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Address ...... 1 yr $50 □ 2 yr $95 □ 3yr$140D In NZ FREEPOST NO 1 2 SY ST. BROADSHEET PO visa □ bankcard □ cheque □ Box 56 1 <47 AK card No. □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ □ expiry date □ □ Broadsheet Hepetema publication date: 1 septemb e r 1990 number 181

2 herspective, 3 letters, 4 fronting up 5 broadcast reclaim the night, a roof of our own, y is for young, equity, rights in law, 1975 revisited, immigration, film making, our right to learn. 13 a secret shared bulimia Anonymous 15a place to go refuge Pat Rosier 20 exorcise your vote election paralysis Pat Kipping 27 books, bucks and broads 3rd book test Pat Rosier 30 poetry in motion selections Lisa Sabbage 32 sabbage blows 33 arts points and barbs, mihi edwards, everything but the girl, yay Charlie gray’s, renēe, robin flower and libby mclaren, living with cancer, women and money, listing 39 what’s new, 40 classified cover: poster Robyn Kahukiwa NEXT MONTH bell hooks Hokianga women

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SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 1 ecently I went to see “The Handmaid’s Tale”, a film based those that emerged in the early 70s. Our lives and expecta­ on the book of the same name by Margaret Atwood. It tions no longer mirror those of our mothers. Women my age Rscared me shitless. The future it projected seemed all too have grown up with easier access to contraception, safe legal possible. Women were classed according to whether they abortion services, equal pay, women’s refuges and female were fertile or not and sent out to homes as breeders, lesbians entry into male professions such as medicine and law. Many were accused of gender treachery, black people were shipped of us haven’t been through the joys and struggles of being off to homelands in toxic waste areas, and the Bible was married with small children. We have grown up with mass quoted to justify all. unemployment, cuts to health and welfare spending and the The worldwide swing towards conservatism/fundamental- proliferation of free market economy ideology. ism has been well documented. Its influence is not too hard All the changes feminists have achieved are important but to see right here in this country. Some recent examples I can let’s face it, the revolution isn’t over yet. How much have think of include a National MP stating outright on a televi­ things really changed for Maori women, for working class sion programme that lesbian and gay couples are not fit to be women? As we move towards a movement which is more parents, the continual harassment by Operation Rescue of and more merely a lifestyle statement, it seems to be becom­ women going to abortion clinics, and the on-going backlash ing more entrenched in the values of the middle classes. against the Cartwright Report leading up to and following We’re the ones who like to read our children non-sexist the second Metro article. books, send them off to alternative preschools, get the nanny The images from “The Handmaid’s Tale” also spring to and the housecleaner in so we can go back to paid work mind when I think of the garbage I have read of late about again. the “post feminist” 90s we are heading into. Did you know I think the basic problem is that feminism has always had that perfumes are being made which have a more feminine an image problem. Through no fault of our own, of course, fragrance to reflect this change? (Because of course, femi­ it’s just that we have to deal with sexist newspapers and nists aren’t feminine.) Have you noticed the new marketing other media. Being a feminist isn’t terribly glamorous, I ploy of using the family unit (that is - you, him, and the mean who wants to belong to a group of women who are baby) to advertise products which were previously aimed at portrayed as fat, ugly, unhappy, humourless, irrational, emo­ single people? What the powers that be are trying to suggest tional, biased and can’t get themselves a man or worse, don’t is that feminism is a spent force; we have achieved every­ want one? thing that was set out to be done, and we can settle back in to I think what we need is some good PR work. How about a our traditional values. It’s nice to know isn’t it? I mean, all of billboard over the Parnell Railway Bridge with an ecstatic us women out here working on women’s health, pay equity, woman declaring “I’ll never forget the day I discovered fem­ childcare, lesbian rights - we’ve really got it all wrong! inism!” This woman would, of course, be wearing more that What concerns me about this is that I don’t see younger her bra and knickers. We could make signs to hang in our car women flocking to the feminist cause in droves, and I worry windows which read “Feminist on Board”. that they have been conned by the propaganda. Where are the We’ve certainly got to do something if we want to encour­ women’s consciousness raising groups, support groups, age women to proudly proclaim their feminist beliefs, so that women’s conventions, women’s liberation meetings? in another 15 years time, the revolution might be over. I’m 25 and regularly find myself among women who are Ruth Henderson works at Fertility Action in Auckland. older than me when I’m part of anything “feminist”. I often wish that there were more women my own age in the move­ ment as the issues for young women today are different to

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2 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 peoples has been led by their own poets, the right of equality of access to free and story tellers and playwrights. Foremost safe abortions, including access to free and among them is Oogeroo Noonuccal (Kath professional counselling. Walker) whose first volume of poetry was Phil McNeale published in 1964 at the height of her Women’s rep on NLP Council political involvement in Queensland. While not the first of her people to appear SCRATCHING THE SURFACE in print and draw attention to the plight of In April this year women writers of the IT’S GETTING BETTER IN OZ Aboriginal peoples, she is the most popu­ Waikato district were lucky to have Dr I was surprised in what was otherwise a larly read. However, in her wake there Cathie Dunsford run a “Writing Ourselves lively and enjoyable interview have come numerous others. Most recent­ Whole” residential weekend at Raglan. [Broadsheet June/July] with the writer ly, Sally Morgan’s best seller, My Place The weekend gave birth to a stock of inspi­ Rosie Scott (ex Aotearoa, now residing in followed by her second book, ration, new friendships and ideas. Australia) when discussing the cultural Wanamurraganya, Ruby Langford’s Don’t A follow-up course was held for lesbian and political climate in Australia, that she Take Your Love to Town, Wandering Girl women who want space to develop lesbian would so carelessly misconceptualise in published by the Aboriginal Press writing specifically. The weekend with such statements as, “The literature as Magabala Books and written by Glenyse Cathie was the impetus to draw us together opposed to the painting has not incorporat­ Ward, Paper Bark, an anthology of into a cohesive identity. Called “Scratching ed all the spiritual and political themes Aboriginal writing and Inside Black the Surface” we meet monthly to write, that there could be. Aborigines are out-of- Australia, a collection of Aboriginal poet­ read our work and swap feedback. sight-out-of-mind. I think there are less ry that features the poets of 42 Aboriginal Already we have a stock of stories and women writing.” writers, 21 of whom are women. poems that we hope to form into a booklet These statements are blatantly untrue My own reading and attendance at vari­ to be shared with other women. We also and do nothing to credit the many aborigi­ ous performances suggests to me that perform our work at local women’s festi­ nal, migrant, and anglo-saxon women while Aboriginal writers and performers vals and the Performance Cafe at the Left writing in Australia today who are respon­ continue to grapple with the political and Bank Theatre in Hamilton. sible for turning the tide of anglo-saxon social issues arising from the white inva­ In September, for the Listener Women’s culture in this country, that for so long has sion, there is parallel to this, a growing Book Festival, we will be celebrating the worn such a bland, white, male face; a culture of identity that is both traditional launch of “Exploding Frangipani” an political cultural monolith largely respon­ and contemporary in its remembering and anthology of New Zealand and Australian sible for this country’s particular brand of in its striving for new forms. These new lesbian writers, especially as five of the historical and cultural lies and elitisms. forms may well present a challenge to the contributors are members of the local There has been a tremendous dominance of fiction that makes up the lit­ community. groundswell of women’s writing that fore­ erary canon. We are both Maori and Pakeha, and grounds difference and conflict in its Linda Pearl invite any lesbians interested in joining us world view in opposition to the dominant Sydney, AUSTRALIA to contact either Powhiri Rika-Heke on culture. While these women are too (071)466 034 or Betty on (071) 568 095. numerous to mention here I will name NEW LABOUR AND WOMEN Marewa Glover some of the more well-known fiction writ­ On reading “Election Blues” in last POBox 111, ers whose perspectives I believe have month’s Broadsheet re the New Labour Te Awamutu renamed, challenged and invigorated what Party being held stands for Australian literature as well as accountable for its poli­ deeply affecting my own political and cre­ cy on contraception, ative process: Katherine Suzannah sterilisation and abor­ Pritchard, Xavier Herbert, Mile Franklin, tion, I realised some Ruth Park, Helen Gamer, Elizerbeth Jolly, women may not know Beverley Farmer, Dympna Cuzack, Nene what that policy is. Gare, Rosa Capiello, Glenda Adams, To clarify this I Oogeroo Noonucaal, Barbara Hanrahan include Section 5 of the and Jan McKemmish. NLP’s women’s policy There are many other women who pub­ which reads: lish as poets, theorists and playwriters, The New Labour plus journals, periodicals, seminars and Party: workshops and accredited institute and - recognises the right university courses that make up a huge, to sex education and diverse and dynamic creative environ­ interpersonal relation­ ment. ships education for all While it would be false to deny the people who require or nature of institutionalised, racist genocide need it. in this country against Aboriginal and - will ensure that Torres Strait Islander peoples, to suggest free contraception and that “Aboriginals are out-of-sight-out-of- contraceptive advice is mind” seriously undermines the impact available to all who of the political and cultural struggles of need it. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peo­ - supports the funda­ ples since the white invasion. The struggle mental right of women for landrights and basic human rights to choose whether or not for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to have an abortion and cartoon: Josephine Tetley-Jones

SEPTEMBER 1990 WE GET HER TO THE BOILING ment of them as being really excellent age when young men’s attitudes are being POINT ideas. He will, I hope act on them the next consolidated. We are most worried about Here’s some feedback for you on Pat time a situation arises. He did not see them the situation in a boys’ school where there Rosier’s “Focus on Offenders” article in as limitations on his behaviour or that they would often be no chance for an alterna­ the June/July issue. I read the article to my interfered with any of his “rights”. (This tive point of view to be put by their young partner who is male, age 33, and who though, is a man with the Katherine women peers. shares my concern about society’s (men’s) Mansfield poster up on his office wall - We are also aware that the play is not treatment of women. albeit placed there by me.) new and that similar complaints were His responses to the suggestions were Maybe, if a few more like him exist(??) made when it was first used as a school surprise, thought and then total endorse- there is hope after all. text. This points to the fact that here is a Often, I doubt it, especially after read­ new generation of parents, also objecting ing something like the media backlash to the play, so it is obvious that this type fronting up article. of literature is not acceptable to the aver­ Keep on keeping us well-informed, it age New Zealand parent. EDITORIAL DEADLINES helps to keep me at the boiling point. We would therefore like to recommend For the October Issue 26 August, for Thanks to your readers to enquire of their schools November 24 September. Vicki Anderson to see if this material, which is so degrad­ POETRY Greenhithe ing to women, is being taught and to Please don’t send us any more poetry assure them that we too are concerned and until we announce our next double page DONATIONS TO AFRICA will support them if possible. spread. SABOTAGED Diane O’Sullivan, Secretary OFFICE STAFFING Now there is a sabotage by our detractors Auckland Federation of Parent Teacher The best time to find someone in the who see our campaign as a threat to their Associations office is between 9.30 and 3.30. We now patriarchy and would want to stultify it. have an answerphone so you can leave a Having known that most of our donations WRITE FROM THE HEART message any time. have been sent through unregistered mail, I am creating an anthology about lesbians DONATIONS they collaborate with dishonest postmen to healing from the loss of lover relation­ It’s annual appeal time. Keep us in mind steal cheques sent to us in ordinary letters. ships, by break-up or death. I’ve been get­ when you want to share some of your We are therefore advising you to send us ting the word out to nearly every state in hard-earned money. Thank you to all the from now on, donations under registered the U.S. for women to send me their sto­ women out there who already make mail in order to secure its contents and ries of how they got through their loss. regular donations and those who add a thwart their attempts. It is better for your I’m also including Canada, Australia and bit to their subscription renewals or just donation to reach us than to be lost to our New Zealand. send us something out of the blue. It all detractors. Without a doubt, the pain of such a loss helps. Hannah Edimikpong can be devastating. I want this anthology THE COLLECTIVE Women’s Centre, Box 185, Eket to speak to this pain and the impact on Edith Gorringe has returned from her Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria one’s health, work, finances, sexuality, travels and is back in charge of subscrip­ West Africa etc. I want to know if families were sup­ tions. Welcome back Edith. Pat Kipping portive or if they only caused more pain. is returning with her family to her native F O R E S K IN ’S LA M EN T But then I want to know what lesbians Nova Scotia. We are sorry to see her go At a recent meeting of the Auckland did to get back on their feet again. Besides and will miss her energy and commit­ Federation of Parent Teacher Associations, such obvious actions as going to therapy, ment to the magazine. Best wishes Pat. it was brought to our attention that parents I’m looking for the little (almost subcon­ We welcome then new collective mem­ are still very unhappy about the teaching scious) “tricks” lesbians used. What did ber and new co-editor, Megan Fidler. of the play “Foreskin’s Lament” in sec­ such women do when in the worst pain? Good to have you with us, Megan. ondary schools. The areas of concern What did they do as the worst of the pain VOLUNTEERS were: began to subside and there was an inkling If you have some regular spare time dur­ 1. That by making this play a school of a light at the end of a tunnel? ing the day and would like to help Cathy study, teachers were removing the element I’m asking writers to “write from the with tasks around the office, please call of choice from the students. If the play was heart” which is also part of the tentative her on 608 535. shown on television or as a film, the stu­ title. Please type, double spaced, maxi­ Friends of Broadsheet Auckland, our dent and the parents could choose whether mum length 15 pages, but it can be much wonderful band of fundraisers, are look­ or not to watch it. Under compulsory study shorter. ing for more members. This is a fun, situation, this basic right to choose was Please send a copy, along with a lively group to be part of. Call Megan on over-ridden. stamped, self-addressed envelope and 763 221 or Cathy, 608 535. 2. The structure and form of the play phone number. Many thanks. O O P S ! was not that meritorious enough to warrant Anita L. Pace Some of the Chinese characters in close study anyway. PO Box 57795 Manying Ip’s article in the August issue 3. The content is still offensive to many, Sherman Oaks, CA 91413, USA were transposed or to put it another way: especially when a simulated sexual act is so explicitly described. 4. Many parts of the play are absolutely and offensively degrading to women, espe­ cially the song about “taking” a girl, even when she is dead and buried. Other refer­ ences to women in the most basic and low­ est manner possible are also cause for concern as they are being presented at an

4 BROADSHEET RECLAIM THE NIGHT MARCH On Friday July 20, 500 women gathered in downtown Auckland to march to “Reclaim the Night”. Megan Fidler was there. The march was a channel through which women could publicly express their con­ cern and anger about rape and violence. They were demanding safety for them­ selves, their daughters, mothers, sisters and friends. Safety, not only at night, but in all facets of their lives. Violence is most easily recognised in its physical form. Women are also abused in psychological and emotional ways which block their ability to live to their fullest potential. It is important that everyone is made aware of the violence inherent in the Photo: Gil Hanly structures and relationships within our society. The march was one way to force not to blame for violence, and that women right to be angry at injustice and their right people to take notice of the violence have every right to be angry and to act to live in a world where women are not directed at women. together, and as individuals, on that anger. victims but strong people, recognised and The message, loud and clear, from The march was a positive action by respected as such. speakers at the march was that women are women to assert their right to safety, their

OUR HOME some assistance from the Auckland office different minority groups. TO TAATOU KAINGA of Te Kaporeihana Whare (The Housing It was also recognised that women from KAINA MA MUTOLU Corporation), it was decided to turn the ethnic minority groups must be skilled in project into a video. This decision was the art of video making, not only as a O LO TATOU FALE carried out by Athina Tsoulis, a skilled potential form of employment but particu­ KO HATAU API video maker, with the assistance of Lisa larly so this medium of communication Sabbage. We are indebted to these women can begin to cater for and reflect the for their expertise and dedication. E perspectives of these women. In keeping Athina raua ko Lisa, teenaa koorua. Kia with this desire the videos are being made ora koorua mo o manaaki ki a taatou kau- with two women from each ethnic minori­ papa. ty group under the Community Restart The video “A Roof of Our Own” was Programme. We are very grateful to officially launched on Wednesday 4 July Athina Tsoulis for her time and energy in 1990 and copies are now available from working alongside the women in order to the Auckland WEA. We have received ensure they acquire the necessary skills money from the Roy McKenzie and attain a high quality final product. Kia Maori and Pacific Island women are Foundation to cover the cost of copies of ora Athina mo tau mahi nui me tau kaha ki learning about video-making while the video for women’s groups and organi­ a taatou kaupapa. they make videos on house-buying sations who would not otherwise be able The greatest concerns for this project for women. Miriama Scott, who is to obtain a copy. are money and equipment. We have very involved with this project, The Auckland WEA realised the writes about it. necessity to disseminate the information In late 1988 the Auckland Workers to women of ethnic minority groups and Educational Association (WEA) ran a so we have begun making videos for Nj workshop for women on how to buy Maori and Samoan women. As soon as a house. The workshop had a panel of we have accessed more funds we will women who represented all the profes­ begin the videos for women of other sions involved with such a venture. It was ethnic minority groups. a great success. As a result of this, it was The information will essentially be the decided to produce a booklet containing same as “A Roof of Our Own” but will the information discussed at the workshop. also include schemes designed to be more However, the publication of the Ministry appropriate to the needs of different ethnic of Women’s Affairs booklet “Women’s groups, such as papakainga. The objec­ Guide to Housing” pre-empted this tives of these videos are as much to intention. inform women as they are to inform As the Auckland WEA had received policy makes of the needs of women from

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 5 received a generous amount of assistance facilities will become available for use by so the issues are different in every area. I from Te Kaporeihana Whare a community groups, provided there are find it really difficult being in a national Whanganui-a-Tara. But because Auckland people who have the necessary training position trying to do community-based WEA has to supplement the community and skills to use them. work because you can’t be everywhere. restart subsidy so the women receive a liv­ For further information, or to obtain a One of the ways of dealing with that is to able wage, as well as cover the expenses of copy of “A Roof Of Our Own” please try and get youth workers at each associa­ the actual project itself, money is an on­ write to or contact Miriama Scott, tion. At the moment there is a youth work­ going concern. Access to equipment either Auckland WEA, 131A Williamson Ave er in Hamilton and in Dunedin. incurs additional expenses for technical Grey Lynn, Auckland, Phone 764 857. The young women’s committee has people or the gear is unreliable in its per­ E nga iwi o te motu, E nga rangatira, E representatives from just about every formance. So with the generous assistance nga kaumatua, E waahine maa teenaa association. They direct the work that I do of JVC, who have offered us a good deal, koutou, teenaa koutou, teenaa koutou and support me. We work very much as a we are going to purchase our own. These katoa. collective. With the committees scattered all over the country, at least half my job is travelling around linking what’s happen­ ing at a national level with what’s happen­ Y IS FOR YOUNG where they addressed the need to work ing in the various associations. I also The YWCA has appointed their first effectively with young women in the co-ordinate programmes and work on national Young Women’s Co-co-ordi- community who are a particularly vulner­ policy issues affecting young women. nator. Pat Kipping talked with Angie able group. That’s when they set up a In most associations we’re planning Cairncross about her work. young women’s committee with specific Young Women’s Days. So far we’ve had I often get questioned about why the aims to provide support for each other, them in Hamilton, Dunedin, Palmerston YWCA, a young woman’s organisation, advise the YWCA and to work within the North, and Wellington. They have a par­ needs a young women’s co-ordinator. community on issues for young women. ticipatory focus with workshops on media Over the last couple of decades the One of their aims was to get a young images of young women, The Treaty of YWCA’s members have grown older and women’s co-ordinator. I started in January Waitangi, unemployment, self defense, the organisation has had difficulty attract­ this year and my position is funded by self esteem and health issues. We ask ing new members as have many voluntary local associations and Lottery Youth. young women about the problems they’re organisations. The 1987 YWCA World My job is to work with and for young facing, how they feel about certain legisla­ Council reaffirmed the need for “contin­ women, develop a network of young tion and what kind of things we should be ued effort at all levels to involve young women to identify the issues important to doing. What came out of the Dunedin day women in the work of the association”. In them and to begin to address some of was the lack of self-esteem and difficulties 1985 the YWCA had a forum called those issues. The YWCA has 11 associa­ unemployed young women face. Being a Moving Forward with Young Women, tions ranging from Whang arei to Dunedin year and a half unemployed, applying for jobs and being constantly turned down is really soul destroying. Now they’re trying to get some support through the youth worker there. It’s a really difficult time for young people, especially young women. The change in the dole age is a crucial issue. Housing Corporation I I’m working with a group in Wellington on a unemployment resource book for 15 Te Kaporeihana Whare| to 20 year olds, looking at alternatives to unemployment, ways to survive with lim­ ited income, reasons for unemployment We are here to help women and access to resources. (It will be avail­ able next February.) Young people consti­ tute the largest group of unemployed and in housing need raising the dole age is just a way of cut­ ting down the figures. There may not be official unemployment for those under 18 Contact us for information on but we still have to address the issues of unemployment for that group. It’s going to change the length of time that young peo­ * lending ple are dependent and there is fear that * rental suicide and crime rates are going to increase. Recent research by Ronald * co-operatives Sultana (“Breaking them in? School Kids in the Twilight Economy” New Zealand * community housing Journal of Industrial Relations 1990, 15, 19-33.) showed that close to 85% of stu­ dents interviewed had held part time work Phone Customer Services Division: and one of the reasons was to help support Auckland, Ph 774 670 the family. The change in dole age implies that young people are dependents when in Henderson, Ph 837 0771 fact many are contributing to the welfare Manukau, Ph 278 0980 and upkeep of their families. Decisions are made for young people

