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Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has welcomed the launch of the new Voluntary Code of Practice for Board Recruitment, developed by the 25 Percent Group, which supports improved practices in board recruitment.

“I applaud the Code as a further commitment by the private sector towards increasing the number of women in governance. I especially want to congratulate the six recruitment firms who have already signed up to the Code and I look forward to other firms adopting it over time,” said Mrs Goodhew.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew today joined with the Institute of Directors in Auckland to celebrate the successful completion of its 2012 mentoring programme, and welcome a new intake of 27 women for 2013.

“The Institute of Directors is to be congratulated for its persistence and commitment to increasing the number of women on private sector boards,” Mrs Goodhew said.

State Services Minister Dr Jonathan Coleman and Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew welcomed the release of a new survey showing positive progress for women in the public sector.

The State Services Commission has today released its 2012 Human Resources Capability Survey which has recorded in increase in the number of women appointed to senior leadership roles.

“At just over 42 per cent, we now have the highest percentage of women in senior leadership positions since the HRC survey began,” Mrs Goodhew said.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew is pleased that the New Zealand Income Survey out today shows the gender pay gap has reached an all-time low.

“The New Zealand Income Survey shows that the gender pay gap has decreased from 9.6 percent to 9.3 percent in the last financial year; the lowest since the NZIS began in 1997,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“The economic independence of women is imperative for a healthy economy and a number of recent economic indicators are showing positive signs in spite of continuing global uncertainty.

Traci Houpapa has been appointed Chair of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW) and Galia BarHava-Monteith has been appointed Deputy Chair, Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew announced today.

Mrs Goodhew also announced the appointment of Dr Airini and Norah Barlow as new members of NACEW.

Women's Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew hosted a breakfast at Parliament this morning to celebrate Suffrage Day.

“This Suffrage Day let’s reaffirm our commitment to ensuring New Zealand continues to be a world leader in gender equality,” Mrs Goodhew said.

Suffrage Day marks the anniversary of those who pioneered New Zealand women's right to vote in 1893.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew was saddened to hear of the passing of Jacqui Te Kani last night.

“Jacqui devoted her life to helping and leading others. She made an incredible contribution across many sectors, to individuals and to communities in New Zealand,” Mrs Goodhew says.

“Jacqui worked tirelessly to make improvements to the lives of women, and especially Māori women. She will be greatly missed.

The United Nations Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) has commended New Zealand for having the fundamentals in place for the continuing advancement of women, Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew says.

Mrs Goodhew presented New Zealand’s progress report at the CEDAW Committee hearing in New York earlier this month. Prepared every four years, this is a ‘report card’ on how well New Zealand women are doing according to international benchmarks.

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew departs tomorrow on a visit to Washington, DC and New York.  On Wednesday 18 July she will present New Zealand’s seventh report to the United Nations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

“The CEDAW report, prepared every four years, is a ‘report card’ on how well New Zealand women are doing according to international benchmarks,” says Mrs Goodhew.

The ministerial responsibility and funding for the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW) is being transferred from Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson to Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew, the two Ministers announced today.

“NACEW is an important advocate for women in the workplace. Since its establishment in 1967, the council has had an instrumental role in influencing changes to legislation and policy to recognise and develop women’s employment in New Zealand,” Ms Wilkinson says.

The creation of the 25 Percent Group and its commitment to increase the number of women in leadership roles has been applauded by Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew.

“Diversity in leadership is vital for building and sustaining New Zealand’s competitive edge in an increasingly challenging and volatile global market,” Mrs Goodhew said.

Sexual violence can have widespread and long-lasting adverse effects on health, relationships, employment and the well-being of our families and communities says Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew.

“For some women, these effects begin in childhood or adolescence and continue throughout their lives.”

Rape Awareness Week is May 1-7 and this year’s theme “Consent is Sexy” aims to engage young people in discussions on preventing sexual violence.

An NZX proposal to introduce a new diversity rule for its members is welcomed by Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew.

“This initiative from NZX will help increase diversity in the leadership of New Zealand companies,” says Mrs Goodhew.

“Diversity in leadership is important for building and sustaining New Zealand’s competitive edge in an increasingly challenging and volatile global market.”

Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew salutes the women and men who have fought for women’s rights and empowerment and who have achieved progress across all spheres of our society.

“On International Women’s Day, I am pleased to say that as a country, we have positive achievements. New Zealand is currently placed sixth out of 135 countries in the World’s Economic Forum’s Global gender Gap Index, almost two-thirds of our university graduates are women and, at 9.6 per cent, we have the second lowest pay gap in the OCED.