Wahine Kakano Event 2018

Wāhine – meaning Women, Kākano – meaning seed.

“The name refers to women who are just beginning their journeys, ready to spring forth at any moment, just like a kākano – a seed”.

On Saturday the 26th May, Danni and Eliza – two educators from the RPE team, joined 400 young wāhine between the ages of 16-22 at Wāhine Kakano – The New Zealand Young Women’s Festival. The event was run by the Human Rights Commission and Villainesse (a ‘no filter’ media platform for young women) at the Auckland University of Technology to commemorate 125 years of suffrage in Aotearoa.

This free event was about “empowering young women in ways they can actually relate to” and “encouraging young women to seize the future and claim it for their own”. The day consisted of a keynote speech by Aotearoa’s inspiring Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, three panel discussions run by various motivational New Zealand women, and 12 workshops on a range of topics.

Danni and Eliza’s 45 minute workshop was called “Ending Sexual Violence Together”. The main points they discussed were consent and what consent meant to the young women in the workshop, the times when people can’t give their consent – in relation to the NZ law, and ethical by standing – how we can safely and effectively step in and stop something harmful from happening.

The workshop was received well and both Danni and Eliza learnt so much from the young wāhine/change-makers that attended the session.

Find Out more about this event HERE