By and large, women in New Zealand are fortunate compared with some other countries, including many in our own region. But there is still progress to be made.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
New Zealand is a place where you can get well.
On many occasions New Zealand has spoken about the need to ensure that women's concerns are fully integrated into all aspects of the United Nations' activities and structures, not marginalised in one part of the Secretariat.
There's a very go-to kind of attitude in New Zealand that stems from that psyche of being quite isolated and not being able to rely on the rest of the world's infrastructure.
One of the best things about growing up in New Zealand is that if you are prepared to work hard and have faith in yourself, truly anything is possible.
Women are emerging as a major force for change. Countries that have invested in girls' education and removed legal barriers that prevent women from achieving their potential are now seeing the benefits.
This is the difficulty about talking about it without sounding big-headed, but you cannot speak of New Zealand now without my involvement in what it has become.
I love working in New Zealand. It's just the most beautiful country I've ever been to.
We live in an era of globalization and the era of the woman. Never in the history of the world have women been more in control of their destiny.
We simply can no longer afford to deny the full potential of one half of the population. The world needs to tap into the talent and wisdom of women. Whether the issue is food security, economic recovery, health, or peace and security, the participation of women is needed now more than ever.
Trust me: I don't wish I was a New Zealander.