Sandra Coney
Encyclopedia
Sandra Lorraine Coney, QSO
(born 22 October 1944) is a New Zealand
feminist and women's health campaigner who is currently an Auckland Council
lor.
) of a Metro magazine article that alleged that women had been experimented on, without their consent, at National Women's Hospital in Auckland
. The article, titled 'The Unfortunate Experiment', led to the controversial Cartwright Inquiry
, which confirmed the article's allegations. The article and the subsequent inquiry are seen as a turning point in healthcare ethics in New Zealand.
Coney has been involved in other women's health causes, and in 1984 co-founded with Bunkle Women's Health Action to co-ordinate claims by women who had been injured by the Dalkon Shield
IUD.
Coney was the co-founder of the feminist magazine Broadsheet, which she co-edited for 16 years. She is the author or editor of 14 books, including the major Suffrage Centennial publication Standing in the Sunshine (1993), which was also a television series. She wrote a regular column of political and social comment for the Sunday-Times for 16 years from 1986.
She is also involved in the local politics of the Piha
area such as the unsuccessful campaign against the Piha cafe. She has also written an history of Piha and is currently researching Anzac soldiers from the Piha area.
Her father was Tom Pearce, who was ARC chair from 1965 to 1976 and a New Zealand Rugby Football Union administrator.
(ARC) and served as Chair of the Parks and Heritage Committee between 2004 and 2010.
In October 2010, she was elected as a representative of the Waitakere Ward
on the Auckland Council
on the Best for the West ticket. She was also elected as an independent representative on the Waitemata District Health Board.
.
Queen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
(born 22 October 1944) is a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
feminist and women's health campaigner who is currently an Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
lor.
Activist career
She is best known for her co-authorship (with Phillida BunklePhillida Bunkle
Phillida Bunkle is a former New Zealand politician. She was born in Sussex, England.She was educated at Keele University, England, receiving a BA with First Class Honours; Smith College, Massachusetts, USA, receiving a MA; and St Anne's College, Oxford...
) of a Metro magazine article that alleged that women had been experimented on, without their consent, at National Women's Hospital in Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
. The article, titled 'The Unfortunate Experiment', led to the controversial Cartwright Inquiry
Cartwright Inquiry
The Cartwright Inquiry was a Commission of Inquiry held in New Zealand from 1987 - 1988. It was commissioned by the then Minister of Health, Michael Bassett to investigate the alleged malpractice of Associate Professor Herb Green, a gynaecology and obstetrics specialist...
, which confirmed the article's allegations. The article and the subsequent inquiry are seen as a turning point in healthcare ethics in New Zealand.
Coney has been involved in other women's health causes, and in 1984 co-founded with Bunkle Women's Health Action to co-ordinate claims by women who had been injured by the Dalkon Shield
Dalkon Shield
The Dalkon Shield was a contraceptive intrauterine device developed by the Dalkon Corporation and marketed by the A.H. Robins Company. The Dalkon Shield was found to cause severe injury to a disproportionately large percentage of its users, which eventually led to numerous lawsuits in which...
IUD.
Coney was the co-founder of the feminist magazine Broadsheet, which she co-edited for 16 years. She is the author or editor of 14 books, including the major Suffrage Centennial publication Standing in the Sunshine (1993), which was also a television series. She wrote a regular column of political and social comment for the Sunday-Times for 16 years from 1986.
She is also involved in the local politics of the Piha
Piha
Piha is a northern New Zealand coastal settlement with a population of about 600. It is one of the most popular beaches in the area and a major day-trip destination for Aucklanders throughout the year, although especially so in summer.-Location:...
area such as the unsuccessful campaign against the Piha cafe. She has also written an history of Piha and is currently researching Anzac soldiers from the Piha area.
Her father was Tom Pearce, who was ARC chair from 1965 to 1976 and a New Zealand Rugby Football Union administrator.
Political career
Between 2001 and 2010 Coney represented Waitakere City on the Auckland Regional CouncilAuckland Regional Council
The Auckland Regional Council was the regional council of the Auckland Region. Its predecessor the Auckland Regional Authority was formed in 1963 and became the ARC in 1989...
(ARC) and served as Chair of the Parks and Heritage Committee between 2004 and 2010.
In October 2010, she was elected as a representative of the Waitakere Ward
Waitakere Ward
The Waitakere ward is an administrative sub-district of Auckland City. It has two local boards, Henderson-Massey and Waitakere Ranges.It consists of that part of the old Waitakere City lying West of a line from Te Atatu North to Titirangi ....
on the Auckland Council
Auckland Council
The Auckland Council is the council for the Auckland Region in New Zealand. It began operating on 1 November 2010, combining the functions of the existing regional council and the region's seven previous city and district councils into one "super council" or "super city" governed by a mayor, 20...
on the Best for the West ticket. She was also elected as an independent representative on the Waitemata District Health Board.
Honours
In the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List, Coney was made an Companion of Queen's Service OrderQueen's Service Order
The Queen's Service Order was established by Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, awarded by the government of New Zealand "for valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or...
.
Selected bibliography
- 2009: Piha: guardians of the iron sands: the first 75 years of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club. Piha Surf Life Saving, ISBN 9780473149062
- 1998: Stroppy sheilas and gutsy girls: New Zealand women of dash and daring. Tandem Press, ISBN 1877178292
- 1997: Piha: a history in images. Keyhole Press, ISBN 0473048833
- 1996: Feeling fabulous at 40, 50 and beyond. Tandem Press, ISBN 0908884834
- 1995: I do: 125 years of weddings in New Zealand. Moa Beckett (NZ), ISBN 1869581717
- 1993: Standing in the sunshine: a history of New Zealand women since they won the vote. Viking, ISBN 0670846287
- 1993: Unfinished business: what happened to the Cartwright Report? Women's Health Action, Auckland. ISBN 0473020181
- 1991: The Menopause Industry: How the Medical Establishment Exploits Women. PenguinPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
ISBN 0897931610 (U.S. Edition 1994) - 1990: Hysterectomy. Heinemann Reed (NZ), ISBN 079000089X
- 1988: The Unfortunate Experiment: The full story behind the inquiry into cervical cancer treatment. PenguinPenguin BooksPenguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
. ISBN 0140116710 - 1986: Every girl: a social history of women and the YWCA in Auckland 1885-1985. Auckland YWCA ISBN 090863627X