New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development (NZPPD)

NZPPD’s activities focus on the Pacific region in the following strategic areas:

• Sexual and reproductive health, including HIV and AIDS
• Official development assistance
• Reducing gender inequality
• Sustainable development 

• Advocates for the prioritisation of sexual and reproductive health in the Pacific region
• Participates in international meetings, and conferences
• Meets with thematic experts such as UN Women, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and academic researchers
• Hosts special events at Parliament including report releases, and film screenings
• Hosts open hearings to bring together MPs from New Zealand and the Pacific, academics, service providers, government representatives, and other experts to raise awareness about key issues. The findings of these open hearings are available in the following reports:
  • 2015: Engaging Boys and Men in Sexual and Reproductive Health (PDF) 
  • 2012: Pacific Youth: Their Rights, Our Future (PDF)
  • 2009: Making Maternal Health Matter (PDF) 

NZPPD also works with other MPs across the world, and is a member of:

• Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD)
• Global Parliamentary Alliance for Health, Rights and Development

NZPPD is chaired by Catherine Wedd, National MP for Tukituki.

Catherine Wedd is a mother of four children — including two daughters — who lives in Hawke's Bay. She has worked as a TVNZ reporter and for the BBC in London, business director and senior marketing executive at Bostock New Zealand, and director on the New Zealand Apples and Pears Board. Catherine has a Bachelor of Law and Arts, majoring in Political Science and English, and a post graduate diploma in Journalism. She has been a Youth MP for the New Zealand Youth Parliament.

Catherine is supported by NZPPD Deputy Chair Lemauga Lydia Sosene, Labour MP for Māngere.

Lemauga lives in Auckland with her husband. She is a mother to two sons, and has one grandson. Born and raised in South Auckland, her parents immigrated to Aotearoa from Samoa, seeking better opportunities for their futures. Lemauga helps local non-profit organisations with training in leadership and governance skills, especially for young leaders, and advocates for young people to become local change-makers, and to pursue entrepreneurship. Lemauga has a post graduate diploma in Business Administration from the University of Auckland. She has over ten 10 years’ experience as an elected local government member.

• Universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, information and education is a human right, and central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Every individual has the right to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health. 
• Reducing unintended pregnancy, sexually transmissible infections (including HIV/AIDS), gender-based violence, barriers to exercising sexual and reproductive rights, and addressing the risks climate change poses for SRHR outcomes, are essential for achieving gender equality and sustainable development
• Investing in SRHR is one of the most cost-effective approaches to sustainable development.
• Effective partnerships between governments and civil society organisations are essential to create integrated approaches for sustainable development.
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi is at the heart of NZPPD’s work in the Pacific region to prioritise the protection and promotion of human rights and self-determination, and build respectful and collaborative partnerships.

NZPPD was established in 1998 by the late Hon. Katherine O’Regan, who was Minister of Health. This was in response to the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action, a landmark event in 1994 when 179 governments committed to prioritizing human rights, including reproductive rights, empowering women and girls and addressing inequalities.

NZPPD is also underpinned by commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals. New Zealand, and all UN members countries in the Pacific, have committed to achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health by 2030.

Significant sexual and reproductive health and rights challenges remain in the Pacific, which NZPPD is committed to addressing:

• Unmet need for modern contraception in the Pacific is among the highest in the world
• One in three women (35%) of reproductive age in the Pacific are not accessing the contraceptive they need 
• There are persistently high rates of STI’s, cervical cancer, adolescent birth rates, and sexual and gender based violence

The International Programmes team at Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa convenes NZPPD, and provides secretariat support thanks to funding from UNFPA. 

This includes:

• Convening meetings
• Providing strategic advice
• Providing information and content for consideration and action
• Organising speakers or connections with other members of parliament, health providers, or community groups from the Pacific  

• Check out the official NZPPD Facebook page
• Read the NZPPD’s invitation to Members of Parliament (PDF)

NZPPD is open to all New Zealand MPs.

To become a member of the NZPPD please contact: [email protected]