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Women’s empowerment through effective
participation and equal opportunity
Helen Potiki, Principal Policy Analyst and Hannah Gray, Senior Policy Analyst, Ministry for Women, New Zealand
T
he New Zealand Government is committed to
ensuring all women have equal opportunity to
realize their strengths and participate fully in
society and the economy. Maximizing women’s contri-
butions to society and the economy is essential – for
women, their families and communities, and as an
investment in New Zealand’s future prosperity and
well-being. To achieve this, the Government has a
sharp emphasis on supporting more women and girls
in education and training; utilizing women’s skills and
growing the economy; and encouraging and developing
women leaders, through a Social Investment approach
which applies evidence-based investment.
New Zealand’s population is increasingly diverse and some
groups of women have poorer outcomes relative to other
groups. The Government is focused on working alongside
key stakeholders and communities to develop innovative and
sustainable solutions that are relevant and effective for differ-
ent groups of women.
In the last decade, New Zealand women have made steady
gains in representation at central and local government level
and on statutory boards. Representation at top levels in the
private sector has improved, but is still relatively low.
The Ministry for Women works to address the underlying
factors that create barriers for women in leadership by:
• maintaining an aspirational goal of 45 per cent participation
of women on state sector boards and assisting appoint-
ing government agencies with the recruitment of suitable
women for vacancies on state sector boards
1
• creating an environment where key decision makers accept
the importance of appointing women and actively seek out
suitably qualified women candidates
• ‘connecting’ emerging women leaders and providing
support and information, to develop their skills and talents
and realize their leadership potential
• supporting the expanded Future Directors programme,
which matches talented people seeking high-level govern-
ance experience with state sector boards to observe and
participate in board meetings over a year.
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples has invested in governance train-
ing workshops to increase Pacific women’s representation on state
sector boards and committees. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples
also assists appointing government agencies with the recruitment
of suitable Pacific women for vacancies on state sector boards.
The Office of Ethnic Communities has run women’s lead-
ership programmes to increase participation and inclusion
of ethnic women leaders in civic life. The Office of Ethnic
Communities also manages a nominations service to ensure
that skilled individuals from ethnic communities are put
forward for state sector board appointments.
Women made up 17 per cent of directors and 19 per cent
of officers (chief executives and senior managers) of all listed
companies in 2015.
2
There is a range of private sector initia-
tives to encourage women onto private sector boards and
into senior roles.
The Ministry for Women actively supported the New
Zealand Stock Exchange in the institution of a rule requir-
ing New Zealand companies to report on the gender balance
of their boards and in senior management from 2013. Work
with umbrella organizations such as the Institute of Directors
and Business New Zealand has highlighted the business case
for gender diversity and provided solutions for those wishing
to improve the promotion of women in their organizations.
Through the Inspiring Women series, the Ministry for
Women profiled more than 60 New Zealand women who
are making a positive difference in their workplaces, their
industries and their communities. The Ministry for Women
The Ministry for Women has published profiles of women in a range of
sectors, showing the diversity and scope of women’s leadership
Image: Ministry for Women
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mpowerment