Amping up for the 2022 Zonta Says NO Against Violence to Women campaign, the Zonta Club of Christchurch South, New Zealand, is getting ready to plan their annual Zonta Says NO breakfast.

Every year since 2009, the club and its Golden Z clubs deck out in orange apparel and rally their community to attend the special breakfast. Always boasting more than 100 hungry patrons and supporters from local community and service groups, it is the largest specific Zonta Says NO event in their city.

Not only does the club provide a meal, but they also invite an inspirational speaker. Past speakers included Louise Nicholas, Officer of the New Zealand of Merit, Judge Jane McMeekan, former Minister of Justice Amy Adams and Leanne McSkimming from the New Zealand Police. After breakfast, everyone marches through Christchurch carrying large orange cut-out dolls and displaying Zonta Says NO banners in Cathedral Square to mark White Ribbon Day.

Since 2015, the club has initiated illuminating various public structures in orange on the first day of Zonta International’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Orange-lit buildings in their city have included the Christchurch International Airport’s control tower and terminal building and the Isaac Theatre Royal. The club actively supports White Ribbon and UN Women events, and they are constantly looking for opportunities to display our banners and orange cut-outs.