6 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 without consulting them. There needs to be more representation and involvement by young people in decision making about changes that are affecting them. That’s an issue for the YWCA too. How much are young women involved in making deci­ sions? Another aspect of my work is representing young women in the deci­ sion-making structure, on the executive and national committees of the Y and in other organisations. I take a very wholistic view of health issues. Young women’s health can be related to self-esteem and issues of self- image like eating disorders. That’s one thing we tend to focus on when we do workshops at young women’s days. Access to clear information on sexuality and contraception is key . New Zealand has one of the highest teenage fertility rates in the world. From my own experi­ At Dunedin Young Women’s Hui, Angie Cairncross, Tabatha Wilson, Jude Roberts ence working in an abortion centre, I know there is some knowledge of places organisations that can give them that They’re more likely to get involved in to go for that information but young information. The Y could get more rape crisis or something where they can women still feel unconfident accessing it. involved by having forums where young work collectively. A lot of women are Family planning clinics do a really good women can come along to specifically choosing not to work in hierarchical struc­ job but those clinics aren‘t open every­ talk about sexuality. Many young women tures. The Y is going through a lot of where and young women may not always don’t perceive the Y or use it for that kind changes and I feel optimistic there will be feel comfortable going there. It is also of thing but it’s changing. a positive outcome. imperative that the Contraception The YWCA recognises that some To find out more about the “Y” in Sterilisation and Abortion Amendment changes in structure need to be made in YWCA contact your local Y or Angie Act is passed so that under 16 year olds order to work more effectively with young Cairncross, YWCA, PO Box 9315 have access to information. At present the women. Young women don’t necessarily Wellington. Ph (04)848-116. Y is one of the only non governmental want to be on boards or committees.

DUNEDIN Y.W.C.A. EQUITY WHILE IT stayed out of Parliament during the vote WOMEN’S YWCA EMPOWERING WOMEN which passed the Employment Equity Bill DIRECTORY LASTS! into law. They were Roger Douglas and A hand book of The law’s been passed! Pat Kipping Trevor de Cleene. businesses, services, looks at its precarious future. groups and It’s been called the greatest step for The world is watching as New Zealand information for women since we got the vote. The implements this legislation. It may not be women - $13.95 Employment Equity Act becomes opera­ the best piece of pay equity legislation we tive October 1. The many women who could have had, but it’s a start. It would be WORKING WOMEN fought this campaign over the years a tragedy if it got repealed before it got a Profiles of Dunedin deserve congratulations. You can afford chance. women working in non-traditional one moment to pat yourselves on the back, For more information contact Coalition occupations, an excellent resource give your sisters a hug and get back out for Equal Value Equal Pay, PO Box for young women - $9.00 there fighting. National has pledged to 16149, Wellington. repeal - not amend - the legislation. GREATER EXPECTATIONS In an August speech Bill Birch A young women’s development (National MP and spokesperson on project. Industrial Relations) said that Labour’s Kitset - $5.50 Book - $25 Act is the wrong approach because it Postage & Packaging $l/item. “attempts to coerce people into equal out­ Trade enquiries welcome. comes and by-passes the root causes of Available from Dunedin unfair treatment. It puts pay claims in the hands of unions and government agen­ YWCA, PO Box 5146 DUNEDIN cies.” Through “labour market reform”, (ie voluntary unionism ), National will create “an environment in which effort is reward­ ed and workers have real choices rather than special privileges.” Sounds like more bloody “leveling of the playing field” to me. As a point of interest for anyone who might let this influence their decision at I < E A U ,Y 16 BE A M ec^ic. the polls, two Labour MPs purposely WKE Mo f t *

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 7 RIGHTS IN LAW includes none of the new grounds and Pat Kipping looks at the status of two therein lie the problems. Despite consider­ proposed pieces of legislation that able efforts to have at least the sexual will affect some of our rights. preference and disability clauses included, On August 14 the New Zealand Bill of only those that appear in the 1977 Human Human Rights Bill received it’s second Rights Commission Act are included. The reading in Parliament. It could become Prime Minister's argument for not includ­ naming [sexual orientation] inevitably law before this Parliament is dissolved. ing those two clauses is because they are focuses on our sexuality and is thus a vio­ Since 1977, under the Human Rights in the Human Rights Commission Act lation. As womyn we are conscious of the Commission Act and the Race Relations Amendment. (No, it doesn’t make sense routine sexual exploitation of all womyn Act, the Human Rights Commission has but remember he’s a lawyer and Bill of in the patriarchy... We are very conscious had the power to protect everyone’s right Rights legislation is a must for any self- that we are not lesbians just because we to freedom from discrimination on the fol­ respecting constitutional lawyer cum happen to relate sexually with womyn; lowing grounds: colour, race, ethnic or prime minister to keep at the top of his we are lesbians every minute of every national origin, sex, marital status, and agenda. At this point in Labour govern­ hour of every day. We do not see our­ religious or ethical beliefs. ment history, its passing could guarantee selves sharing a sexuality, rather we share In 1987, in a report to the Minister of more than a fleeting mention in the type a culture... The use of the word ‘lesbian’ Justice, the Human Rights Commission of history books that are meaningful to in the legislation would be a visible recommended the HRC Act be amended former heads of state.) acknowledgement, in law, of lesbian to include the following grounds: mental The way things were supposed to hap­ existence.” and physical disability, age, sexual orien­ pen goes something like this: First the LAVA’s best hope was that HRC Act tation, family status and responsibility, HRC Act Amendment, was supposed to Am would pass first including the terms pregnancy, AIDS, AIDS related condi­ be passed and in the process introduce the “lesbians and homosexuals/gay men”. tions or HIV virus, identity of spouse, concepts of sexual orientation, disability, According to spokesperson, Marilyn employment status, trade union involve­ age discrimination etc. into the New Little, it is doubtful that the legislation ment and political opinion. The legislation Zealand legal and social climate. That will get introduced before the election but is known as the Human Rights Act would be followed by the Bill of Rights, if it does “the only hope is to get ‘sexual Amendment. The government has which, while going through the legislative orientation’ footnoted to ensure there will announced that it will introduce it this process, would have been amended to be be some protection for lesbians.” As for year (not necessarily this session) but it is consistent with the HRC Act Amendment. the Bill of Rights Bill, they just hope it unlikely that it will get passed into law Not many people are happy with this won’t get passed. before the election. back to front situation. Most Labour MPs For more information contact LAVA cl- The 1990 Bill of Human Rights Bill were unwilling to give the Bill of Rights Marilyn Little (04)895 557. Bill the power to supercede other laws. Gay/homosexual men are disappointed. Listener According to AIDS Foundation Director, Warren Lindberg inclusion of “sexual ori­ HUMAN entation” and “disability” are essential for RIGHTS “preventing the spread of AIDS and sup­ COMMISSION porting those who have been infected”. Another group who has been working The Human Rights Commission □WOMEN'S BOOK intently on these issues is Lesbian Action FESTIVAL Act 1977 for Visibility in Aotearoa (LAVA). Meet Our Writers makes it unlawful to discriminate on Needless to say they are depressed with the grounds of At the Book Festival the current situation and take the argu­ race, colour, sex, marital status ments one step further. national or ethnic origin and MANYING IP LAVA’s main focus has been on sup­ religious or ethnic belief port and lobbying for the HRC Act in areas of NGAHUIA TE AWEKOTUKU Amendment but with critical changes. In a employment, accommodation, access CATHIE DUNSFORD recent position paper they state, “the by the public to places, vehicles and SUE LYTOLLIS words ‘lesbians and gay men/homosexu- facilities, the provision of goods and als’ are preferable to ‘sexual orientation’, services, and educational institutions. GWEN SKINNER ‘sexual preference’ or ‘sexuality’. There If you feel you have been treated unfair­ PAT ROSIER are two main reasons why these umbrella ly in this way, ring (collect) the Human JACQUELINE OWENS terms are not acceptable to us. The first Rights Commission office nearest you. MARGARET BLAY has to do with questions of power. When the term ‘sexual orientation’ is used with HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION JULIE GLAMUZINA regard to human rights, the meaning that KOMIHANA TIKANGA TANGATA ALISON LAURIE flows from this is that heterosexuals should not discriminate against lesbians AUCKLAND and gay men/homosexuals, and that les­ 2nd Floor Southern Cross Bid Cnr Victoria & Check Your Local High Sts PO Box 6751 Phone (09) 390 874 bians and gay men/homosexuals should WELLINGTON Programme Now not discriminate against heterosexuals. 1st Floor United Bid Society Bid 107 This ‘equal’ interpretation presumes that Customhouse Quay PO Box 5045 Phone (04) both heterosexuals and non-heterosexuals 739 981 have equal power and that the results CHRISTCHURCH of the discriminations will be equally 1st Floor Kenton Chambers 190 Hereford Street Mew harmful.” PO Box 1578 Phone (03) 792 015 “The second reason... is that such

8 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 1975 REVISITED The dinner at the Beehive commemo­ rating the 1975 United Women’s Convention was a great success. Over 500 attended from Invercargill to North Auckland. Some had been at the 1975 convention and others had not, for various reasons. Quite a few mothers and daughters went together. Ros Noonan, Executive Office of the New Zealand Educational Institute gave the keynote speech and entertainment was provided by “Girls Own Adventure” and “Glory Box” entertainment companies. Plans are already under way for the Ngati Poneke women, some of whom were part of the powhiri in 1975, welcoming diners in 1990. commemorations of the 1993 centennial already books, videos postage stamps and National Council of Women, Box 12- of women’s suffrage in New Zealand and an international conference of women’s 117 Wellington is acting as temporary the world. Major funding is expected and history are being planned. planning co-ordinator.

The Immigration Department now con­ applicant. Effectively, she becomes the LESBIANS AND siders applications from lesbian or gay sponsor of her partner. IMMIGRATION partners of New Zealanders in much the The onus is on the couple to prove that Recent changes in immigration policy same way it considers applications from “the relationship is genuine, stable and of make it possible for partners of New individuals in heterosexual de facto rela­ at least four years’ duration”. The couple Zealand lesbians and gays to gain tionships. is interviewed by a processing officer who residence here. Lisa Sabbage spoke The New Zealand partner must give then makes a recommendation to the to Sarah Baker of the Grey Lynn evidence (a passport or birth certificate General Manager’s Office. Neighbourhood Law Office. for example) that she is a New Zealand Letters in support of the application There have been success stories already: a citizen or resident. She must also write a recognising the relationship make a woman from Malaysia has won residence letter supporting her partner’s application, difference, especially if from VIPs or on the basis of her relationship with a New stating that she will provide accommoda­ members of each partner’s family. These Zealand women. tion and financial support for the can attest to the “validity and stability” of

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SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 9 the relationship. Photographs, letters medical requirements as set by the film stock and other equipment. addressed to the couple, a joint bank Department of Health. An HIV test is not Are people paid equally? account, hire purchase agreements, shared a mandatory requirement for prospective They are now. I don’t like to leave people assets - all reinforce the “genuineness” of residents, whether lesbian, gay or hetero­ with the illusion that where we are now is the couple. sexual. where we started. What we did in terms of In the experience of those at the Grey Where the relationship has not existed the early work was to provide the finance Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office, the for four years but meets other criteria, the ourselves through working. The years in department’s interviewing officers have interviewing officer may recommend that between arriving in the NE of England and been friendly, non-threatening and the non-New Zealand partner be admitted being fully waged were very important responsive. on a work visa or be issued with a work years because we leamt other skills. What The success of any application is more permit until the qualifying period of four we did during that time was set up busi­ assured if the applicant has been offered a years is met. Although New Zealand law nesses to make money, to make films. We job, especially if the employer can prove does not recognise or protect the rights created a slide business which is still oper­ there is not a local New Zealander for the of lesbians or gay men, the policy of ating internationally. We used to make job. The more training and experience the some government departments shows frames from the wood off the beach. We applicant has, the better. some commitment towards that end. also used to blow photographs up to very All applicants are required to meet full large stands for exhibitions. Amber was also lobbying politically to create funding for filmmaking and photography within a INNOVATIVE FILM notion of moving to a region was almost regional context. MAKING unheard of, to leave the centre of filming, The fact that we are fully waged now Pat McCarthy, a member of the which is in London was very unusual. But is solely due to the work done over that Amber Film Collective in the UK, the basic philosophy that led us to make period of ten years. Since then we have which is celebrating its 21st year of the decision was about the nature of the been fully waged. We all take an egalitari­ production, was in New Zealand work we wanted to undertake - recording an wage. Anyone who works for us free­ recently as a guest of the British the lives of working people -and that phi­ lance gets the same wage. The amount is Council and the Waewae losophy is still very much intact. set by our union and our agreement on our Tapu/Distinguished Visitors The move was to the Northeast of method of operation is under what’s called Programme of the QUEII Arts Council England for two reasons. One was we A Workshop Declaration which is a Trade of New Zealand. While in Auckland found the location very visually attractive Union agreement. It is a unique agreement she spoke to Athina Tsoulis. and secondly the vibrance of the local in the world, which has conditions of work Could you tell me a little about Amber people was very appealing. When we first for people to emulate. Collective and how it originated? moved there was no system for getting How many of you are there? It was started when a group of six stu­ finance for this sort of work. We were Eight that are the members of Amber and dents met at the London Film School in filmmakers and photographers and what another eight that work with us on an 1968 and decided they didn’t want to go people did was to get jobs in the conven­ almost fulltime basis - they’re freelance the conventional way of film students in tional education system or technically workers. They run our gallery and book­ the sense of moving into television or the work freelance for advertising or whatever shop and do our administration. major production houses. It was quite jobs we could get and the wages were What about the decision making unusual then because the finance for pooled and we took out the money to live process? independents just wasn’t available. The on and left money in the pot for buying The bulk of the creative decisions are made by the eight people and the commu­ nities they are working with, which obvi­ ously changes. The decision making THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERB DOCTOR process is one that often becomes very dif­ ficult to explain to people because it’s an organic process that just develops. For 512 pages, illustrated firs t published in 1889 “ possibly the most example we set out a three year pro­ comprehensive Herb Doctor published here” $59.50 gramme of work and within that will be a Special price: $54.50 at number of feature films, a number of doc­ HARD TO FIND Secondhand Bookshop umentaries, photography work, and publi­ 171 The Mall, Onehunga, Ak 6 cations we are going to produce. Our programme of work is quite extensive but This book and many others are published by to get something that people want to do on Pukapuka Publications, w rite to us to that programme of work you’ve got to Private Bag, Onehunga for our catalogue of move back a few years because people 105 title s of NZ history and Maoritanga develop ideas over a long period of time. (enclose $2.00 for p&p) An example of this is that in 1986 we made Seacoal which was about a commu­ nity of Travellers [Gypsies] and we were introduced to trotting because the OUT NOW ! Travellers are keen on trotting. We became intrigued with trotting and the gambling that went on around it. We maintained our TAINUI History, Whakapapa, Songs relationship with those people long after and Legends $97.50 we finished that film and we have now bought horses and people from the film are looking after the horses and training them for us. It is the bonus of this kind of

10 BROADSHEET 2 SEPTEMBER 1990 work that you make friendships amongst relationship with the community, who the community you work with. This is a educate us. Our method of working with a long process. We started working with the community is one that is a two-way pro­ Travellers in 1984 and lived with them for cess. They educate us about their social two years to make the film. We’ve got and working lives. We demystify media interested in horses and through circum­ for them because their involvement with stances we’ve ended up with horses that us shows them a process and they start started racing. Very slowly we have understanding what they see on telly a lot become knowledgeable about the trotting more. We also start them on a process of fraternity. Now it will become a pro­ articulating their lives which they’ve quite gramme of ours. It’s on our agenda that often never done. the next feature film we make will be You actually go to your audiences, to the about trotting. We didn’t set off to do this workplace, to pubs and to schools. How in 1984 but it’s happened. do your audiences react to your work? What role does gender play in your One of the things about people in commu­ whole philosophy or is it an implicit nities in general is that they are very part? uncritical. We would like a lot more criti­ Within the communities that we are work­ cal analysis of our work than we get. It Filmmaker Pat McCathy. photo: Gil Hanly ing with, I think there are still a few unre­ tends to be too positively received. We get solved things for us. The feature film we listen and give support and we’ve encour­ nice vibes from people, which is lovely. have just finished shooting has been aged people, suggesting to them that they Some members of a community who developed in a really exciting way. We have skills. It’s in that sense that gender are critical of our work won’t come to the have some women who play darts which comes into it. Its liberated women, and screening. They would say that we look at is a very popular working class game. men, looking at a community that isn’t the worst aspects of a region and the reali­ They play in our pub for our darts team. liberated. The men are in as dire circum­ ty of the fact that we have a lot of derelict They started talking to Kitty who is a stances in terms of their psychological buildings seems to escape people because writer in our group and what Kitty ended perception of themselves as the women they want to know why we are showing up doing was holding literacy classes for a are. derelict buildings in our work. We have group of women. And they went on after Amber is a mixed collective. How do had complaints from people that we show that and produced a book of poems. They you find that works? really negative things. But they exist. wrote a radio play and then Kitty was very It’s not a problem. The women outnumber They are there but people think we should keen that we try doing a screenplay with the men. It’s exactly the position you have turned the camera around when we these women. So we brought in some should be in (uncontrollable laughter). came to that point. actresses to improvise their stories and out There’s five women and three men in Our local politicians get very worried of this a screenplay was written. It starts the collective. Gender issues are not a about what we are doing. It’s just because with the darts team which is the central problem. of how they want the area represented to point where they meet and then it looks at Your documentary approach is quite dif­ the rest of the world. three women’s lives in very tough condi­ ferent in that you take a long time get­ In In Fading Light one of the things tions in Britain under Thatcherism. What ting to know your subject. that was a problem for the fishermen was the women have insisted on is that their We don’t start filming until we know our one scene where Alfie, the Captain, is lives contain fantasy and their very strong subject, we know what we are talking in bed with his wife and he swears. The dreams. There are lots of dream sequences about and that expertise comes from our fishermen saw it at the rough cut stage which is something we’ve never done before so we have had fun technically constructing them. The reason I’m describing this is to The courage to cope! illustrate the level of intimacy we have when we work with these women. What These two superb boohs abound with confidence, hove and the advice often happens is that you see their lives as being problematic. You see the men domi­ you need to live life to the full! nating and becoming jealous about the Ourselves Growing Older Living With Cancer The frankest and most complete in­ Penny Owen has so much to live for she women’s preoccupation with the women’s formation ever on how women over the age refuses to surrender to cancer. With an elixir writers group. They’ve tried everything to of 35 can enjoy a healthy life by the authors called hope, she faces each bright new day. stop them and some women left the group of "Our Bodies, Ourselves". because of the pressure the men put upon them. And we’ve seen this whole process of male insecurity that’s coming into play. Now what we do about that as a collective of filmmakers tears us apart at times because our advice to these women would wreck their lives. What we would do in their circumstances would certainly disen­ franchise them from their families and their communities. We don’t feel it is our job to affect people’s lives in that way. What we want to do is to be observers and recorders but it is a difficult line to tread when you work that intimately. We haven’t resolved this. All you can do is

