Still waiting for equity.

Here is a group found poem from some of our wāhine at the Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato | University of Waikato – a unique piece created by stitching together individual lines submitted by our kaimahi, each person writing without knowing what others had contributed. While the result can feel a bit disjointed at times, this collaborative approach can have a powerful effect. The slight disjointedness can also reflect how women's experiences and emotions are often fragmented or interrupted in professional spaces, yet they still find ways to connect and resonate with one another.

The beauty of this "found poem" format lies not only in the individual contributions, but in how naturally the lines weave together, revealing shared threads of our experiences. Despite each person writing in isolation, the final piece demonstrates how many of our feelings, challenges, and perspectives align. It's both validating and connecting – showing that as wāhine we are not alone in all our experiences, and that there's strength in our collective voice.

Still waiting for equity

How dare a woman show emotion at work
she will risk being told by men to calm down
– as if passion were a fault, not a force.

I used to teach engineers, my boots had steel caps
and I learned to always wear overalls.

“Women, I tell ya.” He shrugged.
“I am a woman,” I responded.
“No, you’re not
– you work with us.” He ended the conversation.

I am told that I was made to nurture
– coo over tiny fingers and pinch little toes
knit smiles and crochet obedience.

We can work any job we like,
with hopes for pay equity redemption stomped on
– it’s just Kate Sheppard on a nine dollar note

…

It hurts carrying the world in your abdomen

Burdened and oppressed, my soul tirelessly rises
to edify the hopes and dreams of
innocent children.

I honour the strings of my mother,
the quiet threads she carries.

I embrace the softness of my grandmother,
the gentle weight of her years.

I release the silence they hold,
the unspoken pain,
the hidden sorrow.

With humble words, I comfort their burdens,
and let their hearts breathe.

My heart rests quiet
like a lake untouched by wind.