Women
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Women’s Minister Paula Bennett has today released guidance for private sector companies about actions they can take to close their gender pay gap.

“The Ministry for Women has spoken to 26 companies about their experiences and what they’re doing to close the gap. Twelve companies have released their profiles publically while another 14 had off the record conversations. These companies recognise addressing this issue is crucial to their organisation and their employees,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Women
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Women’s Minister Paula Bennett and Defence Minister Mark Mitchell are congratulating the Royal New Zealand Air Force for an initiative aimed at attracting more young women into the Air Force.

The School to Skies programme highlights the range of technical and aviation careers available in the Air Force to years 12 and 13 girls with an interest in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Mark Mitchell Paula Bennett Defence Women
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Women’s Minister Paula Bennett has today announced that the Government has reached its target of appointing 45 per cent of women to state sector boards and committees, the highest percentage ever.

“The government set this target in 2011 and now we’ve reached 45.3 per cent of women on state sector boards. This has been a priority for us and I’m now determined to not only maintain this level but increase it even further,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Women
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Minister for Women Paula Bennett and Minister for Social Development Anne Tolley have announced the Government is providing $50,000 over the next year to assist KidsCan supply schools with sanitary products.

“This funding will provide sanitary products to the schools KidsCan supports. It’s expected that over 16,500 packs will be supplied to around 2,000 girls,” says Mrs Bennett.

Anne Tolley Paula Bennett Women Social Development
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Good afternoon, and thank you for coming along today. I’d like to acknowledge Chris Till and the Human Resources Institute for hosting me. 

This is my first major speech as Minister for Women and that seems quite appropriate given that tomorrow is International Women’s Day. 

Paula Bennett Women
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Women’s Minister Paula Bennett has today expressed disappointment at the findings of new research which shows bias and perceptions about women in the workplace are what’s driving the Gender Pay Gap.

“The Gender Pay Gap has remained static for a decade now at around 12 per cent. This new research shows that the traditional reasons for women lagging behind, including the types of work they carry out, family responsibilities, education and age are not the main reasons,” Mrs Bennett says.

Paula Bennett Women
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State Services Minister Paula Bennett has welcomed an agreement with unions which will see the Government’s new pay equity principles applied for the first time.

In November the Government announced it had accepted the recommendations of the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity. The Principles were developed by the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity to make it easier for women to file pay equity claims with their employers, and assist employers in addressing those claims, rather than having to go through the courts.

Paula Bennett Women State Services
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Some of New Zealand’s most inspiring women have been recognised in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list released today.

Olympian Valerie Adams, Maori educator Georgina Kingi and former Wellington Mayor Fran Wilde were all made Dames Companion and were among 81 women to receive a New Year Honour. Minister for Women Paula Bennett says all New Zealanders will be celebrating their achievements.

Paula Bennett Women
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It’s now easier for young girls and women to pursue career opportunities in science, technology engineering and maths, Womens’ Minister Louise Upston says.

The ‘STEM Directory’ is a new online tool launched by the Ministry for Women and identifies initiatives, programmes and associations through which young girls and women can connect, discover and learn about science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM).

Louise Upston Women
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The Minister for Women Louise Upston has today welcomed the selection of the first Future Directors participant since the expansion to the state sector.

Ruth Smithers will join the WorkSafe New Zealand board early in the New Year, following the expansion of the Future Directors programme to include state sector boards and committees in June this year.

Louise Upston Women
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Minister for Women Louise Upston has today announced changes to the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women to strengthen its focus on breaking down barriers facing women in work.

“The aim of the Council is to drive genuine and sustainable change for women in the workplace, and ensure their skills are fully utilised. To achieve this, I have asked the Council to focus on five critical areas preventing women from reaching their potential at work.

Louise Upston Women
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The Government will update the Equal Pay Act and amend the Employment Relations Act to implement recommendations of the Joint Working Group on Pay Equity.

This will make it easier for women to file pay equity claims with their employers, rather than having to go through the courts. It will also assist employers in addressing those claims.

