23 January 2018 for immediate release
Gender Equal NZ welcomes reconvening of pay equity working group
The National Council of Women President and Gender Equal NZ Spokesperson, Vanisa Dhiru says “we are pleased to hear that
the Government is reconvening the Joint Working Group on equal pay – and will be working to introduce new legislation
that better meets the needs of all New Zealanders.”
“The fact that we have a persisting pay gap in New Zealand is absolutely unacceptable”, says Vanisa, “and it’s worse for
some groups of women than others, because of racism, transphobia and other forms of oppression”.
“It’s great that we already have an agreed set of principles by the working group”, says Vanisa, and as the Council of
Trade Unions President Richard Wagstaff said today, having Government, businesses and unions together in the same room
is the best way to ensure that we have equal pay legislation that will make it much easier for claimants to get the
outcome they deserve.
“As New Zealanders we like to tell ourselves that we are equal – in fact, we pride ourselves on it. But there’s a gap –
between what we think happens and what actually happens. The pay gap is proof of this.”
“The news that the Joint Working Group on pay equity has been reconvened is fantastic news.”
ENDS