1990

1990

The Employment Equity Act established a mechanism to assess the comparative worth of jobs. However, later in the year, the incoming government repealed the legislation.

Dame Catherine Tizard was appointed New Zealand's first woman Governor-General.  Image: provided by Government House © image copyright conditions

Wahine Pakari, a programme encouraging Māori women into self-employment, was established by Te Ohu Whakatupu (the Māori Women's Policy Unit of the Ministry of Women's Affairs).

The Bill of Rights Act 1990 set out basic rights, including freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sex and marital status.

The Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Amendment Act gave people under 16 years access to information on contraception and to supplies of contraceptives.

The Nurses Amendment Act gave midwives autonomy to take full responsibility for a woman throughout pregnancy and childbirth.

Ruth Richardson became the first woman Minister of Finance. Image: ATL EP_1993_4495_3 © image copyright conditions

The new National Government repealed the Labour Government's Employment Equity Act and established a Working Party on Equity in Employment. On its recommendation, the Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Trust was established in 1991 to promote the business benefits of equal employment opportunities to all employers.

Penny Jamieson, Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, was ordained the first Anglican Bishop in the world.

1991

Amendments to the Crimes and Summary Proceedings Act made it more difficult for violent offenders to get bail, reducing the trauma for women involved in court action against them.

1992

Through the Child Support Act 1991, the Inland Revenue Department took over assessing the maintenance payable by a non-custodial parent and enforcing payment. Custodial parents who were not beneficiaries were also covered by the Act, and no longer had to go to court to secure maintenance.

1993

The Human Rights Commission Act was amended to extend the grounds under which discrimination in employment matters, provision of goods and services, and access to places, vehicles and facilities is illegal in New Zealand. The grounds now cover sex, pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, marital status (including living in a relationship in the nature of a marriage), family status (including having or not having responsibility for care of children or other dependants), and disability.

The Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act was passed combining three separate censorship bodies to give greater consistency. It set up structures under which classifications could be reviewed and made possession of all banned material illegal. The Act is seen as a positive step towards recognising that violence and sexual violence against women and children is not acceptable.

Dame Silvia Cartwright was appointed New Zealand's first High Court Judge.  Image: provided by Government House © image copyright conditions

Sandra Lee was elected MP for Auckland Central, making her the first Māori woman to be elected in a general seat and the first woman MP for a third party.  Image: © image copyright conditions

The centennial of women's suffrage in New Zealand raised the profile of women with a number of celebrations throughout the year. Numerous projects were completed and books produced with the aid of grants from the Suffrage Centennial Year Trust Whakatu Wahine.

Helen Clark became the first woman leader of the Labour Party, making her the first woman to lead a major political party in New Zealand and the first woman leader of the opposition. Image: ATL EP_2000_249 © image copyright conditions

Wilma Smith took up the role of New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) Concertmaster, making NZSO history by being the first woman appointed to a traditionally male role. Image: Provided by The NZSO © image copyright conditions

Anna Paquin was the first New Zealand female to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Jane Campion's film The Piano. Paquin was the second-youngest winner in Oscar history, aged 11 years.

The Government released "Status of Women in New Zealand 1994", the second report on New Zealand's progress in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

1995

The Domestic Violence Act was aimed at reducing and preventing violence in domestic relationships by recognising that domestic violence is unacceptable behaviour; and ensuring that there is effective legal protection for its victims.

1996

The first General Election was held under the Mixed Member Proportional Representation Electoral System. Parliament increased to 120 MPs, with 36 women MPs elected, making up 30 percent.

Pansy Wong became the first Asian woman MP in the New Zealand Parliament. Image: Provided by the National Party © image copyright conditions

1997

The Shakti Asian Women's Refuge was established in Auckland, serving the Asian migrant and refugee communities in New Zealand.

Jenny Shipley became the country's first woman Prime Minister when she succeeded Jim Bolger as leader of the National Party. Image: ATL © image copyright conditions

1998

The Government released "Status of Women in New Zealand 1998" combining the third and fourth reports on New Zealand's progress in implementing the CEDAW.

The national women's rugby team, the Black Ferns, became world champions at the Rugby World Cup.

Jeanette Fitzsimons became co-leader of the Green Party when it left the Alliance to be an independent political party. Fitzsimons was the third woman to lead a party in Parliament, out of seven parliamentary political parties. Image: Provided by The Green Party © image copyright conditions

1999

Theresa Gattung became New Zealand's first woman chief executive of a major company, appointed CEO of Telecom at age 37. In 2005 she was identified as New Zealand's highest paid chief executive at $2.91 million a year.  Image: Provided by Telecom © image copyright conditions

Margaret Wilson became the first woman Attorney General. Image: Provided by The Labour Party © image copyright conditions

The country's first national survey on time use was funded by the Ministry of Women's Affairs and conducted by Statistics New Zealand.

Luamanuvao Winnie Laban became the first Pacific woman elected to Parliament, as List MP for Labour. She became an electorate MP when she won Mana in 2002. Image: Provided by The Labour Party © image copyright conditions

Helen Clark became New Zealand's first elected woman Prime Minister. Image: Provided by The Labour Party © image copyright conditions

Georgina Beyer became the world's first transsexual MP when she won Wairarapa for Labour. Image: Provided by The Labour Party © image copyright conditions

Dame Sian Elias was sworn in as Chief Justice of the New Zealand Court of Appeal, the first woman to hold that position in New Zealand. She became the first Woman member of the Supreme Court when it was established in 2004. Image: Provided by Government House © image copyright conditions

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