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 11 We don’t use extras in our films - any The University of Auckland people you see in the background are real is calling for applicants for three (3) people. The main actors are actors and lectureships/senior lectureships in: they spend 5 months in advance of film­ MANAGEMENT STUDIES, HUMAN ing to spend time with the fishermen. We RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, & LABOUR pay them to go and learn the trade with RELATIONS. the local people. Applications are invited from those in In the 70’s what you are doing would the areas of general management (including have had more support but in today’s management theory and organisational Britain dealing with working class lives development), human resource manage­ and living in the North is not very fash­ ment, and labour relations. Candidates may ionable,. How do you deal with this? have a combination of research, teaching, I don’t think we do deal with it. What we and practical experience. Candidates for can be judged on is the work we produce. positions in management and in human The success of our work is something resource management should ideally have people can’t question. We make films that relevant practical experience. intrigue people and have an audience and Applicants with primary interests in the again that is a very important part of any above areas, who also have research or and they said you can’t leave that in, we business. We have to live in the reality of teaching interests elsewhere in the range of would never swear in bed with our wives. a business and the only way you are going the Department’s interests will be espec­ We said bullshit! We asked the wives to survive as a business is to produce ially welcome. Additional areas include: about this and they agreed with us. something that people want. I don’t give a Multicultural and bicultural (Maori- You seem to use quite a lot of dramatisa­ shit about these kinds of attitudes. European) perspectives in New Zealand tions in your work. We don’t fit very easily into the film organisations; management; public sector We’ve always had a leaning towards the community. We find most of it a waste of management; management and new tech­ dramatisation, but people dramatise their time. However, we are in a situation nology; business and society; business own lives. We’ve actually filmed down where we are honoured by the film world. ethics; organisational behaviour; organisa­ mines. But we’ve employed the miners We were actually given the BAFTA award tional psychology; organisation theory; for that week while we were shooting. So for independent filmmaking in 1989. So research methods. that we could stop and start and shape the industry knows of us but we actually Senior Lecturer: Applicants will normally their working day with them. spend very little time with them. have a doctoral qualification and relevant research experience, or other tertiary quali­ fications and a strong record of research or senior practical experience. RECLAIMING OUR RIGHT TO Stories include how family members dealt with the woman’s new role and how Lecturer: Applicants will normally have at LEARN she managed to juggle the added demands of least a Master’s-level qualification, and rel­ Edited by Anne Davis and Barbara university life with family life. One woman evant research or practical experience. Cairns. Centre for Continuing told of having to arrange to turn in all her Education, The University of first term papers in the second term due to Appointees in management studies and Auckland family illness. Another woman retrained her human resource management will be Pat Kipping extended family.“I still help them, but expected to develop & teach quality practi­ The eleven women whose stories are told in instead of running around doing things for tioner-oriented programmes to mature stu­ this book went to university at a mature age them I give them directions on how to do it dents in the Graduate School of Business. - most well over age 30. Each of them were for themselves... They are becoming more External consultancy which contributes the first female in their family to enter uni­ self-reliant, and I am doing something I positively to the research & teaching goals versity for a degree. The editors asked the enjoy.” of the University is encouraged. women to share their experiences to help These stories don’t gloss over the diffi­ Commencing salary will be established others considering tertiary education. All culties, in fact many of them read like a long within the range $NZ36,000 - $47,200 per annum (Lecturer); or $NZ50,000 - $58,600 but one of these women participated in New string of trials and amazing feats of per annum (Senior Lecturer). Start, a ten week course offered by the endurance. Relationships changed, career Auckland Centre for Continuing Education hopes weren’t realised after graduation and a for people over age 21 considering a return The University of Auckland has an Equal few women didn’t get their degree. But all Employment Opportunities Policy which to formal education. the women say they grew from their experi­ states: “Appointment to all positions shall be on The book is simply and economically ences and valued the time and what they’d the basis of merit... The definition of merit produced - 56 pages of typescript with pho­ learned. should be wide enough to include such matters tos of all 11 women on the cover. They were When asked what advice she’d give to as applicants’ community or cultural standing or first interviewed in 1986 and updated in mature women contemplating tertiary stud­ their work experience (whether paid or unpaid)” 1989. The stories are ordinary yet unique ies, Olinda, a Pacific Islander responded, The positions are full-time but job sharing is possible. Creche facilities are available. and told in each woman’s own words. All “There is another lifestyle open to us. Times went to university for different reasons; have changed and it is often possible to com­ Further information about the positions can they’d always wanted to but family commit­ bine home duties with part-time study... It’s be obtained from ments got in the way, solo mothers wanted not only for Pakeha, not only for women of Professor Kerr Inkson Ph 737 999 ex 7198 better career opportunities, women whose the middle class. If you want to pursue or or Dr. Judith Pringle ex 7282 children had grown wanted intellectual stim­ improve yourself academically the opening Conditions of appointment are also ulation or career satisfaction. Arapera, a is there. My advice is to look ahead and have available from Assistant Registrar, Maori woman states, “I was really sick of a go”. Academic Appointments, University of being on the bottom of the pile. I wanted to The book is available for $12.00 from the Auckland, Private Bag, Auckland. move up the ladder and, in the end, help Centre for Continuing Education, Auckland Applications close 30 September 1990. make decisions about Maori health ”. University or University Bookshops.

12 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 This is a woman’s story of dealing with bulimia. The writer asked to remain anonymous. a Secret shared Illustration: Sharon Alston Sharon Illustration:

ulimia is a word used to describe a recurring pattern of my contemporaries would, I dutifully returned. Yet I did not want ritualistic behaviour where the bulimic overeats, then to remain at home. Neither place offered warmth or security or the makes herself sick. (I use “her” because although the opportunity to be myself. B number of male bulimics is increasing, the disorder is mostMy eating was totally unrelated to hunger. I ate with guilt widespread amongst women.) rather than pleasure. Throughout my secondary school years I To most people overeating and vomiting seem incredible, dis­ chastised and reprimanded myself as I stole food from friend’s gusting and wasteful. Even some members of the medical profes­ food parcels. When I left boarding school my eating was out of sion view the symptoms of bulimia with disgust. This is because it control. My self-esteem was dangerously low and I had only one is misunderstood. tool to deal with life’s stresses and strains - to eat and eat. But it I hope in writing about my experience to give women who are was exactly this which caused me to berate myself so harshly. caught in the grip of this debilitating disorder the courage to con­ I began to count calories. That is how I evaluated each day. A front its meaning and existence. In telling my story I hope to give good day was one in which I ate sparingly, a bad day one which my life significance. Bulimia is a lonely secret, is rarely talked consisted of eating enormous quantities of sickly high calorie about or written of. Writing this gives me an opportunity to share food. The “good” days began to exceed the bad. And I became my anguish, courage and pain. Few bulimia sufferers ever do. thinner and thinner. Not so thin that my life was in danger, i did Like the anorexic, the bulimic woman is terrified of becoming not want people saying to me “What is wrong? Why are you so fat, like the compulsive eater, she is unable to control her eating. thin?” I did not know what I wanted or why I was behaving in this The vital difference is the bulimic takes in food then vomits it out. way. Counting calories and losing weight was the one thing that This eating and vomiting is like a single, complex action. give my life structure and order. Bulimia occurs only in societies where there is enough food to I cannot say at what point anorexia gave way to bulimia. go around and where thinness is sought after. Outward appearance Increasingly, I was finding it difficult to stick to my rigid diet. is put first. The woman will do anything with her distress, confu­ When I ate excessively and successfully made myself vomit I was sion and mess - except show it. Outwardly she will appear calm delighted. My immediate reaction was “ great, now I can eat and and in control. “Too good to be true” is the description that comes eat and never put on weight. to mind. This of course was naive. I did eat and eat but I became isolat­ Bulimic women I have met have been competent and success­ ed as I ate and vomited ate and vomited. Much of my time was ful at what they do. They have been responsive, caring and atten­ spent scheming and planning when my next binge/eat session tive. Their symptom is often the only sign of distress, but this is would be. Bulimia became a huge, ugly secret. Keeping this secret usually a deeply hidden secret. The question is, what makes these protected me from close relationships and allowed me to control women feel they must endure such terrible pain — alone and in others, since they could only ever act on limited information. In secret? short, bulimia stopped me from participating in life. The bulimic stage in my life lasted four or five years. Like Throughout this whole series of eating disorders I never most women who are affected, I had suffered pro­ thought of seeking help. It dawned on me slowly longed bouts of anorexia and compulsive eating that my eating was a problem. To anyone else it throughout my youth and early twenties. When I Bulimia would have been obvious, but I was constantly was young food seemed to take on extreme making excuses for myself. I was always telling importance. I was not a fat child but I loved food. is a lonely myself that some day bulimia would mysteriously “Goodness” was rewarded by sweets and cake. disappear and life would be instantly blissful. I My parents did not cuddle me, or at least I can secret would fall in love and all would be well. never remember them doing so. When I was At this stage I thought my eating was the prob­ angry or hurt I often locked myself in the bathroom and cried. lem, nothing more. I even thought perhaps I am like an alcoholic When I was sad I would often cry under the covers in my bed. and have some sort of chemical imbalance which renders me inca­ Approval was always given sparingly. The atmosphere in the pable of controlling what I eat. The first positive step I took was house of my childhood was heavy with restraint and stifled emo­ to begin to read up on the condition. Many of the books I picked tions. up were condemning and inhumane, but thankfully some of the Boarding school took me out of that environment to an equally more recent publications were quite the reverse. As I began to rigid and loveless one. The school was strict and uncompromising show an interest in bulimia and my own well-being, eating and and I was desperately unhappy. As each school holiday ended I vomiting became less of a refuge. A workshop I attended with inwardly cowed. Instead of crying or protesting overly as many of other women who suffered bulimia was a big step. For most of us

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 13 it was the first time we had revealed “our secret”. Sharing a secret consciously say to myself, “I will not label myself, what I did has can be an enormous relief, especially when it seems such a made me feel bad, but that does not mean I am evil or unworthy. ghastly disgusting burden. There are always several good reasons for behaving in a particular It is impossible to pinpoint causes of bulimia. Each of us is an way. I have every right to forgive myself. We all have.” This may individual and therefore reacts differently to stress. In my case I sound a rigid and overly systematic approach. Because feeling believe perceiving feelings of anger, resentment, envy and jeal­ bad about myself is so entrenched this is the most effective way I ousy as being unacceptable sowed the seeds. I have of dealing with these feelings. Hopefully had leamt very early in life that my anger was 0 as time goes by I will become more relaxed not something to be shared or expressed overt­ and I will automatically be less condemning of ly, rather something to be ashamed of and my actions. hidden. To date I have made dramatic progress and My parents no doubt had difficulty express­ I have to keep reminding myself of this. I have ing these emotions, and they too may have not talked about my secret to anyone except been brought up in a similarly repressive envi­ the women I met at the workshop, which ronment. It is almost two years now since I focused on bulimia. My friends, and I have have made myself sick as a result of eating many, would be shocked if they knew of the what I thought was too much. Because the years I spent secretly eating and vomiting. symptoms disappeared so gradually I am not They would view me somewhat differently. I sure exactly when I became bulimia free. Life do not trust myself sufficiently to share this did not take on a magical fairy-like tranquillity secret. as I had envisaged. When I can share my struggle with eating There are times when I am exceedingly sad, disorders with somebody I love and somebody times when I feel faint with nervousness and who loves me, as a complete person, both good anguish and times when I am stressed and and bad, then I think I will be cured. Giving up overwrought. Because bulimia to an extent bulimia was the best thing I have ever done. I cocooned me from feeling emotions they now Bulimia occurs only in have no regrets. seem sharp and unfamiliar, as indeed they are. societies where there is Sadly, the existence of bulimia and other Eating great quantities of food invariably leads eating disorders is a reflection on women’s to a dullness of senses and tiredness, rather enough food to go around place in society. Emotions which are denied do like drinking to excess or taking a tranquiliser. and where thinness is not go away. The sooner society realises this Friends are now aware that there is a vul­ and the sooner individuals understand the nerable side to my character, and oddly, seem sought after. importance of overtly expressing all human to like me the more for it. Still, I express anger feelings, the sooner bulimia will cease to debil­ faltingly. When I vocalise anger the feeling of guilt is sometimes itate and stifle so many lives. In the meantime it is up to us as almost unbearable. women to confront this disorder with compassion and tolerance Progress is slow but none the less consistent. The best part, and whilst taking responsibility for our own lives and finding the the greatest relief, is the tolerance I now have for myself. It is a courage to ask for help. stressful business trying to be perfect, trying to keep emotions in check, and trying to be good all the time. Letting go of this impos­ A woman seeking help with bulimia could contact the nearest sible expectation and accepting myself as I am - a normal, fallible Women’s Centre for information on any local groups. human being, is a huge relief. This does not come easy. Each time Christchurch women contact the Women With Eating I do something which I think of as immoral, bad or unwise, I Disorders Resource Centre, P O Box 5420, Ph (03) 667 725. □

SUMMER ART SCHOOL AT ELAM MYRA NICOL January 3 - 13 th 1991 MOWERS • CHAINSAWS WEEDEATERS Painting Jewellery PETROL AND ELECTRIC Lithography ‘Found Sound’ Screenpriting Performance 442 RICHMOND RD Making Paper Comedy GREY LYNN, AUCKLAND Photography Writing Muka - Flax Garden Design PHONE 760-053 Pacific Prints Art Theory Making Books Video Production Full motor mower sales and service Only woman owned and operated Enquiries to Centre for Continuing Auckland mower service Education Telephone 737 831 and 737 832 Free pick up and delivery fflFlyirto Ybur next mower

14 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 A Place To Women’s e in

The training of workers/advocates has The aim of refuge is to provide a ser­ always been an integral part of refuge vice by women for women and children, work. “There’s the training that local and, as Brenda says, “The core of refuge refuges do,” explains Brenda, “and there’s Brenda Pilott and Roma work remains providing a refuge house, a an expectation that every woman who is Balzer, the two national co­ shelter, a place for women to go. going to be working in the refuge will get ordinators, talked with Pat Increasingly there’s also a focus on work training in the analysis of violence, power, Rosier about refuge services, in the community with women who need control and oppression and the basic prac­ training and directions for to talk to somebody or want some form of tical details about how the refuge is run contact or support, but don’t actually need and what you do when you are admitting a the second decade of the to come into the house” woman.” national organisation. Roma: “The other thing about refuge “Introductory training is usually an over the last ten years is that it’s moved evening a week for six weeks, with possi­ identified as one of the major needs in into taking a leadership and directive role. bly a live-in weekend. Women coming training for Maori women, so national So you’ll see refuge representatives on a into refuge weed themselves out as they office got behind it.” number of community based groups or go through a process of learning what There is also a three-year training pro­ government department/mixed groups refuge is and why it exists. In those gramme that has been developed by the (such as child protection teams and refuges that are particularly well organ­ Maori and non-Maori co-ordinators Council of Social Service forums), trying ised, there are ongoing programmes call­ together. It combines a violence and to ensure the needs of refuge and the ing in people who have an expertise in a oppression analysis and working with women using refuge are being met. And particular area, to train them up in some women who are in stress. The programme we’re doing a similar thing at national way. It might be Department of Social is taken around the country and presented level with different committees we are on, Welfare people, or police or people who for local refuge advocates. Organisers are and being quite determined about where are working in sexual abuse or child abuse working to have this training result in an and how refuge is to be represented. areas.” externally recognised certificate in the When I first came into refuge we were All refuges have started from a com­ skills required to operate a refuge, that fighting with the community all the time munity base where groups of women have will give women a qualification they can over everything, and now we are respect­ identified a need and wanted to meet that move on with into other agencies. ed for the work we are doing so the fight need in some way. The initiative of isn’t so much in being heard but in Maori women to establish refuge keeping our services up with the houses that were determined by their September 1990 is the tenth anniversary demands and maintaining a leader­ needs, was supported from national of the formation of the National Collective ship role.” office and led to the policy known as of Independent Women’s Refuges. “It’s also moving beyond crisis “parallel development” with equal rep­ Refuge as a movement is older: the first intervention too, which is what our resentation at national level. All house opened in Christchurch in 1973 primary role has been for a long time, refuges begin with volunteer advo­ and actually doing some planning to (just a year after the birth of Broadsheet). cates, but there’s only one refuge in make the community stronger and the country at the moment that isn’t an Today there are 51 refuge houses in N. healthier; to be able to respond to employer. Z., 12 of which predominantly focus on the violence in it. That’s refuge in A second level of training, to sup­ providing a service for Maori women. The it’s second decade as a national port what is happening at the local national organisation is formally known organisation.” level and take women beyond what as the National Collective of Independent “In many small towns refuge is the local groups can provide, is initiated Women’s Refuges (NCIWR). The ruling one place women can go to find some from the national office in Wellington. body, known as Core Group, consists of sort of support - that’s both the advo­ There are two parallel national pro­ cates and women who would use two equal caucuses of Maori and non- grammes being developed, with a refuge. I get the impression some­ National Maori trainer, Mere Balzer, Maori women from local refuges, elected times that we’re seen as the old lady appointed 18 months ago. “Mere has at national gatherings, and the two of the movement, maybe not as radi­ organised administration training pro­ national co-ordinators. cal or fiery as in the past.” grammes for Maori women in refuge,” “But we have an enormous range says Roma. “Administration was of women in refuge, a really really

