Message from the Minister and the Chief Executive

The Ministry of Women's Affairs exists to provide government with well-researched, practical policy advice that will improve the lives of New Zealand women. Its work is guided by the priorities laid out in the Action Plan for New Zealand Women, the five-year, whole-of-government programme launched in March 2004.

This Statement of Intent has been prepared in accordance with section 38 of the Public Finance Act 1989. The information contained within it is consistent with the policies and performance expectations of the government.

It sets out plans for the next three years, so covers much of the implementation of the Action Plan. The Ministry leads work on a few areas of the Plan, but more commonly its role is to provide specialist advice and support to other government agencies and to help monitor progress. This means that it must influence more than it directs, and it must develop tools to help measure the success of the programmes aimed at improving the economic sustainability, well-being and work-life balance of women.

Measurement will always be an issue, because the factors that cause barriers to women achieving their full potential are often complex and require time and many different interventions, only some of which are by government. Nevertheless positive change does come and it starts with good policy. The Ministry can point to work that it has initiated or progressed that has made a real difference to New Zealand women over the past two decades. The work programme set out in this Statement of Intent continues that work and will benefit women, and New Zealand as a whole, in the coming years.

RUTH DYSON
Minister of Women's Affairs 19 May 2005

SHENAGH GLEISNER
Chief Executive 19 May 2005

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Message from the Minister and the Chief Executive