The school was awash with purple in recognition of IWD, officially celebrated worldwide on 8 March. This year marked the 115th anniversary of International Women’s Day, first observed in March 1911.
International Women’s Day is a global moment of activism and celebration that belongs to everyone committed to advancing gender equality. Individuals, organisations and communities all have a role to play in supporting progress at work, at home and in society.
As feminist, journalist and activist Gloria Steinem once said, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation, but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” International Women’s Day reminds us of the importance of supporting and uplifting one another, while continuing to advocate for equal pay, freedom from violence, access to education, and recognition for women’s contributions in every part of life.
Give to Gain
This year’s theme, Give to Gain, encouraged us to give something meaningful in support of other women. Our Tuia Day raised funds for Woven Earth, a grassroots charity that creates loving homes for domestic violence survivors and their children across Tāmaki Makaurau.
Students were also challenged to do something thoughtful for the women in their lives, perhaps some families enjoyed a surprise breakfast in bed as a small gesture of appreciation.
Celebrating Women in STEM
During assembly we also acknowledged women who have made remarkable contributions in STEM, fields where women are still underrepresented. Our school is proud to have educated two outstanding scientists who became the first women to receive the Rutherford Medal, New Zealand’s highest science honour.
Professor Christine Winterbourn, a New Zealand biochemist and Professor of Pathology at the University of Otago, became the first woman to receive the Rutherford Medal in 2011 for her groundbreaking research on free radicals.
A few years later, Distinguished Professor Dame Margaret Brimble was also awarded the Rutherford Medal and recognised internationally for her leadership in medicinal chemistry. This year she received the highest accolade from the Royal Society of Chemistry, recognising her ability to transform fundamental science into real-world applications and for her exceptional mentorship of scientists, particularly women.
These prestigious honours place her among a distinguished group of scientists recognised by the Royal Society, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Marie Curie, Linus Pauling and Stephen Hawking.
Inspiring the Next Generation
We are immensely proud that our school helped nurture these extraordinary scientists. Their achievements remind us that future world-leading researchers and innovators may well be among our current students.
As part of our ongoing commitment to equity, the school will also require contractors to demonstrate equal pay for women and clear actions toward equitable outcomes for women in their workplaces.
We hope all our community had a wonderful International Women’s Day and look forward to continuing to celebrate and support the achievements of women everywhere. 💜