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 15 big range of ethnic groups Brenda: “Often things and economic groups, a that seem to be really major diversity of religions and For every week during 1989 a total of 2453 beds were conflicts at the time, when education and age. It’s occupied by women and children seeking a safe place you look back on them - I know when I came into amazing. I look at her at from domestic violence. On a weekly basis, for every week refuge there was this huge our AGMs when we’ve of the year: got 100-200 of our women debate about whether men together, and I think this were going to be involved movement is just so • 67 women and 108 children are admitted to refuges and there was a lot of heat dynamic, it’s got such a • 80 women contact a refuge for the first time for support and and light and passion solid strong base because assistance expended on that - and I of that diversity. The • 13 women and their children are admitted to refuge for a look back on it now and diversity also creates some further stay think, oh well. We are a heat at times - but the nice • 135 women receive follow-up support after they have left women’s organisation; thing about it over the refuge there are some men who do last few years is • 86 women attend programmes or training run by refuges some things and there are some men who work in the individual women’s pre­ • 187 children attend programmes run by refuges men’s movement and it paredness to accept the • 36 public education sessions are held by refuge workers differences and enjoy and doesn’t really feel like the • 138 refuge workers receive in-house training celebrate them, and issue it was.” acknowledge that it’s nec­ • 14 days is the average length of stay in refuge “Two years ago there essary and a good thing, was a lot of passion and not something to be ironed Refuge is one of the most cost-effective services possible with pain about parallel devel­ out.” 51 houses running for 365 days a year, 24 hours a day for two opment, and some women The refuge movement and a half million dollars. moved on and that’s okay. and Broadsheet are exam­ There was a lot of anguish ples of concrete outcomes NCIWR is at 116 Cuba St, Wellington, P O Box 6386, Te Aro about ‘if you do these of the women’s liberation Wellington, Phone (04)856 768. things you’re going to lose movement that have these women’ but in actual endured and that do in an fact, a smaller, more coher­ odd way have the status of ent group that’s all going in institutions. But, as Brenda says, “We are an enormous and very positive pride in the same direction is more effective. still operating from the same basic ideas what they are doing and how they are Some women have had to acknowledge that we started out with. I’m sure 17 years doing it. We have individual conflicts but refuge isn’t the place for them to be, it’s ago we would have been amazed to see on the whole the women are very positive not what they want to be doing and it’s where we are now and the ways we oper­ about what they are achieving. Sometimes not going in the same direction. And that’s ate, but in fact the same basic principles we need to focus on conflict, when it is fine, the refuge movement endures are still what drives us. That fire in the holding up what needs to happen, but the beyond individuals.” belly is still with us.” majority of conflicts get sorted out locally The tenth anniversary year is a time of “There’s an enormous pride in the or between refuges that are working close­ taking stock rather than of actual events (a organisation too,” adds Roma. “When ly in an area. Or sometimes we get blessed relief in this over-event-full you’re talking with the women they have involved.” 1990). “Our AGM this year will be a time for looking at directions for our second decade, recognising and acknowledging and giving pats on the back for what we have achieved, also doing some thought­ ful and constructive planning about where /V7 Milne Ireland Walker we want to be in another ten years,” says BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS Brenda. For Roma it is also “a time to acknowl­ edge those women that have been part of the movement and have moved on. We We aim to provide quality advice at competitive rates have about a thousand refuge advocates • Buying and Selling Property • Refinancing around the country at the moment. There • Business Purchases and Sales • Company incorporations would be many, many thousands of • Defending Criminal Charges • Civil litigation women who have been through refuge as • Family Law • Planning Applications advocates, whose names are lost to us now.” Brenda endorses this: “There is a • Liquor licensing • Wills and Estates • Legal Aid Applications really strong acknowledgment to make to the women who have been our roots, including many lesbians.” Over 5000 children a year are resident Level 10, Guildford House in refuge but workers come into contact 2 Emily Place, AUCKLAND with 20-23 thousand children in that time, Telephone (09) 796 937 Fax 778 014 either directly or through their mothers. And one of the things they have made a Deidre Milne, George Ireland, Tony Walker commitment to do is put some things in M\W place, building on what is already there for children, to break the cycle of

16 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 violence. “We’ve always In 1986 a national hui for talked about this and tried to Maori women working in do it in some ways,” explains the refuge movement was Brenda. “What we are doing held in Rotorua. Seventy- at the moment is looking for five percent of Maori some really positive structures women from centres all and positive ways of working over the motu attended. with those children to break Resolutions were made at the mould a bit. We’re talking that hui concerning the with a couple of women who future development of do healing work with children refuge. In particular: and they’re going to put 1. The implementation together some programmes for of a policy of parallel use in refuges.” development for Maori “In some houses they are women. setting up groups for children 2. Equal representation who may never come into the of Maori women at a refuge although their mothers national level. may make contact, and also The policy of parallel children who’ve been ex-resi- development had two dents. In one town a group is practical outcomes. run by a teenage boy who was Whenever a non-Maori in refuge and felt there was a appointment was made at need for some support for national level a similar other teenagers like himself position was automatical­ and that’s been supported by ly created for a Maori the local refuge. So we’re women, with equal deci­ looking at more pro-active sion-making powers. This programmes working with ensures the equal distribu­ children, aside from the whole tion of resources to Maori child-care area, which is a and non-Maori for the separate thing, although related of Maori women in refuge development of culturally appropriate ser­ course.” vices. This section was written “For some children the refuge is the “We wanted to see all the positive first place they’ve ever lived in an atmo­ by Tai McNeill, who was things that were happening for non-Maori sphere that has no violence in it, so it’s involved with the setting up women being realise by Maori women as like there’s that opportunity and we are of the first Maori W omen’s well,” Roma explains. not going to waste that. That’s one of our refuge in Auckland. She About the same time there was a raised commitments. We haven’t got any money awareness of the status of Maori in terms spoke to Roma Balzer, for it yet but we’re doing it. It’s like all of the Treaty of Waitangi. At the 1988 those things: we see the need, we do it immediate past National AGM it was proposed that the NCIWR and one way or another we’re going to get Maori Co-ordinator constitution be amended to include some money into that area.” Another area of recent concern is the Victims Task Force, a statutory body with a brief to represent the interests of all “victims”. So there’s no difference between a woman who has been beaten and someone who has had their car stolen. Keepers of The Fire) Refuge women have taken the initiative in meeting with the task force and working to establish that there are different areas of work. They are also concerned about i s s u e s the emphasis on “victims”. It’s like an 1950 ongoing co-option of the work women from a Maori perspective' have done in the violence and rape areas. 60 PAGE KIT WITH Well-meaning people are becoming “helpers”, negating “the work that is * ATTRACTIVE COVER * POSTER being provided by established groups in * CARTOONS S. GRAPHICS the community, like refuge,” says Roma. * UP TO DATE ARTICLES from “It meets the structure’s need, but it major Maori writers on current concerns doesn’t meet the community’s need at Kit posted to you for $10.00 all.” 5 kits for $40.00 “We should never become too ‘profes­ sional’ where we know best what is good Phone Te Ahi Kaa (09) 886-559 for the women - we should be encourag­ or write to P.O. Box 19370 Avondale ing women to represent themselves. It’s Auckland those basics of empowerment of women, Aotearoa (NZ) women speaking for themselves.”

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 17 specific reference to “te reflected a commitment tino rangatiratanga” sta­ to the policy of parallel tus of Maori women. Words from women who have development for Maori This was effected in July as tangata whenua and of this year. been there tauiwi - those women NCIWR had already from other cultures. The begun to establish a code common goal is to work of ethics and a code of ♦ The supportive atmosphere made me feel I’m not alone. towards a society that is practice for refuge hous­ ♦ I thought of myself first for a change. violence-free, where es. Clauses relating to ♦ Helping me to see that I’m alright - that it was my huband’s women and children are the creation and imple­ fault and not mine. free of oppression. mentation of services for ♦ Before I came here I was told so often that I was stupid that I Initially, both indi­ Maori women by Maori began to believe it - now I realise I have as many brains viduals and groups women were included. as anyone else. within the movement The code of ethics stated ♦ You learn to stand up and say you had no right to hit me. were resistant, particu­ that women working in ♦ After being here I realise I can cope on my own. larly when it came to refuge should reflect the implementation. ♦ By offering shelter you leave it to the women to decide. ethnicity of the women However, as Roma ♦ Everything was here for me. Instead of having to go out and seeking their services. says, “I have never hunt for the the right people to help me, the right places for This reinforces one of encountered any group the fundamental aims practical help, it was all here. that has refused to move of the movement, the ♦ I had no one else to turn to. No other support from family or or change their position empowerment and relatives. This was a last resort. and we have 52 refuge development of women, ♦ Women here with the same sorts of problems as me were a centres in total.” using methods that are help. Refuges which have culturally appropriate. ♦ Until I came here I thought I was the only one having these the most difficulties These measures were problems. implementing parallel in direct response to the ♦ I felt love and caring here. I felt needed and it made me feel I development have had a concerns coming from can love other people and be something. greater number of advo­ women within the move­ cates leave, a reflection ment. They were also of what happens when­ being expressed by non-Maori advocates were adopting what they termed a bi-cul- ever there is a change in direction or working with Maori clients. The Core tural approach - the retention of an exist­ leadership. Group considered this to be the most ing structure with greater provision for “It takes time for women to come to effective way of addressing these Maori input. Finally, there were the grips with the philosophy behind our kau- concerns. refuges who acknowledged the validity of papa - parallel development. I imagine In addition there were a number of Maori women to determine their own that there will continue to be disruptions things happening at a local level. Some methods of servicing Maori needs within in the future as we continue to change refuges were lobbying to establish them­ a supportive structure. It was an initiative and expand. It’s all part of the refining selves as autonomous Maori units. Others that the core-group supported, and process.” “Initially we had a lot of flack from outside the refuge movement, from groups and individuals in the community. Trouble The radical feminist magazine Essentially they were ideologically opposed to the establishment of refuges 0 Strife Issue 19 Summer 1990 for Maori women, which they perceived • Dworkin on Dworkin as separatist and racist.” • pornography Is violence At the recent 1990 AGM Roma was Trouble • women against fundamentalism asked why Maori women had chosen to • debunking the politics of pleasure remain within the refuge movement when • making history: Black feminists they are capable of establishing a power­ 0 Strife speak ful and effective alternative. She respond­ ed, “Our strength as a movement lies in “... a formidable feminist magazine our unity, in our ability to accommodate Trouble - not for the faint-hearted.” The G u a rd ia n the needs of all women and children - those working in and those using refuge.” 0 Strife Subs for one year (3 issues): All refuge centres network closely with Surface m a il...... £9.50 the local community. The networks of Airmail: N&S Am erica...... £13 Maori women’s refuges extend to include Australasia...... £14 whanau and marae based groups, kohanga For your free sample copy send to reo, kura kaupapa Maori, kuia, korona, 0 Strife Trouble & Strife (free) at the Maori Women’s Welfare League, and address below. local iwi authorities. As these networks strengthen and iwi authorities become Trouble Distributed to all good US bookshops by Inland Book Company. Tel: (203) more established there is the hope that 467-4257 Maori women working in refuge will be 0 able to influence local iwi authorities to Strife focus on the violence within the Maori Trouble and Strife, c/o Women’s Centre, community. 34 Exchange Street, Norwich, UK. NR2 1AX 1 8 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 NCIWR’s primary objective begun to talk and conduct is the safety of women and workshops on this issue. children. While providing a We wanted to focus on it as service outside of what is per­ refuge advocates because of ceived as a “traditional” Maori its relevance to the refuge social structure, networking movement. Can refuge pro­ within the Maori community vide - is it appropriate for continues “to strengthen refuge to provide - services whanau, hapu and those organi­ for lesbians who are in sations working directly with violent relationships? our people. The foundations That’s something we are are being laid for a well inte­ still considering.” grated support structure neces­ Maori and non-Maori sary for when our women lesbians meet together but return to the community.” the issues are not necessari­ Currently there are nine ly the same and ways of refuge houses run by Maori implementing lesbian visi­ women for Maori women and a bility are different for number of others that provide Maori women. a service determined by Maori When refuge was estab­ women. The number of Maori lishing lesbians were women working in refuge has stopped - sometimes very increased substantially; there actively - from talking are equitable resources for about themselves as les­ Maori and non-Maori to devel­ bians because it was op their own services. thought that this would C K JLE B RATI N G damage the image of refuge Kia maumahara tatou he ahua A DECADE OF THE NATIOMAI. COLLECTIVE < and inhibit getting funding. to te Wahine Maori. At one time there was a lot WOMEN’S REFUGE of media attention con­ demning refuge as being Lesbians in Refuge working and workshopped on violence run by a bunch of man-hating lesbians. Morrigan Severs is a non- and lesbian relationships. Out of that hui “There was a lot of struggle between Maori refuge advocate came further gatherings and ongoing dis­ straight women and lesbians around issues working as co-ordinator at cussions on abuse in lesbian relationships. of how visible lesbians should be,” says the Timaru house and a “This was the first time we had Torfrida. “Some of us feared that as the focused on this in any formal way,” says refuge movement gained respectability, it member of the national Morrigan. “Many lesbians generally had would move away from its feminist roots, Core Group. This section is including lesbian visibility. It’s heartening based on a tape recorded to see that this hasn’t happened.” conversation between The code of ethics is the statement of Morrigan and Torfrida refuge philosophy and lesbian visibility is Wainwright, who worked in part of that, along with parallel develop­ refuge from the late 70s to ment. For Morrigan, “it’s been a process m id 80s. for refuge to look at how we can imple­ ment lesbian visibility, and there’s been a Lesbians have been involved in refuge strong movement over the years to look at since the beginning. For Morrigan it heterosexism and homophobia training for began in 1974, “...in Christchurch, when I all women coming into refuge to work as belonged to a lesbian group called Sisters advocates. Refuge is one of the few organ­ For Homophile Equality (SHE) which isations that has done this. Heterosexual came together with two feminist groups women in the movement have taken up and started talking about women’s issues. the responsibility for that training and are We had a women’s centre at the time and accountable to lesbian women to carry it one of the things we thought we could do out. What’s more, it’s still pushing those with the space was provide a safe house boundaries and that’s something I like for women in violent relationships. It about working with refuge.”. wasn’t even thought of as a refuge as we “There seems to be much more accep­ know it now.” tance of lesbians in women’s organisations Lesbians were involved in refuge all these days,” adds Torfrida, “at least in over New Zealand in those very early terms of our personal lifestyle. However, days and lesbian workers in refuge today refuge is perhaps one of the few feminist are compiling an archive so that herstory organisations that also looks at heterosex­ isn’t lost. ism explicitly as an issue.” A group called Lesbians Workers in Refuge has evolved since 1987. In Women all over New Zealand tautoko the November 1989 we had a national gather­ work of the refuge movement and wish ing which looked at support for lesbians her well for the next and future decades. □ working in the collectives, ongoing net-

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 19 e^forcise your vote ! Pat Kipping

The sceptre of the annual September 19 celebration of Women’s We’ve gathered the thoughts and experiences of a wide variety of Suffrage Day hangs over me, crackling ironically as I prepare this women as they grapple with what to do in the upcoming election. article. Surely the souls of our suffragette foremothers are unable Several women we asked felt they couldn’t comment because they to rest as they watch us head into an election that painfully illus­ are in positions that could be jeopardised by speaking their minds trates the limitations of the electoral system they struggled so hard and they are of sufficient integrity to know that’s what Broadsheet to get access to. Maybe that’s the true meaning of the second readers require. wave of feminism — first we got the vote, now we need to get a We decided not to waste our space with an in-depth analysis of system where we can make our vote work. I call upon those agi­ what the various parties say they will do. That tends to become tated souls to spook the chambers and backrooms of power, to meaningless in this proximity to a general election and the main­ reincarnate the proportional representation legislation from the stream media has more space to follow the hourly changes. Instead, morgue of the Select Committee and to give us perspective to see what women talk about in the next seven pages is their relationship beyond this current dilemma . to electoral politics - how it feels now and strategies for the future.

Angie Cairncross, YWCA Young Dorothy Stafford, retired feminist Mary Irwin, Self-defense tutor, Women’s Co-ordinator, Wellington educator, Nelson Auckland I feel a dilemma about voting as I do not I will vote Labour because: I do not trust Yeah, I’ve got dem “hootervotefor” blues. I support the directions of either National or National’s anti-nuclear stand; National will don’t feel very supportive of any of the par­ Labour. Labour’s current political and eco­ repeal the Pay Equity legislation and ties offering. If I thought voting for the nomic directions have had a negative effect abandon award wages; with Muldoon, Green Party would have a positive result, I’d on too many people. The effects of the dein­ Bolger, Birch and Cooper, National is still, vote for them, but I see the most likely result stitutionalisation and devolution policies for me, the party of the Springbok Tour, the of that would be another term with National have left under-resourced voluntary organi­ spokesMAN on women’s affairs and a and that’s pretty scary! To not vote at all sations and unpaid women in the home, deficit of 9% GDP; I believe Labour will isn’t an option I feel comfortable with, so picking up government responsibilities. The make greater efforts to redress Maori I’ll probably go by candidate selection, vot­ rationalisation of the state sector and labour grievances; Labour will, I hope, introduce ing for the one who appeals to me most. I’d market has increased the unemployment legislation to outlaw discrimination against like to see what Labour would do with rate. Young people are especially affected as gays; I couldn’t be party to helping the another term in office though. Hhhmmm... the largest group of registered unemployed tobacco industry defeat Helen Clark; voting Come back David, it was all a bit rash. (40%). Putting the dole age up to 18 is a way for a minor party is worse than useless in of disguising the numbers of unemployed our electoral system. without giving them sufficient “real” alter­ natives. National on the other hand, will combine the free-market ethos with moral conservatism. I am lucky to live in an elec­ torate with a credible woman candidate so I may be in the position of supporting the can­ didate but not the party (Labour).

Special Thanks to Gil Hanly for the trouble she took to get photos for this article. Sue Bradford made attempts to stand as a candidate for two of the so-called third parties in the past year. She is the National Co-ordinator of Te Roopu Rawakore, an unemployed rights organisation. She is a feminist, mother of five and a community activist in Auckland. She spoke with Pat Kipping about what she’s learned from her last year of getting stuck into electoral politics.

