The North Shore Women’s Centre is the only holistic service for women, by women on the North Shore.  The centre runs counselling, free legal clinic, in-home social work support and courses and a clothes exchange, centre chairman Ngaio Merrick said today.   

"Many women accessing the centre are facing difficult times such as relationship or family breakdown or unemployment. Our services support them through these times. Women continue to suffer the ongoing effects of the economic recession. " 

"It is a delight to spend a month celebrating women’s achievements. September is especially significant for women in this country as we remember women such as Kate Sheppard who campaigned tirelessly for women to gain the vote.   September was chosen because Suffrage Day is celebrated on the 19th and because this year local body elections are due in October," she said.  

Sophia Elise, manager of the New Zealand Art Guild which is organising the event, said they hoped to raise $10,000 which would help to run the centre. The exhibition runs until September 29.