International Working Women’s Day is almost here!.

By Bronwyn Larkins, Te Pou Whirinaki | National Women’s Officer

On March 8, wāhine across Aotearoa and the world come together to celebrate the joy of being a woman and to continue the fight for equity and equality. This is a day to honour our achievements, acknowledge the challenges we still face, and recommit to building a just and fair society for all.

This year’s United Nations theme is: "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment."

This powerful call to action reminds us that unlocking equal rights, power, and opportunities is not just about fairness—it’s about creating a feminist future where no one is left behind.

Aotearoa was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote—a moment in history that we are proud of. And yet the fight is far from over. Women still earn less than men, and the pay gap is even greater for Māori and Pasifika women. We know these inequalities are deeply rooted in systemic structures, but we also know that change is possible when we come together, demand better, and refuse to accept anything less than full equity.

One thing TEU members know how to do is fight.

We fight every day—not just for our rights at work, but for the right of all to access quality education because we know that education is the foundation of social good.

This International Women’s Day, let’s ask ourselves: What more can we do to advance this fight?

In the university sector, pay equity is an ongoing battle. Events that are being created by your branch will be held to highlight the loss of income faced by women in roles that have been undervalued simply because they have traditionally been done by women.

For details of how to find your branch to get involved in the planning for International Women’s Day event: https://teu.ac.nz/our-people/branches/

Talk to your Pay Equity Champions. Get involved in the Pay Equity Invoicing Activity.

Take action. Together, we can create real change. Together, we rise.