Are men worth more than women?
Kia ora
We've had equal pay for men and women since 1972 in theory – but have we had it in practice?
I've heard some pretty disturbing stories that suggest that nearly 40 years on, there are still lots of women being paid less than men for doing the same job.
I've launched a Member's Bill amending the Equal Pay Act that will enable workers to find out whether there's an equal pay problem in their workplace.
There are still plenty of big issues to address before we have true gender equality, but making sure we're enforcing the current law is a good start!
Catherine Delahunty, Green MP
- recommended 
- includes video
In this issue
Take action
Reject the Welfare Working Group report
Ask the Minister for Social Development to reject the Welfare Working Group report. Send e-card
Warm, Healthy Rentals: send an eCard to John Key
There are at least 1 million substandard homes in New Zealand and rental properties are generally the worst performing of these. We are calling on the Government to create performance standards which ensure warm, healthy, rentals.
Read about the warm, healthy rentals campaign | Send an eCard | Tell us your flatting horror stories
Events
Hands Across the Sand
Saturday 25 June, 11am-12pm - Mount Maunganui Beach and Dunedin
Say no to youth rates
Saturday 25 June, 11am-12pm - march from the Octagon, Dunedin
Public Lecture on the State of Politics and Green Party Health Policy, with Kevin Hague
Monday 27 June, 11am-12pm
-
Function Hall 730-220, School of Population Health, Auckland University, Auckland
Save the Mokihinui Public Forum with Kevin Hague - Rotorua
Tuesday 28 June, 7-9pm
-
Room N230 (library building), Waiariki Institute of Technology, Mokoia Drive, Rotorua
Focus on Freedom - Tauranga
Thursday 30 June 7-9:30pm - Join Keith Locke at a free public forum exploring MMP and the rise of Global Democracy
Thames Welfare Forum with Catherine Delahunty
Monday 4 July, 12:30-1:30pm
-
Grahamstown Community Hall, Thames
No Kapiti Expressway - Rally at Parliament
Wednesday 6 July, 12-1pm
-
Parliament Grounds, Wellington
Videos
Our plan to fight child poverty
One in five children in New Zealand live in poverty. Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei explains the Greens' plans to lift 100,000 children out of poverty in just a few short years. Watch the video...
Press releases
Equal pay issues go under the spotlight in new Bill
22 June 2011
Ongoing equal pay issues for women have prompted a push to modernise employment law from the Green Party. Read more...
National seeks to drive young workers' pay down
17 June 2011
National wants to drive young workers' pay down, said Green Party youth spokesperson Gareth Hughes. Read more...
Rising food prices pinch hard
14 June 2011
Rising food prices are continuing to hurt individuals and families, and Government policies are making the problem worse, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Public policy on gambling should not be for sale
13 June 2011
John Key is setting up people with gambling addictions, and their families and communities, to foot the bill for the new Auckland Convention Centre, said the Green Party today. Read more...
Govt stalling tactics cost taxpayers thousands and delay justice to families
10 June 2011
After spending many months and $70,000 of taxpayer money, the Ministry of Health has finally filed for a hearing date to appeal a High Court decision which upheld the rights of disabled people to pay family carers, the Green Party said today. Read more...
Blog posts
Thompson makes case for Equal Pay amendment - by Russel Norman
OK, this video of Alasdair Thompson being interviewed by Mihingarangi Forbes is astounding. Read more...
Mine safety improvements needed NOW - by Kevin Hague
When someone heads off to work in the morning, they have a right to expect that their workplace is as safe as it can possibly be, and that they will return home again after work, safe and well. Read more...
An afternoon at the $8.95 Welfare Forum - by Metiria Turei
Yesterday, I went along to the $8.95 Welfare Forum organised by the Alternative Welfare Working Group. I was pleased to see around 100 people turn out – twice the number I’ve been told were at the $895 Welfare Conference opened by Paula Bennett yesterday. Read more...
School support staff - celebrate skills and pay properly! - by Catherine Delahunty
School support staff are very clear that they need a new funding model and that their professionalism and hard work needs to be recognised with a decent wage (which the minimum wage is not!). Read more...
Gifted Awareness Week - by Catherine Delahunty
This week is Gifted Awareness Week - a week when we celebrate the incredible talents of young citizens who have so much to offer the country. Read more...
The $8.95 welfare forum - by frog
AnneE at The Hand Mirror blogs:
You may have noticed that a conference on Welfare and Social Sector Policy and Reform is due to be held in Wellington on 20-21 June. The discounted advance payment cost to attend is $895. Read more...
No excuses for homophobia in our schools - by frog
School balls are in the news for all the wrong reasons. First there were the allegations regarding alcohol and drug use at the King’s College ball. Now homophobia rears its ugly head.
St Patrick's College in Wellington has told a student he can’t bring another boy to the school ball as his date. Read more...
Hunger is hurting our kids and killing some - by Metiria Turei
To those of us who have been actively working on child poverty, it sadly comes as no surprise to hear that more and more schools are lining up to be part of charitable projects that provide breakfast to vulnerable kids at school. Read more...
Oral questions
House consensus that Alasdair Thompson's comments on equal pay are 'ridiculous' - Catherine Delahunty MP, 23 June 2011
Given the difficulties of taking a case under the Equal Pay Act and the extremely small number of cases taken in the last 40 years, how can [the Minister of Labour] ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work? Watch video or read transcript...
To the PM: Does he stand by his reported statement of 30 May "Are we deeply unequal? I'm not sure that's right. I haven't had a really good look"? - Metiria Turei MP, 15 June 2011
Watch video or read transcript...
Catherine Delahunty questions the Minister of Finance on pay for women in the Public Service - Catherine Delahunty MP, 15 June 2011
What is his response to the recent survey Constructing Workplace Democracy: Women's Voice in New Zealand Public Services, which showed that 50 percent of women workers in the Public Service work many more hours than they are contracted for, but that only 14 percent receive any extra payment for this work? Watch video or read transcript...
