealand welcomes the recent KiwiSaver reforms and says it will help rural families get onto the property ladder. 

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) welcomes the release of the People's Select Committee on Pay Equity report today, saying its findings confirm what rural women have long experienced and what RWNZ warned when the Equal Pay Amendment Act was passed under urgency last year.

Rural Women New Zealand has submitted on the Emergency Management Bill (No 2), welcoming recognition of rural communities' unique vulnerabilities while calling for stronger protections for community-led response. 

Rural Women New Zealand welcomes Pharmac's decision to fund emergency medicines for rural communities, calling it a significant step forward for equity in healthcare.

For rural women and families, access to emergency medicines can be the difference between life and death. Rural Women New Zealand supports Pharmac’s proposal to expand emergency medicine access in rural communities.

Rural Women New Zealand has welcomed the Canterbury Police District’s decision to withdraw its proposed restructure that would have seen several rural police stations closed in favour of centralised hubs.

“Rural New Zealanders rely heavily on postal services, not just for mail but for medication, paying bills, receiving essential deliveries, and maintaining business operations. For many, frequent, accessible post services are a necessity.”

Rural Women New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s invitation for submissions on the Telecommunications Sector Review, and looks forward to advocating for affordable, accessible telecommunications for rural New Zealanders.

In its appearance before the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity, Rural Women New Zealand called on the Government to reconsider changes to the Equal Pay Act that threaten to entrench pay inequities and exacerbate workforce shortages in rural communities.

Rural Women New Zealand acknowledges the Commerce Commission’s recommendation to deregulate the copper network but insists rural communities need to be supported through the transition.