Zonta East Auckland

19/06/2026

“When women are safe, nations are more peaceful.”

In a briefing to the Security Council, UN Women chief Sima Bahous stressed that women can and must play a key role in the pursuit of peace in conflict areas around the world.

“Peace is more likely to be reached faster — and to last longer — when women are at the table,” she said, adding that gender equality and women’s empowerment are among the most powerful approaches to creating a safer future for all people.

14/06/2026

Comment: The real challenges facing women include the gender pay gap, getting into leadership roles, and safety issues – not the legal definitions of ‘man’ and ‘woman’

06/06/2026

Interesting perspective

04/06/2026

Thank you to the Times and especially the young reporter, Shiloh Singh from Botany Downs Secondary College for this article about Zonta this week. We are looking forward to the BDSC Z Club starting this year- we hope you might join the team.

02/06/2026

“We will never get to the bottom of the gender earnings gap until we understand the trajectory of the far larger problem of which it is a symptom. The gender earnings gap is a result of the career gap; the career gap is at the root of couple inequity.”

This is a small excerpt from ‘Career and Family: Women’s Century-long Journey Toward Equity’ by Claudia Goldin.

Goldin provided the first comprehensive account of women’s earnings and labour market participation through the centuries, revealing the causes of change, as well as the main sources of the remaining gender gap.

She was the first woman to receive an unshared prize in economic sciences, and the third female laureate in the prize category.

Learn more about her work: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2023/goldin/biographical/

02/06/2026

Once again we were delighted to offer an Honorary Membership to the Zonta Club of East Auckland, this time to Wilma Viegas. Wilma is a very committed and passionate teacher, who for over ten years has been supportive of Zonta and passionate about empowering young women through her leadership with the Macleans College Z Club. Thank you Wilma for your service.
Although now she is a staff member of Botany Downs Secondary College, her work with Zonta continues in the setting up of a new Z Club there, along with ex Macleans Z Club member, and now staff member at Botany Downs Secondary College also, Hubaan Bhandari.

02/06/2026

How enlightening was the presentation tonight by Middlemore Foundation's Kaitlin Rose! The Jammies for June was such a tiny part of the extensive work of the Foundation, and their liaison with so many organisations and so many families in need.

I think we were all impressed by the breadth of their work, and the ways in which the community can be involved.

Thank you to everyone who contributed lovely warm pjs for the campaign to reach 20,000!

31/05/2026

Congratulations to Alan for being recognised in the Honours list for his services to education, and scroll down to read about Barbara Astill, a well deserving recipient of the King's Service Medal.

Two well-known and highly respected east Auckland locals are being recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List. Owairoa Primary School principal Alan McIntyre has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to education. The award citation states he.....

31/05/2026

Congratulations to our current President and longstanding committed member of Zonta, Barbara Astill for receiving the Kings Service medal in today's announcement. We all acknowledge the amazing work Barbara does not only for Zonta but also many other organisations and areas of service.

Officially the citation reads:

ASTILL, Mrs Barbara Kay, JP
The King’s Service Medal
For services to women, the community and governance.
Mrs Barbara Astill has contributed voluntary service to community leadership, education and women’s advancement, drawing on her professional skills as a chartered accountant.
Mrs Astill held a range of Board roles in several New Zealand companies including Radio New Zealand, Trust Bank New Zealand, and Counties Manukau Netball. She has been a member of the Zonta Club of East Auckland since 1993, serving multiple terms as President. She has led the Club to deliver several initiatives supporting women’s education, safety and leadership. Most notably this has included the New Horizons for Women Trust scholarships, which provide ‘second chance’ education opportunities for women overcoming hardship to pursue tertiary education or retrain for employment. She has held national governance roles with Zonta New Zealand. She has chaired Tōtara Hospice South Auckland from 2016 to 2020, providing oversight during a period of growth and change in community palliative care services. She has been a Justice of the Peace since 2018. Mrs Astill was involved with the ACT Party establishment in 1994, remaining involved until 2014 with Board roles including time as Acting President.