New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development

19/09/2025

18/09/2025

On this day in 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

Read more about this historic day here: nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/womens-suffrage

16/09/2025

NZPPD had our third meeting of 2025 last night, thank you to all Parliamentarians who were able to attend.

Some members had to rush off before we got a photo, but we managed to catch some of them!

14/09/2025

NZPPD values our connections with our Pacific neighbours. The Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) Annual Regional Conference provided an opportunity to reconnect with our colleagues in Australia, Timor Leste and Tonga.

09/09/2025

Here are some highlights from NZPPD Chair Catherine Wedd MP for Tukituki’s trip to Manila last week for the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) Annual Regional Conference.

We appreciate the opportunity to represent New Zealand at regional and global levels, and lead conversations on population and development trends and issues.

03/09/2025

Today is World Sexual Health Day. World Sexual Health Day is celebrated annually on September 4 to raise awareness about the importance of sexual health, rights, justice, and pleasure for everyone. The theme for 2025 is Sexual Justice: What Can We Do?

How will you mark World Sexual Health Day this year?

To learn more about this year’s theme and the history of the day, go to worldsexualhealthday.org

25/06/2025

On Wednesday evening, we had our second NZPPD meeting for 2025 🥳

MPs heard from a team at New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade about the incredible mahi they do in the equity, inclusion, health and development space. Jackie Edmond, Chief Executive of Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa, also shared insights from her time at the CPD 58 meeting in New York in April this year.

Many thanks to UNFPA for their ongoing support for NZPPD!

16/06/2025

Earlier this month, some of the International Programmes team from Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa's travelled to Vanuatu 🇻🇺 for the Mid Phase Review of Planem Gud Famili Blong Yumi (PGFBY) - our project focused on reducing unplanned pregnancies and STIs in Ni-Vanuatu, delivered with the Vanuatu Family Health Association and co-funded by New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

They also launched our latest research report: “It’s easy for them to access, but they’re frightened”, exploring the barriers young people in Pentecost face when accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare.

The visit was a valuable opportunity to connect with partners, reflect on progress, and plan the path forward.

📖 ⬇️ Read more about the report here: https://sexualwellbeing.org.nz/new-research-explores-knowledge-access-and-barriers-to-sexual-and-reproductive-health-for-young-people-in-vanuatu/

26/05/2025

The New Zealand High Commission to Kiribati celebrated the launch of the new report Identifying Future Priorities to Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health in Kiribati by Future Partners.

Funded by New Zealand, the report will help guide ongoing work by Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa and Kiribati Family Health Association in partnership with Ministry of Health & Medical Services - Kiribati and UNFPA, to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes in Kiribati. 🥳

10/04/2025

Tuesday was our first NZPPD meeting for this year!

MPs from across the House came together to hear updates from Dr Vanessa Weenink on her recent study trip to the Philippines, and from members of the NZ delegation for the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 69 in New York last month.

2025 looks to be an exciting year for the group! Many thanks to UNFPA for the ongoing support for this mahi 👏

07/04/2025

03/04/2025

Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa's International Programmes team, together with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Pacific team, is hosting an abortion advocacy workshop in Nadi, Fiji this week.

Participants from four member associations from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands are engaging in a Values Clarification for Action and Transformation (VCAT) training to be better able to navigate conversations around abortion in their respective countries.