Wong’s ‘Do Nothing’ Approach On Women’s Affairs An Embarrassment

As women around New Zealand prepare to celebrate International Women's Day on Monday, New Zealand is being embarrassed on the international stage by the Government’s report to the UN Committee on the Status of Women.

“The report contains false information and shows the status of women has gone backwards in New Zealand since National came to power,” Labour's spokesperson for Women's Affairs Sue Moroney said.

"While Australia will report they’ve introduced 18 weeks' paid parental leave and the US has passed laws making it easier for women to make equal pay claims, New Zealand's report shows its only action in 2009 was to close down the pay and employment equity unit.

"We’re are going backwards and the gap is widening between New Zealand and the likes of Australia and the US. “

In her report, Minister of Women’s Affairs Pansy Wong falsely claims paid parental leave was extended to 14 weeks in 2009, when this extension was made in 2005 under a Labour-led Government - an improvement for families that National voted against.

Pansy Wong’s report also claims the pay and employment equity unit was closed down because it had completed its work, when Minister of Labour, Kate Wilkinson said the unit still had 20 pay equity investigations to complete when she axed it.

"New Zealand has been a world-leader in improving the status of women, but that is being undermined by this Government and a Minister that does not take her role seriously," Sue Moroney said.

"We have come too far, to go backwards now. The Minister should reflect on the fact that all of the landmark improvements for women she has presented to the UN were brought about by Labour and that she voted against all but one of them.

“The Minister is so embarrassed by her weak report that she’s made no public statements about it. All she has said about her appearance at the UN meeting has been how New Zealand wants other nations to sign the convention to eliminate discrimination against women.

"We should lead by example. We can hardly take a strong position with other countries over this issue, when our Government is failing its own obligations."

The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) has also slammed National’s performance on women's issues, saying the Government is ‘sugar coating’ the current situation.

The NCWNZ says there hasn’t been any recent significant progress towards gender equality.

“The Council says women will not benefit from cuts to Adult Community Education, mining on conservation land and privatisation. I agree with them,” Sue Moroney said.

ENDS

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