New Zealand was the first country in the world to launch the historic Women's March protesting Trump's inauguration as President of the United States. Now organisers say it's time to regroup and confront the country's own legacy of gender violence and inequality.On Saturday morning, 2500 turned out in Auckland to march from the US Consulate office to Myers Park. Hundreds more New Zealanders took to the streets nationwide with the same unified message: "Women's rights are human rights". Numbers reached 1500 in Wellington and 400 in both Dunedin and Christchurch.
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Lisa Dyson, one of the organisers of the Auckland march, told VICE while the sexist rhetoric of the recent US election was a catalyst for many people to join marches, the movement' concerns have "become much bigger"."Women's March Global is an international movement, not a U.S. election-specific protest," she said.
While New Zealand has been at the forefront women's rights activism historically—including as the first nation to allow women the vote—speakers called on the country to take up the baton again. Speaking to the crowds, Labour MP Jacinda Ardern said while New Zealand has made steps towards equality, the pay gap between men and women and "staggering rates" of domestic violence show we too have a long way to go.
As to whether the activism touted by marchers will continue, Dyson says the event was just the beginning. "The NZ team is taking a day to catch our breath, since we pulled off large events with a very small team. But in the next few days, we'll be rolling up our sleeves and announcing the specific actions we will take".Photographer Sylvain Gaultier was on the ground in Auckland to capture women joining the global movement.Words by Laura Pitcher.
