Who are we?
Our committee is comprised of these founding members:
Doctor Chris Pook (Chair), Liggins Institute
Professor Natasha Hamilton-Hart, Department of Management and International Business
Doctor Nick Matzke, School of Biological Sciences
Professor Dame Elizabeth Rata, Faculty of Arts and Education
What is UoA SEEN?
The University of Auckland Sex Equality and Equity Network (UoA SEEN) is a network for staff and students at the University of Auckland who believe that sex is real, immutable, and matters: in law, in medicine, in research, and in everyday life. We are dedicated to advancing and supporting equality and equity for both women and men in the workplace. The purpose of this network is to address sex-based discrimination and to uphold legal rights related to sex, including protections for those with the legally protected characteristics of sex, pregnancy and childbirth, and sexual orientation, as set out in Section 21 of the New Zealand Human Rights Act 1993. We acknowledge that achieving sex equity may sometimes involve treating women and men differently, in recognition of their distinct legal rights and needs.
We are part of a growing international movement of public, workplace and professional networks modelled on the original UK Civil Service SEEN, which was founded in 2021. We are aligned with the UK SEEN On Campus movement. Like our sister networks in the UK and elsewhere, we are committed to open, evidence-based discussion of sex and gender. We are independent of any political party and do not seek to affiliate with any. Our focus is the University of Auckland and the broader New Zealand context.
UoA SEEN is an independent network of staff and students at the University of Auckland. It is not a registered affiliate or formally recognised staff network of the University of Auckland, and the content of this website does not represent the University’s position on any matter.
Why We Founded This Network
We are the University of Auckland Sex Equality and Equity Network, a new network for staff and students who believe that sex is real, that it matters in life and in law, that certain rights should be based upon sex, and that our university should be a place where these views can be expressed freely and without fear.
Universities are places of free inquiry. They exist to pursue truth, to test ideas, and to protect the ability of staff and students to think, speak, and write freely, including on difficult and contested questions.
In recent years, many universities have faced pressure to adopt policies that, perhaps inadvertently, create a sense of fear among staff and students when it comes to speaking up and advocating for sex-based rights, and when it comes to research and teaching on issues related to sex and gender. We believe this creates an atmosphere that damages the university’s mission and the academic freedom of staff and students.
We aim to ensure that the University of Auckland is a place where civil debate and academic enquiry into matters relating to sex and gender can take place.
Our Mission
UoA SEEN exists to:
- Advocate for the rights and dignity of staff and students on the basis of sex.
- Support staff and students who may face social or professional pressure because of their advocacy of sex-based rights.
- Promote open, evidence-based academic inquiry into questions of sex and gender.
- Engage constructively with the University of Auckland on policies that affect sex-based rights.
- Connect with sister networks and organisations that share our aims in New Zealand and internationally.
Our Values
Sex matters. We hold that sex is material and matters in some contexts. .
Free inquiry. We believe that universities exist to pursue knowledge. Questions about sex and gender are legitimate academic and policy questions, and staff and students should be free to discuss them without fear.
Civility. We are committed to upholding the principles of civil and reasoned debate, secularism, pluralism and the universal human rights of all people.
Our Relationship to the SEEN Network Model
UoA SEEN is inspired by and modelled on the UK SEEN networks, particularly the Civil Service SEEN, which was founded in 2021 and now has sister networks across sectors including policing, healthcare, education, Parliament, journalism, sport, and the arts.
We are a fully independent and autonomous initiative. We have no formal affiliation with any UK SEEN network, though we share their goals and values.
Who Can Join?
UoA SEEN is open to all staff and students at the University of Auckland who support our mission and values. .
Membership is confidential. We do not publish member lists. You may join, participate, and contribute anonymously if you wish.
SEEN_UoA@auckland.ac.nz
If you wish to participate anonymously and off the university IT system please contact us at UoASEEN@gmail.com
