Action plan for New Zealand women

Significant progress has been made to improve the circumstances of women in New Zealand over recent years. Economic indicators show that the percentage of women in the paid workforce has increased; women’s unemployment has decreased; and more women are employed in professional and managerial occupations. Increasing numbers of women are moving into self- employment.

Generally, women achieve better outcomes than men in education, including Bachelor degree completion. Paid parental leave and improved access to early childhood education and care help women and their partners to balance participation in the paid workforce with family commitments. In the area of general health, indicators show a steady improvement in women’s life expectancy, and a reduction in heart disease and cervical cancer mortality rates.

Despite progress made, a gender and ethnic analysis shows that inequalities still exist between men and women, and between different groups of women, across a wide range of indicators.

Many women continue to earn less than men and remain responsible for much of the unpaid work needed in families and communities. Women continue to face difficulties accessing essential resources and services for themselves and their dependants. Many women experience significant risks to their independence, security, safety and health. For Māori women, Pacific women, rural women, women with disabilities, ethnic women and some older women, the barriers to full participation in society and economic security are frequently magnified.

The Action Plan for New Zealand Women is inclusive, recognising the importance of the connections and relationships women have with men, children, other women, families/whānau, communities and society as a whole. The Plan recognises the differing priorities, choices and needs of groups of women, women in the context of families and whānau, and women as individuals. With these considerations in mind, the Plan has been formulated to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for women.

Through an extended process of analysis and consultation, three key themes emerged to provide a conceptual framework for the Plan. The New Zealand government has prioritised actions to improve outcomes for women in these three inter-related areas:

• ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY, to improve women’s economic independence and ability to contribute to the New Zealand economy (ensure access to a good level of income, and the skills and knowledge that will help women maximise their financial resources)
• WORK-LIFE BALANCE, to help women achieve a greater balance between paid work and life outside work
• WELL-BEING, to improve health and social outcomes for women.

Working to achieve improvements in these areas progresses New Zealand towards the vision for New Zealand women shown below.

VISION

Aotearoa/New Zealand will be an equitable, inclusive and sustainable society where ALL WOMEN CAN ACHIEVE THEIR ASPIRATIONS, and, in addition, MAORI WOMEN, AS TANGATA WHENUA, CAN PROGRESS THE ASPIRATIONS OF THEIR WHĀNAU, HAPŪ AND IWI.

NB: Key indicators provide an overarching illustration of progress made; a range of indicators will be monitored to inform progress towards advancement of the Plan's objectives.

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