Ninth in the world wouldn’t be enough for the All Blacks

Politicians have been told all Kiwis will benefit from equal pay - and that the government has a golden opportunity to cement its position as the world leader in gender equity.

The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi submitted today on its 10,000-signature petition calling for Cabinet to adopt the Joint Working Group’s recommendations.

Business, unions and the Crown agreed a set of principles which were submitted to Cabinet in May this year, but ministers have not yet come to a decision.

"One MP told me New Zealand had just been found to have the ninth-lowest gender gap in the world by the World Economic Forum," PSA Women’s Network Convenor Virginia Wilton says.

"But ninth-best in the world wouldn’t be good enough for the All Blacks, so New Zealand shouldn’t settle for anything less than first place."

The PSA says equal pay benefits not only women, but the whole community - because fairly-paid women spend more money in local businesses and pay more tax.

"Equal pay has strong support from throughout New Zealand, and we told MPs it’s about time the Cabinet recognised that, and adopted the principles," PSA National Secretary Erin Polaczuk says.

"New Zealand used to be a leader in gender equity, because we were the first country in the world to give women the vote.

"We hope the select committee will recommend further action - and that the MPs will take our very clear message back to their caucus meetings.

"New Zealand women are Worth 100%."

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