Hon Grant Robertson
Minister for Sport and Recreation
12 March 2018 MEDIA STATEMENT
Black Ferns pay agreement a welcome step forward for women’s sport
New Zealand Rugby’s agreement to offer 30 Black Ferns players contracts through a professional performance programme is
a welcome step forward in boosting pay in women’s sport, Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson says.
“It’s great to see the NZRU, and the NZ Rugby Players Association come to the table with a guaranteed retainer, assembly
fees and other benefits including entitlements around maternity leave,” Grant Robertson says.
“Sport is at the heart of New Zealand’s national identity. But our professional women sport stars are not as well paid
as their male counterparts. New Zealanders are rightly proud of our world-beating female athletes, and it is encouraging
to see their skills and professionalism recognised like this.
“Hopefully this is just the start. I know the NZRU is working on a sustainable model for women’s professional rugby. In
the longer term I look forward to a time when our women’s sport stars are able to be contracted professionally
full-time, like their male counterparts,” Grant Robertson says.