What motivated you to think about incredible success really fast, so a lot of standing as a candidate? men are getting in on the act. It’s really Because of my feminism and involvement been captured. I’ve come up against some in the unemployed movement and eco­ getting very sexist men in the Green Party. nomic issues, I wanted to make a stand One of the reasons I got involved with against Richard Prebble who’s been one the Greens is because they are coming of the main architects of rogemomics and stuck from a perspective I agree with, trying to the sale of state assets and caused heaps evolve collective and non-hierarchical of unemployment. I see him as one of the ways of working. But so far men have really bad ones and I wanted to put up a in been very influential, mainly white men. woman against a man like that... sort of a For example, at the policy conference in symbol of women’s vision that there is New Plymouth recently there were 46 another way. the City with different communities of men and 4 women. I got involved in the New Labour Party interest. Even if I could have won that The Greens is a good example of from the beginning because I saw it as an battle politically, it was going to be women’s policy just not being there. It’s exciting chance to bring together socialist, impossible because those Waiheke people theoretically supposed to tautoko feminist women’s, green and Maori issues, with would never accept me. So I pulled out of principles but in practice it’s absent. I people from inside the old Labour party, the nomination. identify as feminist, socialist and green and those like myself from outside the old I’m personally feeling quite devastated and to me all those things come together. Labour party; to give people a third and really sad that it is so difficult for There doesn’t have to be a contradiction. choice in the election this year. women to come together politically and If you look at Green policies overseas So I stood for selection as the New challenge the system. I went into it from a they have deeply feminist principles but Labour Party candidate in Auckland woman’s perspective with a belief in our Green Party is so new, and a lot of Central. I won that selection and for a few Maori self-determination and collective people coming into it now - particularly months I was the candidate. We weren’t and non-hierarchical ways of working, to the men and people from rural areas - see going to start our campaign until try to find ways that empowered women it as an environmental party which I don’t February/March this year. But the leader­ and Maori within the organisation. I feel see it should be at all. It should be a ship of the New Labour Party wanted me that it’s still just as difficult as it ever was. wholistic party that looks at economic out and in the end succeeded. I resigned issues, women’s issues, Maori issues, as after months of pressure both privately much as environmental. I’ve had phone and publicly from Jim Anderton and the I do understand that politics calls in the last two days from Green people around him who found me incom­ is a form of war but I didn’t women who feel equally worried and patible with their way of operating. I want to be playing those unhappy about what’s happening but also wouldn’t toe the line and in the end games with people who were want to hang on because they know the I thought, “I’m just giving a woman’s face fundamental philosophy is good. But it’s to something I think is rotten”. There I supposed to be on the same going to be a long struggle to make it a was, up against Richard Prebble because side. women’s party. I hate what he stands for but some of the The New Labour Party’s been going things I saw inside the New Labour Party Twice I’ve had all this hope and twice for a lot longer. I was part of the women’s were just as bad. I’ve been personally defeated. In both caucus, and for awhile it was going quite I still wanted to be part of a party and cases I feel really defeated as a woman as strongly. A lot of work went into develop­ part of giving a choice to people in the well. I try and say it’s just my ego but I ing a very good policy on women. Some general election. I didn’t want to give up think it goes beyond that. In both parties of those women have stayed in there and because I don’t believe in the no vote men had the power. I would love to be kept up the good fight and I really admire option. So I went back to the Green group part of a group of women in politics try­ them for it. There are still people like Phil when it was in the process of becoming ing to effect change and that just hasn’t McNeale, a feminist who's absolutely the Green Party nationally. happened. wonderful. But a lot of the women have I stood for nomination in Auckland What is the situation with women’s left - just drifted away. I ended up feeling Central for the Green Party but there was issues within those two parties? stuck in there with only a few of us carry­ a strong block of people on Waiheke In the Green Party and the New Labour ing the feminist battle on. Somehow we Island who did not support me, they sup­ Party, there are a lot of good women who weren’t able to organise fast enough to ported a local male candidate. I under­ I’m still working with. I try and keep the counter the male hierarchy within the stand their feeling of wanting to have a links. With the Green Party, part of the NLP. The boys have been playing this local person. It’s very difficult because in problem is that it’s on a wave of support game for many years and because Jim Auckland Central we’ve got Waiheke and and seen as respectable and achieving Anderton was a member of Parliament,

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 21 there’s a lot of power accruing to that. Some of us have felt quite abandoned. (Auckland). She’s marvellous. If I was in I was having to play the same games A lot more women need to get actively her electorate I’d go out and campaign for which any woman who‘s gone into politics involved. I’d really like to talk with her. There are people like Mairie will tell you. I was always doubting... am women who’ve remained outside the Leadbetter for the NLP and Wendy I getting sucked into something that I actu­ political parties and say “I understand Morgan for the Greens who are actually ally don't believe in? In the very aggres­ why you haven’t joined but what is the standing in the same electorate. I think sive, patriarchal way of functioning you’re way for the future?” There needs to be that points up some of the problems. It’s really just out to do the next person in. some big meeting or hui or conference to ridiculous that you’ve got these two won­ That’s what politics is about and that’s nut all these things out with women from derful people, both with excellent creden­ what I kept getting laid on me... you’re in whatever party background. How can we tials, standing in the same electorate. politics and that’s how it’s played and better influence and change political par­ If a woman decides that she’s going to support a third party despite the candi­ date, how can she make that candidate accountable to feminist principles and issues? I guess the only way is to join a party and work with other women in the party to influence the candidate and the party There needs to be some big to make good policy. Politics in New Zealand is in a ferment meeting or hui or conference at the moment and these new parties are to nut all these things through part of the fermentation process. I’d really with women from whatever like to see women get engaged as early as possible, as many as possible, as part of party background. the change to actually build - in the longer run - at least one party that will represent our interests. After the election you’ve got no choice. I was having to be ties? We tend to pull out like I’ve done there’ll probably be quite a few adjust­ part of those games. That’s not what I rather than carry on fighting. ments and realignments and it will be joined the New Labour Party for. I do I’m still an active member of the Green important for women to talk to each other understand that politics is a form of war Party. My focus now is to try and have an and get stuck in much earlier in the but I didn’t want to be playing those input into unemployment and welfare process. games with people who were supposed to issues and also to work at strengthening I hope we’re heading into a future be on the same side. the web or networking among women in where third parties are going to be more What is required for women to gain gen­ the Green Party. But fundamentally I’m viable which is why I think it’s important uine equality within a political party? interested in the future for women for women to support the campaign for In the immediate future I don’t know what politically. proportional representation - so we can the answer is. In the longer term I’m hop­ I’ve spent a year and a half having a go have more choices. Certainly the old par­ ing that the good people within the NLP at electoral politics. I’ve learned a lot and ties are crumbling in some respects, par­ and the Greens, and those that have I’ve met quite a few other women who ticularly Labour. I think after National’s remained outside (probably wisely it now feel the same way but I’m not sure been in for a few years (if it gets in) and seems) can come together somehow to whether I’ll be able to vote in Auckland all the dreadful things that are going to work out ways that women can overcome Central this year. There may be excellent happen under National happen, that too some of the obstacles. It’s been hard, not women in other electorates. There’s a will crumble. Things are going to change just on me but on the other women in the Maori woman called Jenny Potaka, and I hope more women get involved and front lines of both these organisations. a Green who’s standing in Eden help change the face of politics.

Audrey Sharpe works for the Jacqui Barrington, Greenpeace the pros and cons of a real versus a Workers Educational Association and campaigner, Auckland protest (ie third party) vote. divides her time between inner city (The following opinion is strictly my Auckland and her farm up north. own and not that of Greenpeace) I feel very disillusioned with politicians. Our antiquated political system puts vot­ They tell lies. I’m really angry at Labour ers in a real predicament. For me THE and I’ll never vote for them again unless issue this election should have been a they get their shit together. I’m going to binding referendum on mixed member vote Green even though I’ve always been proportional representation. I had hoped a Labour voter. I’m so cross at them for to see a Green/Labour coalition in gov­ selling off state assets and their conserva­ ernment with the Greens holding the bal­ tive policies, I just can’t vote for them. ance of power like in Tasmania. But For women, the unemployed, the people Labour here was so afraid of giving up in society who get bashed, the two main any power, that now it looks pretty well parties are not offering alternative solu­ inevitable that they’ll lose the lot. I have tions. They’re still using the same old- sympathy with people who feel they sim­ fashioned type thinking, even the women ply can’t vote Labour while it remains politicians - okay, they have a hell of a besotted with New Right economics. But hard road - but they’re still wearing the then look at the alternative. Who will I suits. vote for on the day? I’m still weighing up

22 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 Ella Henry, President, Auckland University Active Students Association and New Labour from the Candidate for Roskill underbelly

Teenaa koutou katoa. I enrolled as a activity and commitment do count for mature-aged student at Auckland something and that it is possible to University in 1986, at the time I was make meaningful changes to seem­ a single parent. For two years I kept ingly intransigent structures. My later my head low and beavered industri­ involvement in student and national ously amongst the university commu­ politics has stemmed from that nity underbelly of Maori, mature age awareness. women, single parents and low Like many New Zealanders, par­ on low incomes, students. I do not income students. ticularly women, I have felt power­ believe the traditional political Because of a terrible lack of child­ less in the face of monetarist policies strongholds of Labour and National care facilities on or near campus, I - the relentless machinery of User are giving these people the represen­ became politically active, angry and Pays, “even playing field” and the tation we deserve. That is why I downright stroppy. As a member of non-interventionist state. All of looked long and hard at the alterna­ Parent Action we lobbied the univer­ which is resulting in decreased tives and made the choice I have, sity and City Council and enlisted the resources to society’s most vulnera­ despite the fact that my candidacy is support of the Students Association. ble groups. hampered by my total lack of funds. We won. Repeatedly the victims of these Asa country we deserve better and From these beginnings grew my policies are groups which I represent: sometimes the only way to get that is increasing awareness that political women, Maori, single parents, those to throw oneself into the fray.

Joce Jesson, teacher and NLP can­ people participate then the government is didate for Panmure, South Auckland forced to show how they use their power - Only when we participate do we show we just who they are and are not represent­ are resisting. I ’m resisting efforts to ing. The sale of Telecom is a good exam­ reduce everything to a commodity and ple. Because 95 % of New Zealanders I’m standing as a candidate to represent were resistant to the sale, Prebble had to the forgotten people - the victims of the show just who he represents... and went Rogernomics experiment, the Pakeha ahead with the sale, flaunting his power. working class, women in part-time roles. We have to resurrect socialism and There are two roles played by the state teach the Labour Party that if you go in a democracy - to keep the economy against the principles that hold you going and to persuade the people that the together, the people will never forgive government is representing them. If you.

continued New Zealand owner­ Recommendation 2 CONTROL: Improvement of WOMEN’S ship of our natural assets. of the Royal Commission on health services for women (eg TREATY OF WAITANGI: Electoral Reform 1986 requiring a Cervical screening, mammogra­ Recognition of our partnership 1990 Referendum. phies) and accountability. Repeal VOTES obligations and action. EQUAL EDUCATION & of Section 3 Contraception, WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT: Increase EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES: Sterilisation and Abortion Act. Will be important in this Election! in the number of committed Implementation of the provisions DEPENDENCY CARE: Government Ask your candidates whether they women in Parliament. in the Employment Equity funded quality childcare, out-of­ support these goals: PORNOGRAPHY: Implementation Legislation. Ensure equal educa­ school care, care for people with JOBS: Employment, job of the recommendations of the tional and employment opportuni­ disabilities, and the elderly. opportunity, economic indepen­ Committee of Inquiry into ties for target groups, in particular, PEACE: Promotion of nuclear free dence, and pay equity. pornography. women and girls, Maori, Pacific New Zealand and the World. ENVIRONMENT: Protection, con­ PROPORTIONAL Island and ethnic minorities and servation of our physical environ­ REPRESENTATION: the differently able. Women’s Electoral Lobby ment (land, water, air, forests) and Implementation of the WOMEN’S HEALTH & FERTILITY N.Z.

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 23 Pacific perspective

Susi Newborn is a founding member of Greenpeace in Europe. After graduating in Human Ecology in the US, she came here to work on regional issues. She is currently a Director of Friends of the Earth, working on a project for the Greenpeace Pacific Campaign, getting involved in the development education and action network and runs a weekly global affairs workshop for inmates at Paremoremo maximum security prison. In addressing the question of election blues she gets inspiration from women of the Pacific.

Having been involved with environmen­ come forward with some very innova­ 1012 delegates. tal issues for almost two decades, I have tive economic policies to convince me Both women firmly believe in seen the development of the “ecological otherwise. But to be honest, so far it is democracy and the role of traditional perspective” from the initial stages the idea of what the Greens here might values and chieftainship in politics, and (when it was considered part of the represent, rather than what they do rep­ are united in their commitment to a lunatic fringe), to the current clip-on resent, which is the current driving force peaceful and pollution-free Pacific. environmentalism flaunted in both the behind their popularity. If there are no Rather than be co-opted by the distinct­ political and commercial fora, for kudos, pragmatic steps for introducing account­ ly “pushy” male approach to politics, as profits or both. ability into workable policies, we are so many of our prominent women The idea that the whole “green per­ destined to remain in the conceptual politicians seem to have been, Kuini spective” is something new, insultingly realm - along with all our good inten­ Bavadra and Grace Molisa represent a misrepresents the paradigm and places it tions as elected custodians of the refreshing change with their comb­ somewhere between a New Age affirma­ environment. ination of humility, grace and strength - tion and the latest supermarket brand - For me the most exciting things polit­ all the more powerful in the under­ where society’s traditional nourishers ically are happening regionally, in the statement. and caregivers (women) are targeted to South Pacific, with young Pacific On a more local level, here are two “care more for the planet” by buying a women at the forefront of policy-making questions to ask your MPs: particular product. We have only to look and independence struggles. In particu­ Why is the NZ contribution to the at indigenous cultures within our own lar, I refer to Adi Kuini Bavadra in Fiji, aid and development basket the lowest region here - the South Pacific - to see the leader of the deposed Fiji Coalition - in the developed world? Most countries working models of societies based on which governed for a month in 1987 donate be tween 1-7% of their GNP to accountability - being responsible for, under her late husband Timoci “Doc” the developing nations. Our contribu­ and answerable to, your actions. This is Bavadra. And Grace Molisa, one of the tion is a pathetic .02% - an insult to the what it’s all about and it’s been around most influential people in Walter Lini’s developing nations in the region whose for hundreds of years. Vanua’aku Pati, the Government of interests we are supposed to represent. It would seem that the Western patri­ Vanuatu. Grace is also adviser to the What does your party plan to do to archal system has a very basic problem influential National Council of Women improve remand conditions at Mt. Eden with the idea of accountability, to the which she co-founded with her mother Prison - taking into consideration that extent that we haven’t been able to work at the time of independence when she of those on remand, approximately 70% out how to introduce it pragmatically - was the only ni-Vanuatu woman with are not sentenced to prison, and some even in diluted form - into effective a university degree. In May this year remandees can spend longer in remand political policies. I am relying on the the National Council of Women’s that others who are actually sentenced? Green Party of Aotearoa/New Zealand to conference in Port Villa drew a record

Sandy McKay, Dunedin Margaret Blay, actor and writer, As a full-time mum to a toddler and five month old baby, this Mt Eden, Auckland election might be happening on Mars. I’m too busy trying to Yes, I’m voting Labour again. They were draggle myself through till lunch-time to worry about who always a compromise choice for me. A looks the handsomest of Jim and Geoffrey. Besides, I’m in friend elegantly called them “the only the midst of my own campaign right now. Battling pooey viable Left”. Awful though the present naps, sicky bibs and playdough on the toilet seat. With the government has mostly been, National can big issue being how to get the puke stains out of everything. only be worse. I see a third-party vote as a My only hope is that they don’t have those party political vote for the latter and I don’t want us to broadcasts on the tele again or there’ll be even more puke lose any Labour MPs who are still left about than usual. wing. Yet... I can’t bring myself to waste a vote - just in case I Luckily for me, my own MP, Richard come to my senses on the day after a proper night’s sleep. So Northey is one of the few. I’m canvassing maybe I’ll vote for the ones with the most enlightened edu­ for him again. And when we finally get cation policy - or anyone who’ll give me a free babysitter... proportional representation, maybe I’ll be

24 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1900 Vote Tino Rangatiratanga

Several Maori organisations from throughout Aotearoa have linked up to support a campaign to Vote Tino Rangatiratanga. Deirdre Nehua, spokesperson for the Maori nationalist group, Te A hi Kaa explains.

Over 50% of Maori who enrolled for as using Maori names and hiring Maori throughout Aotearoa. As the idea gath­ the last general election have not both­ “colour consultants” are now being seen ers momentum, groups from other trib­ ered to enrol this year. That is a clear by Maori people for what they are - yet al areas are joining the campaign and indication that Maori people are saying another attempt to pretend that Maori are circulating and feeding back informa­ we no longer want to be part of your getting something when in fact we are tion to the central register. system just because you say we must. not. The organisations already involved Voting for Tino Rangatiratanga is a The Tino Rangatiratanga voting forms believe that the campaign will be a boycott of the pakeha electoral system have already been circulated, and since huge success for Maori people and urge and a positive statement of Maori self- the first hui held on July 28th, some 2000 everyone to vote Tino Rangatiratanga determination. Some may claim that forms have been returned The forms con­ to register their protest. Voting forms, voting is your democratic right but the tain the names, addresses, ages and iwi car stickers and further information can reality is that “democracy” is simply a of the voters. These are then being put be obtained by writing to: way to keep the white majority in into a register which will be collated and PO Box 19370 Avondale, Auckland power in this country. None of the circulated to the different iwi after the or by phoning Deirdre Nehua political parties have anything to offer elections. The iwi will then have their (09)390 789 days or Hana Wilcox Maori people and token gestures such own register of where their people are (09)521 3838 after hours.

Joy Colquhoun, longtime activist in Government, whose pursuit of ideological t> education, feminism, peace and economic purity has succeeded in making leftwing politics. Titirangi the rich richer and the poor poorer. As a foundation member of the New The National Party will take us further Labour Party I shall vote for our candi­ away from the welfare state and I wish I date, Moira Lawler, for whom I have great were more fluent in feminist curses to call respect. I have been a Labour supporter all some down upon the heads of our rene­ my voting life but have been sadly disillu­ gade sisters therein. sioned by the economic policies of this The Greens are a valuable pressure Government and the disasterous social group - an environmental conciousness. consequences. We had such high hopes in They won’t miss me. 1984 particularly as there appeared to be An important dimension is Electoral so many good feminist women in caucus. Reform. We must achieve it if we are to I now feel betrayed by them and realise attempt to shatter the right wing parlia­ that feminists too can be corrupted by mentary monopoly and thus control the power. The NLP is committed to making worst excesses of capitalism, always so our elected representatives accountable. damaging to women.

Elizabeth Scott, rural feminist and retired orchardist, Motueka I feel great anger and frustration in the position we find ourselves - we can­ not vote for anyone who is likely to represent us. I am voting for NLP as a political tactic able to vote without crossing my fingers. - a protest vote to punish the Labour <

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 25 American Anne Herbert espouses an again. There were some very surprised if e ) option that many New Zealanders losers. would happily embrace, at least for This is one way to let politicians □ Patriarchal Capitalist this election. know how unhappy people are with It took some democracy rookies, the ludicrous political choices they are the people in the Soviet Union, to being offered. Not voting is ambigu­ □ Sexist New Right show that “none of the above” could ous and politicians tend to read it as Rogernomics Gadfly be a real and powerful choice. naughty political indifference whereas When the Soviets had their first in some cases it is profound disgust. real election in decades, people had We won’t know how many people are □ Flakey Well-Meaning Liberal the choice of voting “no” on the can­ disgusted rather than indifferent until Guy didates offered. They could vote for we have a powerful NO vote that one of the candidates or they could counts. vote that they didn’t want to vote for This would have to be a people's □ Wild and Crazy Bushman any of the candidates and that vote movement. There’s nothing in it for counted. If no candidate got more than any politicians in power. [Excerpted 50% of the vote, nobody won and the from an article in Whole Earth Review None off the above election for that office had to be held Summer 1990.]

1990! Membership lapsed. Can’t not vote. (Foremothers’ suffrage struggles!) Probably New Labour Party? Few expecta­ tions! Little hope!

