Interview with Sandra Coney

Abstract

Sandra Coney is a feminist, women's health advocate, writer, environmentalist, and local body politician. She was one of the founders of Broadstreet feminist magazine and the advocacy group Women's Health Action. In 1987, with Phillida Bunkle, she wrote the Metro maga zine article 'An Unfortunate Experiment at National Women's' that led to the Cervical Cancer Inquiry (also known as the Cartwright Inquiry) in 1987-88 and, subsequently, to significant reforms in health consumers' rights. She wrote a regular column of political and social comment for New Zealand newspaper the Sunday-Times between 1986 and 2002, and has won both the Qantas Senior Feature Writers' Award and the Jubilee Prize for Investigative Journalism. Sandra has written or edited over 18 books, including the major Suffrage Centennial publication Standing in the Sunshine: A History of New Zealand Women Since They Won the Vote (1993), and Stroppy Sheilas and Gutsy Girls: New Zealand Women of Dash and Daring (2004). Since 2001 she has been a councillor and board member in Auckland local government, serving on the Waitemat_ District Health Board for 10 years, and currently on the Wait_kere Ranges Local Board; her particular interest is centered on parks and the environment.