Local Tukituki MP, Catherine Wedd has taken on her first International role as an MP, representing New Zealand in Norway, alongside hundreds of other MPs from around the world to discuss Sexual Reproductive Health Rights.

The International Parliamentarians Conference on Population and Development took place in Oslo after six years of disruptions, following the Pandemic.

Wedd was selected to represent NZ as the Chair of NZ’s Parliamentarian Population and Development Group.

“It was an honour to represent New Zealand and share our policies and the work we are doing to support women with sexual reproductive health, including access to contraception, maternal health, cervical testing and addressing period poverty,” she said.

“Our government’s recent move to reduce period poverty by extending free period products in schools is world leading and giving young women equal opportunities.”

An Otago University study estimated that up to 95,000 young New Zealand women could be missing school because of a lack of access to period products.

“This gives young women dignity and ensures they don’t miss school because they don’t have access to period products.”

The event also provided an opportunity to speak on behalf of the Pacific Region, where New Zealand supports Pacific countries, by providing critical health and education services and funding various Sexual Reproductive Health programmes.

The Pacific exhibits some of the worst health and social development indicators globally.

Low contraceptive rates, high adolescent birth rates, and high rates of sexual and gender-based violence.

Recent modelling estimates that one in three women of reproductive age in the Pacific have an unmet need. This unmet need for modern contraception is among the highest in the world.

“Funding from New Zealand is helping prevent thousands of unintended pregnancies and hundreds of unsafe abortions, and maternal deaths each year and enabling women to have control of their bodies and purse their dreams.”

Wedd said the opportunity to connect with hundreds of MPs around the world had been “extremely valuable” and gave her an opportunity to showcase New Zealand as a progressive nation, when it came to Women’s Rights and supporting the needs of women.

Family Planning, recently rebranded to Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa, in New Zealand do an amazing job, but there is always work to do, Wedd said.

“We don’t have a family planning centre in Hawke’s Bay, and this is something I have started discussing with Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa as this would enable crucial access and support for women in Hawke’s Bay and also help relieve pressure on our already pressured doctors and nurses.”

The International Parliamentarians Conference on Population and Development was fully funded by the Norwegian Government and the UN Family Planning Association.