There was exciting news last Friday with the announcement of a new, multi-year partnership between Women in Sport Aotearoa/Ngā Wāhine Hākinakina o Aotearoa (WISPA) and Māori Women’s Development Inc, focusing on boosting engagement of wāhine Māori of all ages in play, active recreation and sport.
Also in the news, Women in Rugby Aotearoa have published an open letter to the two (male) candidates for chair of the NZ Rugby board, Kendra Cocksedge and Sam Kerr are the latest athletes to discuss their mental health challenges playing the sport they love, plus there are plans to re-introduce the women’s Tour de France after a 33 year absence. North American Rugby League team New York Freedom were praised this week for their swift reaction with Tony Williams – one week after announcing the signing of Williams they tore up his contract after he posted on social media supporting former Paramatta teammate Jared Haynes and attacking the victim/survivor.
For a fabulous and detailed history of women’s football in the U.K., check out this story from the BBC.
Some big events in HerStory this week, with the Brighton Declaration signed this week in 1994, the four-yearly conference being held in Aotearoa NZ in May next year, in 2018 the Football Ferns were one of the first women’s teams to formally receive pay parity, in 2019 Jo Waugh became the first woman in over 100 years to win the South Island Sheep Dog trials, and it’s been 30 years since NZR recognised women players.
Check out all the media headlines in women’s sport for the 7th May right here.
Alida Shanks 