Our women in politics

Pamela Storey, Adrienne Wilcock, Susan O’Regan, Paula Southgate, Angela O’Leary and Liz Stolwyk will lead the revival of Waikato Women in Politics. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Waikato’s female local body leaders have committed to reviving the Women in Politics movement buoyed by their performances in the recent elections.

Hamilton deputy mayor Angela O’Leary will coordinate the group which was popular when the number of females in local politics were in the minority.

Having four women mayors – Susan O’Regan (Waipā), Jacqui Church (Waikato), Paula Southgate (Hamilton) and Adrienne Wilcock (Matamata-Piako); three deputy mayors – O’Leary, Liz Stolwyk (Waipā) and Carolyn Eyre (Waikato) and regional council chair Pamela Storey, it was seen an opportune time to revive the movement.

The women met after the Local Government New Zealand Zone Two meeting at Lake Karāpiro last week only hours after they learned Sarah Matthews had been elected Waipā Networks Trust chair.

The Women in Politics group is likely to add National Party MPs Louise Upston (Taupō) and Barbara Kuriger (Taranaki-King Country) and any other women elected to a Waikato political position. This would include women like Jo Davies-Colley and Ange Holt, recently elected to the Cambridge and Te Awamutu community boards.

More Recent News

News in brief

One person has died at the scene following a crash on Flat Road in Kihikihi. Police were alerted to the crash involving a single motorcycle at around 7.45pm yesterday (Saturday 4 May). Serious Crash Unit…

Mōtai Tangata Rau rule

Waipā’s Mōtai Tangata Rau celebrated a major win at the Tainui Waka Cultural Festival 2024 in Hamilton last weekend. The competition, which attracted thousands of kapa haka fans and a final tally of 20 teams,…

The trees will be back

Te Awamutu’s first venture into a Christmas Tree initiative last year was so successful it will happen again. Thirty wooden trees were placed outside Alexandra St shops late last November, coinciding with the  Te Awamutu…

Getting their feet wet ….

Thirty-six young Rotary leaders spent a couple of hours at Lake Rotopiko near Te Awamutu last week, volunteering their time to help support restoration efforts being done by the National Wetland Trust. The trust collaborates…