Gender pay gap no accident and needs a Government response

The staggering difference between the salaries of men and women within Government departments shows how much work needs to be done to close the gender pay gap, said the Green Party today.

The report from the State Services Commission (SSC) showed that in some departments men were paid up to 39 per cent more than women.

“The fact that there’s such a large pay gap shows how far we have to go on getting women a fair go,” Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei said.

“Women have been underpaid, and undervalued for too long. This is a calculated decision to pay some people less than others, and women deserve to be paid more than what they currently get.

“The Government’s Joint Working Group on Pay Equity Principles which is looking into the gender pay gap is a start, but it took court action from Kristine Bartlett to get the National Government to move. There is so much evidence staring them right in the face telling them to act. This latest SSC report just adds to that.

“Women shouldn’t have to rely upon court action to get paid what they are worth. We should have a Government recognising the gender pay gap, and taking decisive action to close it.

“The National Government should be setting a target for reducing the gap, year by year, and then create policies to make that happen.

“A ministry and a minister need to be made responsible for developing and implementing a plan to fixing this sexist problem – at the moment we have neither.

“The SSC should be playing a leading role in this, but instead it has its own significant gender pay gap of 27 percent.

“We can close the gender pay gap in this country and ensure that every woman is paid what she’s worth, but we need a real commitment from the Government to make it happen.

“It’s time for the National Government to be bold and be fair, and ensure that women are paid more,” said Mrs Turei.

Volunteer

The Greens are proud to be driven by passionate people like you. Today we need your help to take action on the biggest issues facing New Zealand.

Action

Save Auckland's Climate Budget

Sign the petition to stop Mayor Wayne Brown's proposal for dangerous cuts to climate and environmental programmes that protect us from extreme weat...

Action

No New Mines 2023

Action

Expand Voting

Now more than ever, young people in Aotearoa are impacted by Government decisions, and they deserve to have a say. We are calling on all Members of...

Action

End Intensive Winter Grazing

Sign the petition to Labour Ministers, to move faster in bringing regulations into force and end intensive winter grazing.

Action

Trains for Climate

Add your name to our open letter urging the Minister for Finance Grant Robertson to save our passenger trains between Wellington, the Wairarapa and...

Action

Healthy Oceans 2022

Join our Healthy Oceans Crew to help us keep the health and protection of our oceans high on the Labour Government’s political agenda.

Action

It's time: A Ministry for Rainbow Communities

Join our call asking the Prime Minister to establish a Ministry for Rainbow Communities that can champion Rainbow issues.

Action

No new mines on conservation land

Sign the open letter asking Labour Ministers to stick to their promise of banning new mining projects on conservation land.

Action

Allow community ownership of our buses

Public transport is an essential service and helps to tackle the climate crisis by reducing our carbon emissions. But there are barriers to communi...

Action

Local Events

We have activists across Aotearoa / New Zealand who are working hard to build a brighter future for our kids and grandkids. This page lists upcomin...

Latest Social Development Announcements

Story

Government must end benefit sanctions and cancel debt

The Government needs to end benefit sanctions, cancel debt to the Ministry of Social Development, and immediately lift benefits, says the Green Party.

Liveable incomes needed

With benefit changes coming into effect tomorrow, the Green Party is calling on the Government to lift benefits to liveable levels to make sure eve...

Child poverty stats show need for action

The Green Party is calling on the Government to immediately provide more support to families doing it toughest.

Govt must urgently wipe MSD debt

The Green Party is calling on the Government to clear debt people are being forced into by MSD, and support those doing it toughest.

Additional cyclone support needed for people

The Green Party welcomes the relief funding announced today and calls on the Government to go further by providing additional direct support to peo...

Greens call for Civil Defence Payment to be doubled

The Green Party is today calling on the Government to double the maximum Civil Defence Payment for Aucklanders affected by flooding.

Policy

Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy

The arts and cultural heritage have inherent value as well as economic value, and both contributions should be recognised and supported. The Green ...

Policy

Gambling Policy

We should reduce the social harm from gambling and ensure community groups don’t need to reply on gambling revenue. Gambling legislation and regula...

Story

$3.5 million in anonymous donations to National in 2017, it needs to be fixed

Over $3.5 million in anonymous donations to the National Party in 2017 shows why we urgently need donations reform in Aotearoa New Zealand, Green P...

Stop powerful vested interests and preserve democracy: Green Party

The Green Party is calling for a major rethink of how political parties accept donations in New Zealand.

Marama Davidson returning to New Zealand

Green Party MP Marama Davidson is safe and well and is expected to be deported from Israel imminently, after being detained in Tel Aviv, the Green ...

Overseas SkyCity steel jobs expose holes in pokies-for-convention-centre deal

The Government needs to come clean about how many more of the construction-related jobs for the SkyCity convention centre will actually be overseas...