Gill Ellis, lecturer in management at Auckland University. I live in Mt. Eden so I have a dilemma of being a personal supporter of Richard Northey. I don’t see him as one of the right wing architects of some of the Labour poli­ cies I disagree with. But with my vote I Margot Roth, Sociologist, writer and want to register my disapproval of right long-time feminist activist. Auckland. wing economic policies. So I’m waiting to 1984! Snap election! Emergency! know what candidates the Greens are putting Compromise principles. Join local women’s up in Mt. Eden. The Greens are a mixture of branch Labour Party. Believed self too old people, some who are well-meaning but that unions are responsible to the needs of for Great Expectations, politics-wise. naive and some very solid people. I won’t their women members. Shock! Horror! Expected organise cake waste my vote by voting Green as a protest Unfortunately, I live in the Auckland stall! Attitudes! Sugar! Health! Feminism! but if they provide a good candidate, I’ll Central electorate so although the above leg­ Amazed constant wheeling, dealing, jockey­ consider it. islation encourages me to support Labour, I ing for position by top lot. Tough bikkies for doubt I’ll be able to vote for Richard middle and bottom lots. They depend on Prebble. humour, hearsay, till instructed by top lot’s Fiona Johnston, Auckland Women’s superior rumour, hearsay. Even occasional Working Resource Centre factual information! I will be voting after considering the needs Mary Varnham, journalist, mother of Astounded by lack of coherent policy: of working women, the needs of working three and newspaper columnist, cynical manipulation of members’ views, people and the candidates in my electorate. Wellington membership numbers. Uplifted - so many During the term of the fourth Labour I’m a member of the Don’t Know Party. really neat Labour women. Downcast - so Government there have been a number of This party has been around for decades but many conservatively accepting boys’ stupid, pieces of legislation that are of specific didn’t really make much of an impact until selfish power plays, ploys. advantage for working women: The Parental this year. Now 30% of voters belong to it. Leave Act (1987), allows women and men Going to the polls for me will be like up to 12 months unpaid leave on the birth or sinking fully clothed into a vat of yellow adoption of a child. This year’s Employment custard. On second thoughts make that green Equity Act ranks next to universal suffrage custard, because there’s one party that might in importance for women in employment in be worth voting for - the Greens. New Zealand. The retention of national They’ve got almost as few members as awards is another significant priority for the Warwick Rogers fan club and about as women in employment, as awards offer much political nous as a totara log, but greatest protection to low paid workers. The they’ve already got 8% in the polls. If you Union Representatives Educational Leave vote for them, you’ll give whichever party Act(1986) makes it easier for women to gain wins the election a gigantic environmental the knowledge they need to become active fright. It’s probably the only way to make in their unions and therefore helps ensure your vote count. □

26 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 Pat R o s ie r writes about the third New Zealand Women’s Book Festival books, bucks and broads

his month sees the third Women’s Books); The Cloning Of Joanna May by readings and workshops. Some bookshops T Book Festival in New Zealand, the Fay Weldon (Collins); and A Sensible Life and libraries around the city are also hold­ second sponsored by the Listener. by Mary Wesley (Bantam). A couple of ing events. Programmes are available Focussed on 19 September, Women’s these - Cat’s Eye, and Joanna May - are from libraries and bookshops. Suffrage Day, it runs from 17 -23 hardly new and give the list a bit of a Penny Hansen, national co-ordinator, September, in centres, halls, libraries dated feel, but the selectors were limited says there has been a big demand from the and some bookstores all around the by what was offered. regions for local writers to visit, and country. The New Zealand non-fiction is money from the Literature Programme of The first festival I remember as a cele­ extremely varied: Home Away From the QE II Arts Council makes this possi­ bration of books by women. “Here we Home, Life Stories of Chinese Women in ble. “Quite a few of the events and speak­ are,” was the message, “ substantial, pal­ New Zealand by Manying Ip (New ers look back to early women writers in pable, with quality and quantity, impossi­ Women’s Press); / have in my arms both New Zealand, so we’re getting a real ble to ignore.” A poster and a catalogue of ways, Stories by ten immigrant women by sense of where it all comes from,” she recent women’s books from New Zealand Adrienne Jansen (Allen & Unwin); says. Backed by a national organising and overseas was produced, and in some Matriarchs by Judith Fyfe (Penguin); committee of women from the book trade, main centres, notably Wellington, suc­ Mihipeka: the early years by Mihi Penny has a part-time paid position, all cessful programmes of readings and Edwards (Penguin); Out of the Frying the regional co-ordinators work voluntari­ author events were held. Pan by Sandra Coney (Penguin); Power ly, as do members of the national and Last year Lisa Sabbage noted, “Over in Our Hands by Mary Irwin (Penguin); local committees. So, as with so many the past decade the voices and visibility of Sylvia by Lynley Hood (Penguin); When women’s projects, the book festival feminists have pushed publishers into tak­ Women Mean Business by Jenny Philips depends on untold hours of women’s ing note of their appetite for books which (Penguin); A Woman of Good Character unpaid work. push the boundaries of literature beyond by Charlotte Macdonald (Allen and It may not look like this - the poster that of the good keen (white) man.” Unwin); and Women and Money by and catalogue are paid for by publishers (Broadsheet 171, September 1989, p20). Marion Bywater (Allen and Unwin). The (more of this later) and the travelling The festival gets the word about only overseas writers are women’s writing and books to a far wider title in the non­ as with so many women’s paid their audience than would otherwise be aware fiction section is projects, the book festival depends expenses of them. The books that get the most Ourselves on women’s unpaid work and an attention are those selected for the Top 20 Growing Older appearance listed in the festival catalogue. What are by Jean Shapiro (Collins). fee. But the structure rests on unpaid they? (A number of these titles have The focus on New Zealand women work. Many of the women involved work already been fully reviewed in Broadsheet writers is particularly strong. Writers like in the book trade and are rewarded by the and more will be over the next couple of Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, Bub Bridger, contact with peers and the satisfaction of months.) Mihi Edwards, Fiona Kidman, Rachel seeing women’s work promoted. Mothers, Fifteen out of the 20 are New Zealand McAlpine and more are appearing all lesbians, book-lovers, the other workers, titles. Under the fiction heading that around the country. Both the overseas vis­ do it because it seems worthwhile, neces­ includes: Girls High by Barbara Anderson itors. Stephanie Do wrick from Australia sary even, to keep women’s writing visi­ (VUP); Daylight Burning by Lisa and Liz Calder, managing director of ble. Readers of Dale Spender are Greenwood (Random Century); True Bloomsbury Books in the UK are in fact particularly aware of the fragility of this Stars by Fiona Kidman (Random ex-patriot New Zealanders. In centres public face - Spender has documented in Century); Farewell Speech by Rachel large and small local committees have detail how women writers who were high­ McAlpine (Penguin); and Willy Nilly by been working to produce their own pro­ ly successful and a legend in their time - Renee - this one has lesbian characters! - grammes of events in bookshops, libraries Aphra Benn is just one example - had vir­ (Penguin). The fiction from overseas is and other meeting places. In Auckland tually disappeared within a generation of Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood (Virago); at the Aotea Centre there will be a few their death. Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler (Pan big, buy-a-ticket events and many free Penny Hansen was described to me as

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 27 a “key person” in the activities nation­ new feminist theory? Who will go out of For these reasons I want to argue also wide by several women. She is “extremely their way to get a special title from an for affirmative action by Women’s Book efficient and loved and respected by obscure feminist press in the US? Who Festival organisers for women publishers. women all over the country” was just one will still be there when the “fashion” in Papers Inc (run on an entirely voluntary comment. She ties it all together, working women’s writing has passed? And why basis by Miriam Saphira and friends to with the local co-ordinator in each centre. shouldn’t these women, the women run­ publish New Zealand lesbian writing) is In Auckland this year Carole Beu- ning the women’s bookshops, have some not represented at all in the festival cata­ Barrington of the Women’s Bookshop has extra opportunity to sell books at a logue, because they couldn’t afford it. co-ordinated events with Claudi Bell of women’s book festival? New Women’s Press (NWP) has only one Continuing Education. Wendy Harrex of As Dale Spender has warned, the title in the top twenty, and in fact submit­ New Women’s Press and Helen Tait, future of women’s writing is never any­ ted only one for that category because Auckland City Librarian, performed the thing but perilous. While the appearance each title selected incurred a fee of $450 task last year. It’s a lot of work, and of women’s books and authors on main­ dollars. Penguin has eight titles in the Top Carole’s shop is inevitably a point of con­ stream publishers lists is mainly due to the 20, and Allen and Unwin three. They are tact for women seeking information, and a fact that they currently sell, it has also there, in part, because the publishers could specialist retail outlet. Yet the bookstore at depended on the support and work of afford for them to be. (Top 20 titles are the Aotea Centre during the festival week women working in publishing. With the selected by a committee of women from will be run by a group of women, includ­ present shrinking of the trade into fewer the retail book trade, from a larger number ing Carole, for the festival. That is, any of titles submitted by publishers.) Sure, profits made will go to the festival, not to the focus on New Zealand the publication of the catalogue has to be any bookshop. Last year a group of book­ woman w riters is paid for, and who better than publishers to shops (The Women’s Bookshop, particularly strong do this? But has the national committee University Bookshop, Whitcoulls, Unity considered following the the Feminist Books, Jillian Ewart Books) ran the book­ and fewer larger and larger publishing Book Fortnight in the UK practice of sup­ store jointly, an arrangement that caused houses, the number of jobs is diminishing porting women’s presses by giving them a some administrative problems. There have and the working conditions getting more reduced rate for all entries? The Feminist been similar arrangements inother centres. cut-throat. It follows that there will be Book Fortnight offers cut rates to feminist I wonder why, as this is a Women’s fewer of these advocates for women’s presses - so they are very strong in the Book Festival, the Women’s Bookshop in writing within the industry. And of course Top 20 selection, which is not the case every centre where there is one, is not there is a level of prejudice waiting for the here. The cheapest cataslogue entry in simply given the opportunity to sell books wave in women’s writing to end. (There New Zealand this year was $115 (for a to festival goers. Some affirmative action are indications that the coming wave in supplementary entry with no cover illus­ for the women who are in business for the publishing as elsewhere is a green/envi- tration). The national organising commit­ purpose of providing women’s books (as ronmental one.) Mainstream publishing is tee of the New Zealand festival insists that opposed to selling them, along with every­ entirely opportunistic about women’s their charges for the catalogue are abso­ thing else, because there is a perceivable writing - they’ll publish it while it sells lutely equal and fair. market) seems very appropriate to me. well, but have no commitment to it. It is In order to have all their recent books Women who work in the retail book trade because of this that we need women’s in the festival catalogue NWP decided to and get involved in the festival may not presses, and they must be supported now, include most in the cheaper supplemen­ see this as “fair”, but who is in the book so they are strong and can continue when tary listings, and has ten titles in this sec­ trade because they want to sell women’s the wave passes. Because then they will tion. This, with the cost of having books? Who stocks the lesbian novels, the be all we have. Manying Ip’s Home Away From Home

A Woman of Good Character WOMEN'S ART 1990 Charlotte Macdonald What was it like to be a single An exhibition and auction of woman arriving in New Women's Art is to be held at the Zealand in the nineteenth A.S.A. Gallery from 23 October to 1 century? A unique portrait of November, 1990. This event has been organised by women’s lives. the Friends of BROADSHEET as a fund raising effort for BROAD­ SHEET and the Auckland Women's Health Council.

The official opening and auction I have in my arms Women & Money will take place on Tuesday 23 both ways Marion Bywater October. Watch Adrienne Jansen Women are increasingly BROADSHEET for more details... Immigrant women bring managing their own this will be a huge success !! So start to New Zealand rich finances. An easy-to-read saving your pennies for the auction experiences of lives handbook for and spread the word. spent in other cultures. New Zealand women on Ten women speak about everything from tax, growing up in their first mortgages, budgeting, countries and their lives All $29.95 from and insurance, to starting in New Zealand. [Bookse/lersl a business.

ALLEN & UNWIN NEW ZEALAND

28 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 selected for the top 20, has meant an out­ lay of over $2000 on the catalogue. In the festival’s first year Wendy could measure its impact in sales. This was not the case last year, with the dock strike delaying titles, but in an increasingly tight market she sees it as maintaining sales that might otherwise be lost. Why have affirmative action? Isn’t the playing field level? Isn’t a publisher just a publisher? Well, no. There are the interna­ tionals, those that are part of those fewer, more powerful conglomerates I mentioned earlier. Random Century, Penguin, Allen and Unwin, Collins, Pan Books and others fit into this category. And there are inde­ pendent feminist presses. Of these, NWP, run by Wendy Harrex, is one clearly dedi­ cated to publishing good women’s writ­ ing, regardless of fashion or trends, and promoting new writers. important, “because we keep on being ing New Zealand books on bookshop NWP’s first publication was a calendar offered books that are worth publishing shelves. “The aim is the same as getting in 1981. That was followed by Sarah and need to be published.” NWP started New Zealand programmes on television Calvert’s Healthy Women in 1982, which with four women, of whom Wendy was and New Zealand music on radio,” says started a trend in women’s health books one, two of them active and two advisory. Wendy. “We could easily be swamped by picked up by what was then Reed’s with Over the years different women have overseas material, as we are on television their women’s health series. Reeds have worked on the press, some paid and some - the big publishing houses are primarily been swallowed up by Octopus and lost voluntary. Using free-lance designers and here as local sales outlets for books pub­ interest in that series, so it’s gone full cir­ proof readers, Wendy currently takes a lished overseas. It is essential for small cle back to NWP, with their Handbook book through the whole process from publishers to work together in an industry Series (No Body's Perfect, Premenstruall manuscript to final product herself. where it is difficult to maintain a strong Syndrome The Healing Journey (sexual Last year NWP was heavily involved profile on one’s own. For NWP, it’s basic abuse) and Women in Mid Life) in the festival, but this year Wendy has to our survival.” When NWP began, a male writer com­ been involved with the founding of a I plan to enjoy this year’s Women’s mented to Wendy Harrex, “Why have you small publishers network in New Zealand, Book Festival - the Auckland programme started a women’s press, surely the time which has recently, with the Literature looks like a lot of fun. My suggestion-box for that has passed?” But fashion is not Programme of the Arts Council, produced offerings to the national committee are to the determining factor, and if Wendy had an independent publishers’ catalogue. (An look at affirmative action for the women’s been in it for the money she would have independent publisher is a New Zealand- bookshops and women publishers in the given up years go. She still supports her­ owned, small publishing house that pub­ future. There’s no doubt that women will self doing other work. Like Broadsheet, lishes New Zealand books as it primary keep writing, we have to make sure it she carries on because she sees it as activity.) The group is dedicated to keep­ keeps getting out to us, the readers. □

OUR HOME A ROOF OF TO TAATOU KAINGA KAINA MA MUTOLU OUR OWN O LO TATOU FALE KO HATAU API

“OPTIONS & INFORMATION ] X 'X.. ON BUYING A HOME- rf FOR WOMEN OF LIMITED r 11 il j t MEANS” I j i! U

Copies of this Video now available t m Girls High AUCKLAND WEA BARBARA ANDERSON 1 " 131A Williamson Ave I think we should go into the jungle ' / . Grey Lynn Auckland 2 ivas the hit of 1989. This first novel confirms Anderson as ■ m * ~ ph (09) 764 859 one of our most exciting storytellers. Victoria University Press

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 29 Some people cringe at the thought of poetry. Yet it is a rich, powerful and effective way of communicating ideas, feelings, analysis and history. Poetry can be found in every culture — oratory, mythology, song and dance - poetry in motion. Poetry has a special meaning for feminists in that it has provided an evocative method of expressing and discussing subjects and issues ignored or distorted in writ­ ing by men. From Sappho to Judy Grahn, Adrienne Rich to Ntzake Shange, Keri Hulme to Hinewirangi, poetry has been subversive and political, pushing back the patriarchal boundaries of language. What makes a poem good or bad is entirely in the eyes and minds of the reader. Thanks to all those women who sent in their poems, I’m sorry we didn’ t have room for them all. Lisa Sabbage

Death of a Working Class Woman: witch Father to his daughter Victoria Anderson didn’t hurt their sisters - not as all - “married” wimmin, 'Alio you said treated them all right. How are yer? The Smear I said 'alio man in his white coat now-a-days, the rules have changed How are yer? woman at his mercy the “passing women” I'm alright. Til take that pretty smear today don’t dress as men - I'm alright. from your ring a ring a rosy’ How are the girls? they dress the part of the top They're alright. ‘Feet up, nickers down exec, and carry They looking this sheet will keep you nice and warm a briefcase - not a heart After yer? call Me when you’re ready now Yer. My Ring a Ring a Rosy’ from inside, out, these women How were the meals? are men - and play by They were from bed to grave the rules of the patriarch. Alright. it’s not been long Were they - oh sing a song for Rosy don’t know their sisters - and Alright, I mean? the smear is on the white coat now don’t care - “sisterhood”! Yer. from ring a ring a rosy it’s a joke to them! Are you alright? Barbara Ker-Mann No, not really. they’ve got theories all down pat Nor am I for the way they play - Oh. your voice screw the rest - they’re O.K. Are you alright? Yes. sounds like Nell Gwyne inviting these “passing women” don’t count I'm alright. her monarch in for a fling for me - they’ve sold their What's the matter sounds like hot custard and souls to “the boys” you see. With yer? rich plum pudding starts that beth moon I'm Alright little pulse in my grointhrobbing You alright? sounds like Lady Chatterley Yes. sucking toffee while she frolics calling up the Muse Pat Bryan as licksome as licksome as hot black liquorice sounds like to dial: softpornteasing a chucklingstream stick a biro tip in your navel and Witch breathes like a tonguetip in a revolve shellpinkear your voice caresses i am a witch jellybean nipples slides over if there’s ringing, or a gong, or you were right about that satinskin infiltrating sounds thunder i am a witch like a breeze in deep green trees someone may be home / or aloft or i am a witch has something of autumn and Athene dormant i am a witch having a party i womin witch your chuckle is a bubble honey-seed cake & spring water i true strong healing witch held intact moulin-rouge out of her tree at full moon i burn bright clear hot hale in a lovehotbed or making love with one or twelve strong clean true Catherine mair health whole heart born if someone answers fire free resonant passing women rap. approach her as a sister life live limb love you both have rights huge loud high child womin used to be in days gone by ask her what she’s got on hand today i heal my witch self with fire that “passing women” don’t forget your koha my fire my strength lived by the rules. pure strong clean scented womin fire if no-one answers womb fire womb blood womb pain womb they dressed as men to “better” look the other way & and see what flies past me their lot, but still, inside, Margaret Blay womin they were wimmin too.

