Māori women in focus

Māori women play a significant role in developing and sustaining Māori communities culturally, socially and economically. The Action Plan for New Zealand Women aims to assist Māori women to progress the aspirations of their whānau, hapū and iwi.

Across a range of indicators, Māori women experience poorer economic, health and social outcomes than other New Zealand women. As economic position is a key determinant of health and other social outcomes, working to remedy Māori women's low income levels and improve their overall economic position, will have positive downstream impacts on other dimensions of their lives and New Zealand society. It is important to note that within New Zealand's ageing population, the Māori population is relatively young and strategies to achieve improvements for Māori women must be targeted accordingly.

PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR MĀORI WOMEN
Māori women's interests, as tangata whenua and as individual members of wider society, have been instrumental in the development of the Plan. Where circumstances for Māori are extremely critical, or present significant development opportunities, these have been recognised as a matter of priority for the government.

ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY

• Identify success factors for small and medium-sized enterprises to enhance sustain-able business growth among businesses owned and operated by Māori women
• Explore options to enhance Māori women's participation in managing collectively owned assets
• Explore options to increase Māori women's participation in sustainable employment (Goals 6 and 8, Employment Strategy)
• Review the social assistance regime to improve circumstances of low-income families and beneficiaries.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE

• Review the ECE funding framework to support increased Māori participation in quality ECE
• Consider Māori women's whānau commitments in developing policy options to improve work-life balance.
  

\WELL-BEING
Provide gender and ethnic specific advice, and monitor outcomes, to ensure health initiatives prevent and reduce:

• Māori women’s smoking rates
• the incidence of obesity in Māori women
• the rate of unplanned teenage pregnancies.
• Provide gender and ethnic specific advice and monitor the outcomes of Te Rito: New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy for reductions in violence against Māori women.
  

MĀORI WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
Increase the number and capabilities of Māori women in leadership and decision-making roles through monitoring Māori women’s participation and supporting programmes that enhance skills in this area, and through the Ministry of Women’s Affairs’ Nominations Service.

SERVICES BY MĀORI, FOR MĀORI
The implementation of ‘Services by Māori, for Māori’ provides an active role for Māori women in the social, economic and cultural development of whānau, hapü and iwi services. The government supports and promotes this approach in policy development to ensure policies contribute in a positive manner to whānau, hapü and iwi, to Māori development and sustainability, and to Māori
achieving their own aspirations. Where whānau, hapū and iwi have the power to arrange and control their own development, they are generally able to participate more effectively in the economic, social and cultural life of their communities. This participation increases both social and human capital for Māori, which is of benefit to New Zealand.

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