Gisborne Business and Professional Women’s Club to host Minister Tinetti

The Gisborne Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) is hoping that the weather, staff sicknesses and cancelled flights to Gisborne will not once again stymie government minister Jan Tinetti’s trip here.

She is scheduled to speak at the club’s dinner meeting on August 8.

The minister was to visit last year but as she was about to board a plane to Gisborne the flight was cancelled. Air New Zealand staff sicknesses meant no crew were available to fly the aircraft.

A year later, with a new prime minister and a promotion to a senior Cabinet position of Minister of Education, Tinetti is set to attend the BPW meeting at the Gisborne Tatapouri Sports Fishing Club.

While Minister Tinetti is also the Minister in charge of Child Poverty Reduction, it is her other portfolio, Women’s Affairs, that is of particular interest to the BPW Club.

President Fiona Evans said when it was first suggested the club invite the minister to Gisborne, it was at a time when they were discussing issues around the frustratingly slow progress on closing the pay equity gap for women.

“We are still motivated to hear what the Minister will say on this and other issues relating to women’s issues,” she said.

“We are grateful that she has been able to reschedule the visit.”

Minister Tinetti had been asked to speak on women in leadership roles.

She will also speak on gender diversity and the gender pay gap for women.

With a speaking time of up to 30 minutes, it is possible the Minister will raise another issue around misogynistic abuse against women in public office, something the Minister has personally experienced since standing for Parliament in 2020.

Tinetti said it was her responsibility as Minister for Women’s Affairs to challenge this behaviour and help create a safer environment for women.

‘We feel having the Minister for Women’s Affairs to speak to us, fits perfectly with many of the aims of our organisation,” Ms Evans said.

The August 8 -meeting is open to all, men included, but reservations are essential and can be made directly by going on to Eventbrite booking site.

Further details can be checked out on the BPW Gisborne Facebook page.