Work-Life Balance

The Ministry is committed to working towards a greater work-life balance for all New Zealand families. This policy work seeks to enhance women’s ability to retain attachment to the paid workforce, and make real and beneficial choices about paid work and family commitments, by developing and promoting options that improve the work-life balance of all New Zealanders.

Achievements in work-life balance include economic and social benefits for men, women, families/whānau and communities, which improve New Zealand’s economic prospects and social environment.

The need to achieve work-life balance emerged during the consultation phase of the Action Plan for New Zealand Women, and was raised particularly by Māori and Pacific women. Women emphasised their need for opportunity and choice in relation to paid and unpaid work.

Māori and Pacific women face particular stresses because of their broad range of family responsibilities, they are often engaged in low paid employment, display high levels of community work, and these two population groups have a relatively young age structure.

Childcare

Childcare is a particular focus of our policy work within the area of work life balance. The Ministry will continue to review the availability of social assistance support for childcare with a view to enabling families (particularly those on low incomes and sole parent households) to make the transition to paid employment, education and training, and to help women increase and retain labour force attachment should they choose to.

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs works alongside other policy agencies working towards ensuring the provision of high-quality, affordable childcare for all New Zealanders.