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Students want to expand feminism discussion after successful conference

Steven Walton
into motion team
The students behind the Into Motion conference; from left-to-right, Emma, Dom, and Piper.   Steven Walton

Three Burnside High School students who spent 10 months organising a feminist conference in Christchurch say they want to continue expanding the idea.

The first 'Into Motion' conference on feminism was held at Burnside High's Aurora Centre on Friday.

It was a fun-filled and inclusive day of workshops and guest speakers, with a notable appearance from Labour politician Megan Woods, who studied feminism at Canterbury University.

The conference was open to all students in Christchurch and was organised by Burnside High School students, Dom, Emma and Piper.

"It couldn't have gone better," Year 11 student Piper said. 

One student from Burnside High described the conference as "eye-opening", while another said it was "inspirational."

Woods agreed the conference was "hugely impressive" and said she was proud to see Dom, Emma, and Piper "asking questions that are important".

Year 11 student Emma said it was "really amazing" to see so many different perspectives during the conference.

Year 10 student Dom was thankful for the teachers at Burnside High who helped plan the conference. He said they really helped make the conference the success it was.

Dom, Emma, and Piper want to hold the conference again in 2019 or 2020.

"We want to build relationships," said Piper, as she discussed the team's idea for a 'Pizza, not Patriarchy' night at the end of the year, where all students from the conference would get the chance to meet again.

Burnside High School Principal Phil Holstein said he was "humbled" by the efforts of his students and assured them the idea will "start to grow".