30 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 Only small greetings for my big home Fifteen Women Go Tramping coming. What horrors now await me with the dawn? Motion Everything sold, a lover displaced, a dog. To sheer rock faces clinging? - Thousands of dollars spent. Malevolent mud-maelstroms to my mind Such a risk, for a dream. are springing. Or spent, or lost, on stretcher to be borne? A dream based on memories of my tipuna. Jam sandwiches and I resign our fates Not memories of my childhood, but theirs To where the crisp clear blue in working through me to show me the world Sends her sun-dipped travellers to be of light. swallowed up from view That time and trail may strangers turn to Why have I descended into a world of mates. Remembering. darkness The roots and branches lend a welcome The beach at Mokua back to the broken rock, burst in a hangi hand; where the earth shook long gone cold. Occasionally the canopy under our bare feet. Blinks, revealing vividly a rugged coastal We kissed slow It was their karanga I heard, panoply. not quite believing the calling of my ancestors, come home ! The bulrush bog by wooden bridge is until it did it again But where is my kainga, kei whea toku iwi ? spanned along those ancient porous limbs Where are my people ? To Pararaha Valley with its stream, that cooled in the sea. Marewa Glover Encircling crags evoking Not extinct. Our own “Picnic at Hanging Rock” - (Hey Ruth, I hope you’re joking!) We swam together Survival Kit The nikau flank our feast, and rising steam way off shore. Wafts from the billy; then our afternoon’s Salt water sucked she sits Spent marsh-side meandering. at our breasts. this woman The sweet and stirring times gone by, no And throwing a frisby thin pale recollection grander bring further and further apart. frail looking As breeze and we leave footprints on the Accurate. with a voice dunes. that whispers Jen Birch Taking photographs whispers watching her through the lens whispers beyond the time it takes secrets IF I TOLD YOU to take a photograph. I WAS BLEEDING An intense gaze. not soft words WHAT WOULD YOU SAY.. Her eyes soften. but words that slash WOULD YOU REPLY WITH JUST A LOOK She breathes. and bruise and maime THAT IT ACCOUNTS FOR ALL Linda Pearl YOU DID NOT UNDERSTAND words choked out of her ABOUT ME YESTERDAY.. by two strong hands Northern Holiday that robbed her WOULD YOU TAKE ME IN YOUR of her innocence LOVING ARMS It very rarely happens the first day. AND WHISPER THAT YOU CARE.. hands SO I COULD FEEL YOUR UNDERSTANDING City unhooked that caused her child-like frame drawn to suffer unexplained tortures OR WOULD YOU WALK AWAY nearer each other. snatching inexplicable life AND WONDER what the fuck from her womb IF I TOLD YOU I WAS BLEEDING... By evening we're palmed in a sandy leaving her barren Miriam Taylor Parmar curve the universe it seems hands a handreach above. that robbed her Step by step we steal of her innocence A Poem of Love out of urban skins. to Lydia Tender. invisible ghost-like hands I will take your hurt Heady Into myself in the fineness she speaks of them So that you may not of it all. as loving hands Find it Sue Fitchett caressing hands and holds no hate I will absorb the pain And the desolation No Karanga for Me yet I will move quietly When I returned there was no karanga for her neck still bares Until me the handprints The sadness is gone No haere mai, haere mai ! Kathryn Mather Nola Cunningham

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 31 sabbage ■ rfe s £ % i j y r C fc m 0 Ē f& r i f If

Three Slices of Life Sapphire (not her real name), wrestles with sing something like “I’ve got a lovely bunch You get up, you go to work. her New Age man. He is of the opinion she of coconuts”? Sapphire returns from her Your boss asks a co-worker whether you should have another child as company for ponderings to the conversation with her have a boyfriend and gives you a Tom Rainbow. soul-mate. Selleck poster to get your heart-a-flutter. “But Bruce...” shit, she always forgot “No, I’m sorry Samson, but when we But... it doesn’t. Your boss thinks your les­ he’d changed his name when they argued. “I decided to have Rainbow we made a deal to bianism is a problem which can be cured by mean Samson, Rainbow has only just turned share the childcare. That hasn’t happened. If a few examples of hunky men and a simple one and I’m still breastfeeding. Can’t we you want another child you can do your fair baptism. wait until I’ve weaned her. I’m too exhaust­ share.” Your boss spends much of his leisure ed to have another child so soon.” Sam’s mouth opens and closes, like a time at the Church of Latter Day Saints, Samson gives your sister a sympathetic I- groper, Sapphire thinks. Finally he manages where he is told lesbians are the work of the really-understand-how-you-must-feel look to clear his throat. devil. and says: “I really understand how you must “Perhaps you’re right dear, maybe we You leave your desk, you go home. feel, but you know as well as I do that should wait until you’ve weaned Rainbow.” You go out with your friend and gossip Rainbow needs a brother to play with. She’s □ □ □ about who’s sleeping with who, who’s bro­ becoming far too headstrong.” Your best friend has just had a nervous ken up, who’s got back together, what you Headstrong? What he really means is breakdown. She was in Carrington for a cou­ ex-lover is doing and how you don’t care independent. Rainbow won’t wear a dress ple of weeks but they told her she was well anyway. You talk about your fantasies - who when he asks her to anymore. enough to go home. you’d most like to wake up to and who And he wants a son so he can call him Your best friend is very depressed - you’d least like to wake up to - “that woman Samson’sson. everywhere she turns she hears stories about who dances like she’s got a tube of KY jelly “Okay, Sam, I’ll think about it, but on how mental patients are dangerous and vio­ in her pocket and constantly has a cigarette one condition... if I agree to another child, lent - even Paul Holmes said words to that in her mouth.” you stay home and look after them.” effect, so it must be true. “Yuk,” your friend says,“camel breath.” Sam stops dead in his tracks. She doesn’t like the doctor she sees every You move on to what you’d like to do to “But you haven’t had a job in two years.” fortnight - he says she has a problem with your ex-lover if you were more articulate “Well it’s the ideal time to re-enter the authority and that she needs to give away her and had a jug of ice water close at hand. workforce, isn’t it?” power and stop rebelling before she can You and your friend have dinner and dis­ “And they won’t pay you as much as my regain her confidence and self-esteem. cuss celibacy as a viable option, monogamy salary.” But what about your sexual abuse,” you and non-monogamy. The waiter comes over “Because I’m a woman.” ask your friend, “doesn’t he think it has so you pause while he clears the table and “I mean, you know I support pay equity something to do with your fears?” then resume your discussion on libido, lack and everything, but the Your friend shrugs and swallows her ste- of or excess of. Softball is briefly men­ reality is...” lazine. tioned. Reality? Isn’t the New Age philosophy “I just do what I’m told. I have to get bet­ By the time you finish dinner and go an attempt to change reality? Oh yes, old ter.” home to your lover, who is in bed with a cup hippies never die, they just become the □ □ □ of tea and three purring cats, you know for mulch for the status quo. In fact, Sam’s idea The three of you have a plan, a very cun­ sure that being a lesbian is not the problem. of a New man was Bob Jones. Because Bob ning plan. Tonight you start the revolution, You get up and you don’t want to go to gives some of his money to feminist groups, after dinner and dessert. Somehow you’re work. You’ve used up almost all your sick Sam argues that Bob is interested in social going to tackle sexism, capitalism and het­ leave and can’t afford any more time off. change. This is the man who believes those erosexism in one fell swoop. Your best You wrestle for a while about whether to go who protest against beauty contests are “fat friend suggests kidnapping the doctor, your to work, then you fake a wave of nausea and and ugly females and the odd male wimp.” boss, taking over the Holmes show and hold­ dizziness and your lover forces you back to And that women are “designed by nature to ing the whole lot of them for ransom, live on bed and makes you take an aspro. be sexy and men to be attracted to them for air. Your sister prefers the idea of organising “Darling, can you ring work and tell the procreation of the species.” Classic a nationwide strike - mothers and wives, them I’ve got food poisoning?” you ask your hippy philosophy. soul-mates and de-factos unite. And you, faithful, long-time, live-in companion. Perhaps Bob is an old hippie himself. well you just take notes, being careful not to □ □ □ Wasn’t there a folk singer called Bobby miss anything out. Maybe, just maybe, On the other side of town, your sister Jones? Rings a bell, doesn’t it? Didn’t he you’ll send a copy to Broadsheet. \

l i ^ 32 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 POINTS AND BARBS Canvas Wall Sculptures Nora West Oedipus Rex Gallery, Auckland Reviewed by Pat Rosier

Photo: Gil Hanly

These are big, bold works, coming off the least successful piece. The concept was keep saying, “Aunty Mihi you must write walls, breaking out. Nora West was at art interesting, but it seemed loose, the pro­ about it because people don’t know these school in London in the sixties, where she truding “hatchets” not threatening enough things have happened”. My age group has was edged into embroidery and textiles as to create the tension implied in the title. gone, or they would not talk about these “suitable” for her to study rather than “Crack” on the other hand, has a strong things because a lot of things in the old sculpture. Increasingly, she is bringing her sense of tension. The flat, black canvas days were nicely swept under the mat. fabric skills and her interest in sculpture frames a widening jagged split, “forced” The things that are happening today I together. She uses canvas, stuffing, bind­ by the spikes/cones pushing through. feel revert back to the early beginnings. ing, stitching, sewing painting and lights There’s a sense in this show of the When I think of murder and rape and all to create cones and various pointing and anger of a woman artist pushing out these sort of things they are sort of cutting edges. the boundaries and inhibitions imposed on brought about by abuse to nature, like One of my favourite pieces is “The last women’s lives and expression, through drugs and alcohol. We lived very close to one left alive,” where the black cones have stretching the boundaries of fabric art. nature. We had to fight just to survive. To collapsed, fall sort of limply, each with a grow and to harvest. If you didn’t do those small, green light at the tip. One, strongly things, you just didn’t live. We respected coloured, remains upstanding with a larg­ nature and what it had to offer. Well, er, brighter light. While this piece, like today there’s world wide pollution prob­ most of the others, hangs on the wall it is MIHI EDWARDS lems. Our very lives are subject to the certainly sculptural. (AUNTY MIHI) hurts that are being administered to the In the two lattice pieces, each hanging Interviewed by Pat Rosier environment. As I grew up at the knees of in a window, the artist’s use of binding There is no fabrication in Mihipeka, things my old people the first things we were and the contradictions of colour, fabric that I was writing about actually hap­ taught were how to respect and honour the and more-or-less-rigid forms demonstrate pened. The child is talking, and the child sea, the bush, the earth and its fruits and to the versatility of fabric as a medium. They cannot fight back. As an old person now I also respect the birds, the different atmo­ show how the medium and the skills for find it sad to think the children suffered by spheres of the year, the wind, the rain, the working with it can transcend the usual being strapped at school for speaking clouds. We were taught all that, which we limitations. Maori. It was hard on the Pakeha children don’t know anything about now. The largest piece, “The Cosmic Telly is too because they were being asked to I have recollected, have gone back in on the Blink”, at about three by two report on the Maori children who were my mind and remembered what the old metres, takes up a lot of wall. It’s bold in their friends. people were saying. I used to think it was colour and image, accomplished in execu­ When I wrote Mihipeka I wasn’t really a lot of rubbish but I don’t any more, tion and rich with associations. Some of criticising the ordinary person, the indi­ because I know what they taught us was the smaller pieces, such as “Haywire” and vidual, I’m really hitting back at the rules exactly right. “Guarded Gold” and the two lamps of the time, the system I suppose. Even I want everybody to read Mihipeka, it (whose shades are in part made of x-ray now, I have to say that three parts of my is for everybody, even if they don’t plates) are playful, even whimsical. friends are Pakeha people who have sup­ believe it. Everything I talk about in I thought “Buried Hatchets" was the ported me in everything. As I write, they Mihipeka, especially as it concerns the

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 33 environment from an indigenous point of wealthy person’s son or view everybody should have a look at and daughter to go to univer­ think about. I can’t tell people to believe it sity now. but they might. I like to talk to children. There’s some clever They are the ones who are going to suffer kids among poor people, from the turmoils of the environment and and probably better lead­ if it is successful they are the ones who ers than the people who will pull the environment back in order. are handling our lives. I The first four or five chapters of don’t know. I know what Mihipeka is full of the environment, told I would like to do, I don’t as a story. Of course the strapping and know whether it would whacking at school for speaking Maori, work or not.The country that’s a past era but the environment is is so deep into debt, not, the environment is today and may not they’re looking around, be tomorrow. If we keep hurting the envi­ there’s so many projects ronment we won’t live to answer anything they have started and because it is much greater than us. It will failed, like the Motonui just roll over. Look at the earthquakes and Think Big. They’ve happening now. The old people used to spent the taxpayers’ talk about these things. “You cut the trees money with poor plan­ of the earth the mother earth will get dry, ning. That makes me very there is no moisture going back into the very sad. What else are earth and when it tremors it cracks. When they doing now? They’re the earth is moist it won’t disintegrate like selling off all the services something that is crumbling because it is like Telecom. Is that too dry.” They used to tell us, “Don’t cut going to be good? I don’t the trees down because the trees hold the Pholo: Gil Hanly k n o w ' S o o n w e water, which keeps the earth moist and own the country any holds the soil together and also counter­ one or two potatoes but that’s a beginning. more others will take over. We will proba­ acts the water when it’s raining, the roots Children love to be a model of their par­ bly be demolished and we don’t have a of the trees channel the water.” ents or their grandparents. That’s how they country any more because somebody else They always used to say, “Don’t stop learnt and that made a happier environ­ will own it. the birds they are the planters of the ment, there was no trouble. This is what is I am much harder on my own people world. Of course the old people used to happening today, because the economy is than I am on a Pakeha child because I do play great homage to the birds. I used to so bad the children have to be pushed so want the Maori child to be good, to say, “Why do you kills the birds, koro?” aside so the parents can go out and earn excel. It saddens me to hear them say, We had no meat, but I noticed they some money to bring them up. I find that “Why, why am I brown? Why wasn’t I weren’t killed every year. He would say, very very sad because every child was white like that other person?” Like my “We have to kill the birds every two, three welcome where I was bom. It was the old own daughter. She used to be called black or four years because otherwise they just people’s job to take care of them, to edu­ nigger and dirty bitch when she was going get too big and fat and fall to the ground cate them, while the parents went out to to school. She came home to me and said and break all the branches.” Because you hunt for food and so on. why didn’t you make me white like my see pigeons are so greedy they just sit The environment really is my main father, why did you make me brown like there and eat. But they are so beautiful, it thought today. I worry about it. I worry you? And of course I couldn’t answer her, used to break my heart to see my kuia every time I hear about killing and so on, not at that tender age. I used to tell her the with a stick just hitting them on the head. all those sort of things caused by the Pakeha is jealous because he’s not brown They couldn’t fly, they were so fat. They wrong handling of the environment. I as a like you. I couldn’t disillusion her alto­ used to chant special prayers before hit­ person who came from an indigenous gether because she had to live in that envi­ ting the bird and use the feathers for background firmly believe that we are ronment. So I said to her, “You wait, in cloaks. It used to distress me because they products of the environment. What hap­ the summer, they’ll go out in the sun and were so beautiful. But they were so pens to the environment affects us all. It’s want to be brown like you. You look greedy, the other birds wouldn’t get any­ the in air, it’s in everything. beautiful, and she did. thing. So there was always logic in every­ The politicians are all right, they’re Mihipeka is published by Penguin (NZ). thing they did. highly paid people. They don’t know what A second volume is almost completed When I was a child, every child was it’s like to go hungry and have a shabby and Aunty Mihi plans to write a third. given a job to do. Even at five years of house and half a dozen kids to try and M ihipeka was reviewed by Helen age I had my job, even it was picking up clothe and educate. You have to be a Barnes in Broadsheet 180, August 1990.

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34 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 EVERYTHING BUT THE again, containing their biggest hit sin­ GIRL gle, “I don’t want to talk about it”. Helen Brabazon spoke to Tracey The latest so-called American Thorn, the woman in the duo. album The Language of Life, record­ Helen: Your lyrics have always had ed over just six weeks in LA, is pro­ a woman’s perspective; they’ve duced by Tommy Li Puma and has always involved women’s rights, some of the world’s greatest jazz even when Ben’s writing. musicians playing. Can you believe Tracey: One of the things I’ve always it? Stan Getz does a stunning tenor tried to do writing lyrics is expand sax solo on the track “The Road”. what you can talk about in “pop Gone is the “new miserabilism” songs”. I’ve written songs about my very English sound. I asked Tracey sister having a baby; about friendship, about this curious label. “New miser­ which doesn’t usually enter into the abilism was applied to people like us, equation. the Smiths ... it was really thrown at It’s always love, love, love .... anyone who wrote any kind of lyrics Things like friendship tend to be con­ acknowledging that there was any­ sidered quite small, especially by local boys were in bands, and all the girls thing wrong with the world. male journalists. It’s good when it’s were the “girlfriends of the boys in the I know everyone asks but what is the acknowledged that that’s at the heart bands”! I thought that stank, so I learned to significance of your name? of what I do. play electric guitar, went over to the boys’ EBTG was a store in London (now is it true you beat your wife?... school and joined one of their bands. I was demolished) that provided every How many girls have you had the only girl in any of those bands. It was accessory but the girl. today? quite an outrageous thing to do at the time, Who would you like to work with And how many bottles have you and for them it was a bit of a status symbol. given the chance? downed today? Later I formed an all woman group “The There was a plan a while ago to form And while you’re on the skids? ... Marine Girls”. We made two LPs, then I a female voice choir with Natalie Who’s minding the kids? started working with Ben at Hull University. (from Ten Thousand Maniacs) Tracy While you’re out of your head, Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt’s debut Chapman and two other women. It Who’s making the bed? album was Eden (1984), which broke them was just before Tracy Chapman - From “Me and Bobby D” off the across Europe. In 1985 came Love Not broke. Then she bacame a world album, The Language of Life. Money, a change from the neo-jazz sound mega-star so the idea’s unfortunately with darker lyrics reflecting Thatcherism, been shelved. How did you get into the music lots of electric guitar and drums. Baby The When are we likely to see you per­ industry? Stars Shine Bright came out in 1986 with a form in New Zealand? I wanted to be in a band when I was very sixties sound, then Idlewild (1988), Maybe in your spring. 16. I went to a girls’ school. All the quiet and autobiographical, different yet I hope so!

YAY CHARLEY GRAY’S ! “DANCE PACIFIC’S The Balmoral cinema (410 Dominion extraordinary new work Rd) is running a gay and lesbian film festival in the last week of September. SEADANCE sparkles with Lesbian films include - beauty and wit” Wild Flowers (66 mins) for those who missed it at the film festival. Justine’s Film (45 mins) a story about mending a broken heart. DANCE PACIFIC Nocturne (58 min) a woman back at returns to the Maidment the family mansion for a funeral, meets a Theatre for one week lesbian couple who break in... performing SEADANCE in The Long Weekend three heterosexual college couples have a weekend reunion the Festival of Dance “faster than an L A nightclub. A funny programme from film about bi-sexual melancholy.” Sept. 22 - 29. How to kill her (14 Min) a short about (Book at Bass) romance and revenge. “Moody.” Can’t you take a joke? (18 min) a short about a cartoonist and a woman who has lost her sense of humour. Charley Gray’s staff are looking for ideas and contacts for next year’s festival now. - Janine Burchett & Judith Lesbians back from Vancouver who heard Froude about anything good and lesbian overseas, please pass it on to Philippa (09) 360 0278

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 35 London to represent lots of strong feminist women and more New Zealand at a writers than when I was living in conference on Pacific Auckland. I was reminded last year during writing. With co-rep­ the Women’s Book Festival that the resentative Patricia Dunedin Women’s Collective was the Grace, Dick Grace largest collective to be formed in New and Renee’s partner, Zealand in the seventies. It embraced all Bernadette, the group sorts of feminist groups.” then made a reading Renee has an ongoing interest in young tour of the continent’s writers and feels her talks to schools and universities. university groups are getting better. “I’m On their return to making them interesting and funny now. New Zealand Renee That wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t and Bernadette had to. do them.” The talks were part of moved to Dunedin, the fellowship and mainly focussed on where Renee had New Zealand Theatre. been appointed Directing a season of her Secrets trilo­ the 1989 Otago gy at the Fortune Theatre, with Bernadette University Burns and Dunedin’s Louise Petheridge perform­ Fellow (!). “It was ing in it, was another highlight of the year. great to be awarded In June this year Bernadette played the the fellowship,” role of Mary in Jeannie Once, also at the Renee says. “I wanted Fortune Theatre. Jeannie Once is the story to spend some time in of Granna in Wednesday to Come as a the South Island. I young woman arriving in Dunedin in had relations who had 1879. She finds that things are very differ­ lived down there, and ent from the picture the shipping agent it was going to give painted. “A lot of conditions from Ireland me some money to hadn’t changed in this wonderful new write for a year.” world, which had a lot of the old, bad During 1989 she things in it. It was so different from what finished Willy Nilly, they expected. They didn’t have a hope in her first novel, wrote hell of saving the money to get back, and Jeannie Once, the that awful trip, where maybe a child had Photo: Lee Harris f in a , p la y o f th e died.” RENÊE Wednesday To Come and Pass It On trilo­ , Renee’s grandmother Gertrude was Interviewed by Lee Harris gy, started her second novel, gave lectures bom in 1880. The playwright feels for the Late in 1988 Renee attended the first and classes, and directed a show at experiences of these pioneering women. International Women’s Playwright Dunedin’s Fortune Theatre. “If the play is a gift for anybody, it’s a gift Conference in Buffalo, New York. After a “There’s a lot of history here, and that for my grandmother. Some of her experi­ couple of weeks there she travelled to has been interesting to look at. I’ve met ences could have been the same as some of the characters’ in the plays.” Renee is currently working on other ideas. Her second novel is a comic one, as Lyne is Willy Nilly, and two of the elements in it Pringle (left) are theatre and Catholicism. She is also and Fiona enthusiastic about writing a half hour play Browett (right) for use in schools, which has been organ­ in Origins ised by women’s studies at Otago Dance University. “There’s a shortage of plays about New Zealand for young students to Theatre’s pro­ do. It’s a really good idea.” duction “After Expanding into novels has been a very Crazy Horse” positive experience for Renee, who which fea­ thought the Willy Nilly book launching In tures in the Dunedin was great. Dunedin College of Festival of Education Lecturer, Anna Marsich spoke Dance, and “She did say some really celebratory September and very positive things about the novel, 12-16, at the so it made it a very good occasion for me. Maidment I was surrounded by people I knew and Theatre. I’d asked and I liked.” Looking back on the decision to stay in (Book at Dunedin for 1990, Renee feels quite Bass) happy. “We felt that there was a lot more about Dunedin that we wanted to spend another year getting to know. I haven’t felt isolated at all, and I’ve got a lot of work done.”