“The Government has accepted the recommendations of the Joint Working Group, which set out principles for raising and resolving pay equity claims through bargaining,” State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Louise Upston Michael Woodhouse Paula Bennett Workplace Relations and Safety Women State Services
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The 2016 Enterprising Rural Women Awards have been announced overnight, with the winners displaying dynamic, resourceful and successful entrepreneurship and business acumen, the Minister for Women Louise Upston says.

Rotorua’s Amy Dibley, Founder and Director of Physio Direct was named the supreme winner of the annual awards, which are run by Rural Women New Zealand to showcase successful rural business women.

Louise Upston Women
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Louise Upston, Minister for Women, has congratulated the winners of the 2016 YWCA Equal Pay Awards.

The awards recognise best practice among business leaders actively tackling equal pay within their organisations.

“I am proud to support this initiative which celebrates employers that are committed to this very important work,” Ms Upston told the audience of business and state sector leaders.

ANZ was named Supreme winner.

Trophy winners also included Simpson Grierson, Youthtown Inc and Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation winning.

Louise Upston Women
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Minister for Women, Louise Upston, tonight announced the 2016 NEXT Woman of the Year award winners in Education, Health and Science, and Sports. 

The NEXT Woman of the Year annual awards celebrate outstanding female leaders across six diverse categories.

Ms Upston, who was a member of the judging panel, said to the 30 finalists that their success would inspire other women to aim high and push the boundaries of what they could accomplish.

Louise Upston Women
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Minister for Women Louise Upston says she’s disappointed to see an increase in the gender pay gap.

The New Zealand Income Survey released today by Statistics New Zealand shows the gender pay gap is now 12 percent, up from 11.8 per cent in 2015.

“While it’s been encouraging to see a downwards trend in Gender Pay Gap figures over the past 17 years, this year’s result is disappointing.”

Louise Upston Women
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Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, and Employment, and Minister for Women, Louise Upston has today opened the inaugural Women in Trades Conference, where she’s encouraged more women to consider a career in the trades.

“People need to push aside gender stereotypes and encourage young women to consider careers in trades where there is high growth and high demand, like building and construction.” Ms Upston said.

Louise Upston Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Women
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Minister for Women Louise Upston has today announced a reformed National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (‘the Council’), which will address key issues facing women in work.

The Council will be comprised of a group of highly experienced business people who will tackle the ongoing barriers to women’s full participation in the workforce. The new Council has the skills, knowledge and practical experience and will be key influencers and leaders of genuine and sustainable change for women in the workplace.

Louise Upston Women
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Minister for Women Louise Upston has welcomed funding for Women’s Refuge to help it continue to support women by giving them somewhere to go when they need emergency accommodation.

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett announced that Budget 2016 funding, directly targeted at emergency housing, has so far resulted in 30 organisations providing 3032 new and existing emergency places.

That includes $200,000 per year for Women’s Refuge to fund more than 800 existing places around the country each year.

Louise Upston Women
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The best way to recognise the significance of the suffragists’ achievement 123 years ago is to engage and participate in the democratic process today, Minister for Women Louise Upston says.

“Women’s right to vote was a massive step towards gender equality and should never be considered lightly.”

On September 19, 1893, New Zealand became the first nation in the world to grant women the right to vote.

Louise Upston Women
Speech

Talofa lava, and warm Pacific greetings.

I wish to extend my deepest thanks to our hosts, the Government of Samoa.  

I want to acknowledge my counterpart, and our Chair for this meeting, the Hon Faimalotoa Kika Iemaima Stowers, Minister for Women, Community and Social Development. 

To my other Ministerial counterparts and colleagues who have travelled from far and wide, greetings to you all.

A special thanks to the Commonwealth Secretariat for their kind invitation to speak today.  I am honoured to be here.

Louise Upston Women
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Minister for Women Hon Louise Upston tomorrow travels to Apia to attend the eleventh Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers’ Meeting (11WAMM). While in Apia, Ms Upston will also meet with Samoan women leaders.

Ms Upston then travels to Australia to attend discussions with leaders on women’s leadership and economic independence.

“New Zealand has a strong tradition of gender equality. This is an important opportunity to share our work across the region and to learn from others,” Ms Upston said.

Louise Upston Women