"Group Puts Role of Women Leaders into Public Debate" - Radio Watea

The absence of Wahine from the highest levels of decision making processes has been noted at all levels.  This comment from Prime Minister, John Key as reported by Radio Waatea, Wed 1 Dec 2010,

GROUP PUTS ROLE OF WOMEN LEADERS INTO PUBLIC DEBATE
comment from PM John Key on Absence of Maori Women in Leaders Roles

Prime Minister John Key says a new group which aims to give Maori women a greater say in policy could make a valuable contribution to politics.

Te Whaainga Wahine was formed at a national hui at Thames on the weekend, and immediately launched a salvo at the Iwi Leaders Group and the struggle women have to be heard in traditional Maori forums.

Mr Key says he has noticed a shortage of women in the Iwi Leaders Group.

“Nayda Glavish tends to turn up but you don’t see a lot of other women there necessarily in those leadership positions. You can always do with some more and I think there are some extremely talented Maori women that I see in a variety of forums that I go to. You can see that they are the leaders of tomorrow so we shouldn’t give up home that there is a category of female leaders coming through in Maoridom like there is in the rest of New Zealand,” Mr Key says.