Rona Bailey was an icon of left-wing politics in New Zealand as well as being a founding member of the TUHP Committee. To acknowledge her massive contribution to both of these causes-and trade unionism in New Zealand-the committee determined after her death in September 2005 that it would commemorate her memory by holding a biennial lecture in her honour.
2007-- Inaugural Rona Bailey Lecture, Robert Reid
The first of these lectures took place at on the evening of 31 November 2007 at the New Zealand Drama School (Toi Whakaari), and was given by Robert Reid, long time friend and comrade of Rona, and currently President of the National Distribution Union.