TV series Womenpower returns in April

The 2014 series of Womenpower returns in April, screening on Tuesdays at 7.30pm, repeated at 12.30pm on Thursdays on Face TV.

Presented by Catriona MacLennan, Womenpower investigates a range of issues affecting women in Aotearoa New Zealand, including domestic and sexual violence. Topics that that will be covered and people who will be interviewed in the first six episodes are outlined below. Each episode includes Womenpower Fail and Win, News of the Week and Five Action Points. Links are being added to this page after the episodes air and are uploaded online.

Episode 1 (Tuesday 1st April 2014)

• How women can use our electoral power to achieve change; what strategies have been used in other countries. Dr Jennifer Curtin, University of Auckland
• Pasifika female voices in poetry; exclusion of Pasifika women from debate; poetry as subversive. Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh.

Episode 2 (Tuesday 8 April 2014)

• What policies does the Human Rights Commission see as the most important to advance for women? How can these be strategically promoted in election year? Dr Jackie Blue, EEO Commissioner. Read about Jackie Blue's work on closing the gender pay gap and violence against women.

• Pasifika women are the lowest-paid workers in New Zealand and also have problems accessing affordable credit – what can be done to make significant change? Amelia Schaaf, Tongan Lawyer, Labour Party Candidate.   

Episode 3 (Tuesday 15 April 2014)

• What changes to the law are needed to advance equality for women?  What are Maori women’s experiences of the legal system? What can be learned from indigenous women overseas? Khylee Quince, University of Auckland Faculty of Law.
• What election policies will Labour have to advance the position of women? Carol Beaumont, Labour Party.

Episode 4 (Tuesday 22 April 2014)

• Activism in Hamilton re Campaign for Consent; law changes needed to improve system for dealing with sexual violence against women; immigration policies and their impact on women. Anjum Rahman, Community Activist.
• What election policies will the Greens promote to advance equality for women? Jan Logie, Green Party.

Episode 5 (Tuesday 29 April 2014)

• South Asian women in New Zealand; Jaagriti Women Support Group; Glenfield, domestic violence; helping women by providing self-defence classes; English language and computing classes; and access to law. Roopa aur Aap.
• Activism on behalf of women – motivations and strategy relating to Bust Rape Myths actions last year; use of social media to achieve change; petitions on change.org. Jessie Hume. 

Episode 6 (Tuesday 6 May 2014)

• Mentoring scheme for domestic violence survivors. Annah Stretton, Waikato Fashion Designer.
• Unconscious bias. Julie Timmins.

Episode 7 (Tuesday 13 May 2014)

• Dr Huhana Hickey
• Dr Rachel Simon-Kumar

Womenpower will be broadcast on Sky Channel 83. It can also be watched free to air in Auckland on Face Television (previously Stratos and Triangle). Anyone in Auckland can view Face Television but if you haven’t watched it before you need to tune for it. The programme can also be viewed online at www.scoop.co.nz– click on the Face Television logo. Please note there is no on demand.

Image: Family watching television, c. 1958 by Evert F. Baumgardner. Licence: In the public domain