36 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 ROBIN FLOWER AND LIBBY smile a lot during performances, not only one thing we’ve done here, fishing for MCLAREN at the audience but at each other. Robin those trout.” Interviewed by Elizabeth Thomas. says, “The most fun things I can do in my They are musicians first and foremost. Question - What are a pair of lesbian life, in order, are, one perform in a good Whatever their audience - regular blue­ feminists doing at a National Folk venue with good sound and a good audi­ grass, folk or lesbian their first message is Festival? (The one held in New Zealand ence, two kiss my girlfriend, three always musical.”... then as we’re singing earlier this year.) rehearse and practise my music, four play about our lives anyone who is paying any Answer - Playing superb music, which base ball, and five garden. Prompted by attention to what we’re talking about - it’s is appreciated by a discerning audience. Libby, she adds fishing to the list - “that’s obvious we’re lesbians, our relationships The two, Robin Flower and Libby McClaren come from very different places musically. Robin describes her back­ ground as “folk music, bluegrass, old TAIAO DANCE times, Irish, a little bit of jazz, a little bit THEATRE of rock. I’ve played mostly in progressive bluegrass bands, I played in a jazz band PRESENTS for a while, a rock band for a while. I con­ TE AO TUROA sider myself mostly an instrumental play­ er. I had my own band for about seven TAMAKI MAKAU RAU, years.” Robin has made four records and AUCKLAND plays electric and acoustic mandolin, gui­ MAIDMENT THEATRE tar and fiddle. Libby grew up in a musical environ­ ment at Berkley High School in California Festival of Dance and then spent ten years in New York free­ October 3 - 6 at 8.15 pm lancing as a back-up keyboard player and October 7 at 2.00 pm vocalist with a number of different artists and groups, including the Roches. When Tickets: $20 or $12 unwaged the two met and decided to combine tal­ (Book at Bass, ph 375 000 ents, Libby says, “for me that was a big thing because I had always been the the back line ... I had never fronted a band. I had always been the person who was hired “a performance both polished and powerful, artistically absorbing and on.” culturally significant” As a duo the two are impressive. They complement and encourage each other and

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 37 have to do with women - once you’ve rather than with Olivia, the women-run men - who “think we don’t know what won people over with your music then lesbian-identified label. She wanted to we’re doing, but we do. We could proba­ who you are is an easier thing for them to reach a wider audience who would appre­ bly sit out there at the sound board tonight accept. ciate the music as well as listen for the and do as good if not better - because “If you’re going to put a political mes­ message in the words. we’ve had the experience.” They say that sage into your songs, you’d better be a Their songs do have strong messages -r at women’s music festivals these days good player, a good presenter, you’d bet­ about women’s issues, ecological/environ- there are some great women sound techni­ ter sing in tune and know how to tune mental issues, politics, and love songs cians. They see good sound systems as your instruments, because if you don’t about relationships with women. One of being essential but find their requirements you’re going to get put down for your the most poignant, “Ticking”, was written - modest by US standards - are not so music and your politics will never get by Libby after she had played in the AIDS readily available at folk venues in New across. There’s nothing worse to me than ward in San Francisco General Hospital - Zealand. having a lesbian stand up and present her “the first time I did the performance I was They think that things are better for songs and her guitar’s out of tune and inundated with this sound, this kind of women musically than they have ever she’s singing out of tune and she’s forget­ psychic ticking sound which didn’t really been, with many first class women musi­ ting her words - I’m sorry, I don’t want to exist, but I felt so sad by the reality of cians around as role models for younger hear that. I want to hear someone who time running out for all these people - in women, something neither Robin nor knows what they’re doing musically ... the States and in San Francisco AIDS is Libby had when they started out. All their we’re good players and that to me is the really an epidemic - and it’s so frustrat­ influences and role models were men. first sign of putting ourselves out as femi­ ing, because if Mrs Bush had AIDS we’d They feel that women musicians like nists. We have a responsibility to women be seeing a cure in a hurry. One of my themselves can take some credit for the and as feminists to present ourselves in a dear friends who I wrote this song for Tracey Chapmans and Melissa Etheridges strong light.” died four weeks ago, so the song has - the people who are sitting at the top in Robin has always worked with women. taken on a new edge of sadness.” pop music - “because without women’s Libby describes herself as a neophyte in As women musicians they face the music and the push from feminism those the women’s music industry - in the bands same problems as all musicians - selling women wouldn’t be there.” she worked with the women were the themselves. They regret the time spent Their message to women musicians singers and the boys were the instrumen­ doing business when they would rather be here - if you can quit playing, do. If you talists. However, Robin chose to sign her playing, but that’s reality. The people in really want to play music, then just do it. band up with Flying Fish Records, a regu­ the music industry they have most prob­ lar mainstream folk label run by men, lems with are sound technicians - mostly

BOOK REVIEWS

LIVING WITH CANCER WOMEN AND MONEY is about getting the very best out of the Penny Owen Marion Bywater and Susan Hely system we are stuck with for the present. Collins $12.95 Allen and Unwin The woman trying to exist on the con­ Reviewed by Anne Sinclair Reviewed by Helen Courtney trolled poverty of a benefit as well as the The sub-title of this excellent book is “A Virginia Woolf made that snarky remark woman wanting to stash away her mil­ handbook for New Zealanders” and there­ about “the safety and prosperity of one sex lions will find something of interest. in lies its value and worth. and the poverty and insecurity of the There are numerous publications avail­ other”. This book aims to even up the able for cancer patients, families and care­ scales a little and to enlighten women givers to read, but so often this is exactly about money. The authors point out that TIME TO TAKE CONTROL !!! what happens to these books - they are women are still paid significantly less than read, perhaps assimilated, acted upon and men. The gap is widening. “Now is the Are you concerned about your financial then put back on the library or home time to stop being economically illiterate” future? shelves. But this book, by virtue of its they say. Do you wish you could do more with content and practical size, deserves better Money means different things to differ­ your money? than that. ent people and included in the book is a Do you wish you could make better Penny Owen, a Christchurch housewife short questionnaire to examine your per­ financial decisions? and mother, and a cancer patient currently sonal attitude to money which can then If you answered YES to any or all of in remission, has, in plain language, pro­ determine which investments you feel these questions, by talking to me, you duced 74 pages of relevant, invaluable comfortable with, LOTTO and beyond. could be on the way to your financial information, together with her solutions to There is information about getting a job, independence. the many and varied problems that con­ banking “treat banks like a supermarket”, My name is Kay McLean. front all who are touched by this disease. tax, credit, buying a house, investment and I am a consultant with National Mutual The table of contents is sensibly divid­ more, all of it relevant to the New Zealand and I specialise in assisting women to ed into four parts, each with numbered situation. For those who like to choose reach their financial goals. sub-headings, for easy and quick reference their friends carefully there is a section on You can ring me at (09) 479 4393 or (09) in times of need. Nausea, panic, pain or diamonds. The book is well supplied with 390 816 for a no-obligation appointment anger are feelings peculiar to everyone, subheads, references and a good index to OR and Penny Owen lists suggestions for make the information easily accessible. Come to my seminar on Financial dealing with them that could well be used The book seems to cover every aspect Planning for Women at a YWCA Money by us all. of managing your finances except robbing Workshop, ph (09) 788 763. The inclusion of some entries from her a bank. The authors are aware of the social personal diary allow the reader to share and historical impediments in which Naliond Mutual her fears and joys - for that I thank her. women are immersed. Women and money

38 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990

Self There’s an addi­

My sister and I spook each other not with made up monster tales I work at a computer I I leave her house Late Late into the night 100 word a minute fingers? Electrified by injustice ready to fight Supreme Court justices talksShe of women revived we talk radiation who work at video terminals who miscarry eight hours a day oh flesh oh internal organs oh spine are you all right? True-to-Life Horror Stories am am taking I my life into my till our hair stands on end five days a week Gwynne Garfinkle New Women’s Press has done a tional chapter of success women used storiesself defence and -it worked - how and a new section on making your envi­ revised edition of Sue Lytollis’ Defence For Women. window window - “especially if you like to leave lished in this 1983, book is a classic. And photo onthe the front is cover great. ronment safer. I especially like the “rose bush or large cactus” under the bedroom your window open at night. First pub­

An Burn remains (Chatto and

Blood Shot Women, Women, Culture and (with a new introduction

Burn Marks have been released by The

is good, but Paretsky’s stories are thoroughly Angela Davis was published in the US author’s author’s rationale) but doesn’t enjoy it, or staunch and appealling private investiga­ some things (like her independence) con­ tor in Chicago. She’ll get violent if cor­ fused about others (like men/lovers) and a well-written, with splendidly constructed nered (“Chicago is a violent city,” is the also manages to air some genuine social recovermajorfrom overnight. injuries researched for background detail andplots and nice character Whichdevelopments. makes them extremely readable.The latest, graft. graft. As in all her earlier books Paretsky concerns - in this casewithout homelessness destroying - the narrative.gaining an She’s international reputation as a crime writer that she fully deserves. Windus), is about arson and political work to appear in print in the UK. my favourite of the V.I.Warshawski sto­ in the It’s 1970s. taken until for 1990 her ries. ries. far. So Marks tions tions of her experiences in courts jailand are still Presschilling. have The Women’s by by the author) and Women’s Press. Women’s The writing is as power­ ful as when it was new. Davis’ descrip­ put important books put books print. back important in Politics Autobiography

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Sti/s/xT 1991 ASTROLOGICAL PHONE (09) 765 173, stain left elbow. Stolen Sat. MOON CALENDAR Mon - Thurs 9.00 AM - 12.00 26th May at Phoenix Night t lS B iA/if PM & 6.00 PM - 9.00 PM. Club, Auckland. BALL BY GRETCHEN LAWLOR & OSHA ONE PHONE 466 960 or 498 773. • 14TH YEAR OF PRODUCTION; A CREATIVE CRONIES RE-ENERGISED EDITION. LESBIAN SUPPORT/

» STUNNING ILLUSTRATIONS BY N.Z. ARTIST, COMING OUT GROUPS. NEW WOMEN’S MINERVA. ALSO AVAILABLE AS CARDS PHONE (09)528 5119, FICTION 4 . PRINTED IN 100% RECYCLED PAPER PO Box 3833 Auckland. Copy deadline for the next »RETAILED THROUGHOUT NZ, OR SEND CHEQUE FOR $14.50. (INCLUDES POSTAGE) anthology of previously WITH ORDER TO: COUNSELLING & unpublished short stories is 30 P.O. BOX 46-118 • HERNE BAY • AUCKLAND • Ê ft ?t/NE£»*L * 1 PHONE 781-157 GUIDANCE for personal September 1990. There is still growth, life crises, transition, time for you to send us your new I a i f i creative process, etc. Juliet work hot off the typewriter! Batten, Diploma in Please send your stories now to: Psychosynthesis. New Women’s Fiction LESBIAN LINE - Wed. 7.30 Gay/Lesbian Welfare Group. PHONE 696 123. New Women’s Press PM - 10.00 PM, PHONE (09) PO Box 47 339 303 3584. Phone counselling WOMANLINE - a confiden­ $400 REWARD - To any per­ AUCKLAND and support service run by tial non-judgemental listening son leading to the recovery of Lesbian women for women. In and information phone line. a Black Leather Bike Jacket; association with Auckland Run by women for women. brass buttons, white paint

40 BROADSHEET SEPTEMBER 1990 w h a t BOOKSHOP DIRECTORY AUCKLAND Juliet Batten, Against Broken Promises: A Pakeha View of the Treaty of Waitangi Rita ★ CHRISTCHURCH ★ AUCKLAN Webster Galleries, 3 Scarborough Lane, Parnell, 10-21 Sept. Kate Sheppard HARD TO FIND Tarot Workshops with Mary Hancock. SECOND HAND BOOKS \>)omcns Bookshop . Exploring the minor arcama. Part 1 Oct 6, the court cards, Part 2 Nov 3 Aces - 10. $55 145 Manchester St, 171-173 The Mall, Onehunga per day. Phone Mary on (09) 812 8698 Christchurch Ph: 644 340 Violence between women Are you, or have MON-THURS 9AM-5.30PM Largest SECOND HAND Bookshop in you ever been involved in a relationship FRIDAY 9AM-9PM SATURDAY 10AM-1PM Auckland. Always buying and selling of New where physical or verbal abuse is a common • MAIL ORDERS WELCOME • Age, Feminist and all quality books. occurrence? Then we want to hear from you. If you can’t come to the shop Buyer can collect For confidential contact ph (09) 838 7982 Phone us (03) 790 784 Music and health Helen Bonny, 20 Sept 7.30 University Conference Centre. $8 ★ PALMERSTON NTH Students (ID) $4. Sat 22 Sept 10.00 - 5.00 3a Symonds St, $36. Enrol at Cont. Ed. ph 737 999 Women against pornography An Ak group BOOKSHOP is forming. Next meeting on 3 Sept. Anyone (Embracing Broadsheet Bookshop) interested in becoming a member, either Books by, for and about women financial, active or both, phone Margaret, ♦ Non-sexist children’s books 439 963 between 9am and 3pm ♦ Music Posters Jewellery ♦ Unusual cards Auckland Women’s Health Council gener­ ■ BOOKS ■ MUSIC ■ ARTS ■ JEWELLERY ■ HAND PAINTED CLOTHES ♦ Coffee and herb tea al meeting Wed 12 Sept, 7.30. Special Educ MAIL ORDERS WELCOME - Mail orders welcome - Rooms, Auckland College of Education. Square Edge, P.O. Box 509 Palmerston North 228 DOMINION RD, AUCKLAND, PH 607 162 Depo Provera, featuring the video, The Ultimate Test Animal and an update of ★ WELLINGTON ★ AUCKLAND AWHC activities. The Auckland Lesbian Newsletter Coming your way monthly from 1 September. Send in your news items by the 15th of the month UNITY UNITY before. Subscribe - $12 for 12 issues. Post to BOOKS BOOKS P O Box 46 118, Heme Bay, Auckland. the most interesting bookshops! the most interesting bookshops! The living matriarchy A series of two weekend workshops on women’s herstory to be held in Auckland and Whangarei in November. Workshop co-ordinator Sam 119-125 WILLIS ST, WELLINGTON 19 HIGH ST, AUCKLAND Lynne. Auckland: Nov 3/4 and 17/18; PHONE LOUISE OR MARION 856 110 PHONE NIGEL OR JOE 370 393 Whangarei Nov 10/11 and 24/25. Cost: $60/35 per weekend. Post deposit of 1 week­ end’s cost to organiser, Sue, P O Box 22767, ★ HAMILTON * HAMILTON Otahuhu. Enquiries: (09) 527 1053. Fran Peavey Strategic thinking and social change Sat/Sun Sept 15/16, Comedy Show _ BENNETTS o DIMENSIONS the Atomic Comic 14 Sept Ponsonby UNIVERSITY Intermediate School. $10. Contact Rex BOOK CENTRE Women's Bookshop Ltd McCahon 820 0571. (WAIKATO) 266 Victoria Street, Hamilton CHRISTCHURCH Mon-Thurs 9 AM - 5 PM Womyn’s Summer Camp January 12 - 20. ♦ Friday 9 AM - 6 PM Saturday 9 AM - 1 PM Christchurch organisers would like to hear PH (071) 66813 from past and future summer camp womyn. PO Box 19041 PH. (071) 80656 MAIL ORDERS WELCOME What is the future of summer camp? We need ideas, suggestion energy. Write to P O Box 10221, Christchurch. A AUCKLAND WELLINGTON CHRISTCHURCH ★ AUCKLAN NATIONAL Lesbian Spiral published later 1990. Need LitERArily DifFereNT prose (fiction, research, reviews, humour, PHTHFINQER Booths fo r analysis, philos., travel, sports, diaries, etc.) BOOKS'* Inner (Development High Quality poetry, music, visual images, writing about and ‘Wellbeing Alternative art. Work/enquiries to: Poetry/music; SHOP*! N e w A g e Heather McPherson 22 Nesbitt St, Matata, Send for our NEW FREE CATALOGUE BOP; Visuals/art, Julie King & Pamela BO O K S • Porcelain • Pottery • Crystals Stained Glass • Jewellery Gerrish-Nun. Art History, Dept Cant Univ. Old Customhouse, Customs St, AUCK Ph (09) 790 147 Cubacade, Cuba Mall, WELLINGTON Ph (04) 844 563 Pvte bag, Chch; Prose, Marian Evans, 19 79b Cashel Street, CHRISTCHURCH Ph (03) 792 391 enr Ponsonby & Jervois Roads (Fountain Carr St, North East Valley, Dunedin. Court) Ponsonby Ph (09) 786 390

SEPTEMBER 1990 BROADSHEET 41 I M S i'; J!

AN THE SCREENPLAY AUTOBIOGRAPHY From the Janet Frame Three-volume $32.95 rrp AUTOBIOGRAPHY UPSTAIRS PEOPLE by Janet Frame Jennifer Dawson LADY’S MAID $19.95 rrp $17.95 rrp Margaret Forster $39.95 rrp

homek 3 1 JUDASLAND HOMELAND AND EDUCATION OF BEAN TREES Jennifer Dawson OTHER STORIES HARRIET HATFIELD Barbara Kingsolver $17.95 rrp Barbara Kingsolver May Sarton $17.95 rrp $17.95 rrp $29.95 rrp

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AVAILABLE FROM YOUR AUCKLAND COLLEGE OF EDUCATION LOCAL BOOKSELLER RANDOM CENTURY 3 6870 00133302 4