Speak Up For Women is a non-partisan feminist group concerned about the emerging conflict between transgender rights and the sex-based rights of women and girls. We write to express our concern about the way in which the Petitioner has misrepresented the above Petition, and conflated “gay conversion therapy” with therapy designed to address gender dysphoria …
Speak Up For Women is a non-partisan organisation that exists to protect and advance the rights and interests of women and girls in New Zealand. Membership will be open soon to anyone wanting to support or get involved. In the meantime, subscribe to our newsletter and check us out on social media.

Wellington, friday nov 15
Auckland, monday nov 18
Watch videos from our previous event
Speak Up For Women's public event in Auckland on 26 February opened up debate about sex self-ID. The speakers presented rational and insightful discussion on the rights of women and of transgender people. We had the meeting recorded so that more people could benefit from the insight of our distinguished guests: Professor Alison Heather, Professor Rosa Freedman, Barrister Julian Norman, and MP Louisa Wall.
We support respectful, evidence-based dialogue and freedom of speech. We support the rights of transgender people to live their lives free from violence and discrimination. Rights do not exist in isolation and a fair society balances the rights of all.
Latest Posts
Speak Up For Women’s submission to parliament: “gay conversion therapy” and counselling of gender dysphoric individuals cannot be equated
Speak Up For Women pleased government won’t scrap counselling for gender questioning children and adolescents
Speak Up For Women is pleased the Select Committee has rejected a petition that called to end comprehensive counselling and psychiatric services for gender questioning youth. While we support a ban on gay conversion therapy, the petitioner, Max Tweedie, did not recognise and understand the difference between conversion therapy for gay and lesbian people and …
Sisters in solidarity: Speak Up for Women NZ and A Woman’s Place UK
Kiri Tunks is a British trade unionist, socialist and women’s rights campaigner. She is a co-founder of A Woman’s Place UK (WPUK), an organisation set up in September 2017 to uphold the Equality Act. The Conservative government had proposed rewriting the law to eradicate single-sex spaces and safeguards for females. A large grassroots movement sprung …
Fait Accompli
This guest post was submitted to Speak Up For Women by LGBT For The Freedom Of Speech Fait Accompli A ‘fait accompli’, French for ‘accomplished fact’, is something that has already happened, and unlikely to be reversed – a done deal. It is the phrase that dances across the tip of my tongue as …
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Press Releases
Feminism 2020 secures new venue – Press Release
Wellington, 24 October Today, Speak Up For Women have announced that they have a new venue for their Feminism 2020 event in Wellington in November. The event, which has now sold out, was originally planned for the 13 November, but will now be held on Friday 15 November. Speak Up For Woman spokeswoman, Ani O’Brien, …
Massey University gives in to the ‘thugs’ veto’…again – Press Release
Wellington 16 October 2019 Despite professing commitment to free speech principles, today Massey University announced they would be revoking their agreement with Speak Up For Women to host their event ‘Feminism 2020’ at their Wellington Campus. Citing “external advice on its health, safety and wellbeing obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, …
Feminist event driven out of city centre – Press Release
Wellington 09 October 2019 ‘A Conversation with Meghan Murphy’ – part of Speak Up For Women’s Feminism 2020 programme – has been relocated by Auckland Council. Originally booked for the iconic Studio One Toi Tū on the corner of Ponsonby and K Road in the heart of the city’s rainbow community, the event has …
Rainbow Tick threatens to pull Massey’s tick if lesbians are allowed to speak – Press Release
Wellington 01 October 2019 Lesbians from women’s rights group Speak Up For Women are furious at reports that Rainbow Tick are threatening Massey University with the removal of their ‘tick’ if they let the group’s event go ahead. The group has been under attack from trans activist extremists since the news broke of their Wellington …
Essays
Women’s voices must not be silenced
Women’s voices must not be silenced in the discussion around sex self-ID and gender ideology Speak Up For Women is concerned about the censoring of feminists and women who speak out against sex self-ID, and against the ways in which gender ideology is becoming increasingly normalised in language and culture. Women must be able …
What is to become of women’s sport?
Women’s sport has been in the news this year, with a growing controversy over the participation of transwomen in women’s competitions. Kiwi Laurel Hubbard represented New Zealand in the Commonwealth Games women’s weightlifting event at the Gold Coast last year despite having competed in the men’s events, prior to gender transition, in 2014. Towering over …
Reasons for Safeguarding Concerns With Self-ID
Speak Up For Women is often asked to provide proof that self-ID will result in harm. We believe this frames the issue the wrong way around. Sex-segregation has long existed as a principle in human rights law, for reasons of privacy, safety and dignity. We believe the onus must be on those seeking to change …
We Are Gender Critical Feminists. That’s It.
On 6 September, I held a public meeting in Wellington, as spokesperson for the organisation Speak Up For Women (SUFW). “Let’s talk about proposed legislation that would allow legal sex to be changed based solely on self-declaration,” prompted the publicity. “What could this mean for the rights of women and girls?” This is a fair …



