NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • Generate wealth weekly
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

PM Jacinda Ardern says Black Ferns should get equal pay and opportunities

NZ Herald
15 Nov, 2022 10:34 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
In 2015 the All Blacks each received a $150k bonus for winning the World Cup, so will the Black Ferns get the same? Video / Claire Trevett

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has agreed with the growing chorus of voices saying the world champion Black Ferns deserve equal pay and equal opportunities to their male counterparts.

A month ago, it was revealed the England women’s rugby team would be paid a $30,000 bonus if they won the World Cup final at Eden Park last Saturday, while the Black Ferns squad were in line to receive nothing.

The All Blacks are in line to win at least $150,000 each should they win their World Cup in France next year.

“From what I have observed of the Black Ferns over a number of years, they’ve asked for nothing more than equality of treatment, you know,” Ardern told journalists in Vietnam, where she is discussing trade with Vietnamese officials before travelling to Bangkok for the Apec Summit.

“Just to have those same opportunities, and they deserve no less, and I feel very strongly about [that].”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Ardern said her stance applied to “every level of the system” and “every level of the game”, including sponsorship, media coverage, merchandise, and even “the meals they have after the game”.

She said the decision on how much they should earn, and if it should match the figure the All Blacks make, is in the hands of New Zealand Rugby.

“But what you’ll hear me certainly promote is that the Black Ferns have been deserving, not just in the last week, but over the last few years.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
The Black Ferns celebrate winning the Women's Rugby World Cup against England. Photo / Dean Purcell
The Black Ferns celebrate winning the Women's Rugby World Cup against England. Photo / Dean Purcell

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson told RNZ today the organisation could change the current arrangement with the Black Ferns in light of their thrilling victory.

He said he was hopeful they would “sort through that” in the next few days.

“It would be nice to do something.”

New Zealand Rugby said in a statement last month its focus was on transitioning the professional women’s players to a fulltime employment model.

A major contract breakthrough this year means the majority of the Black Ferns squad are on retainers of between $35,000 and $70,000 per year.

Some earn more than $130,000 – comparable to lower-end Super Rugby players. Overall, it meant the Black Ferns had higher remuneration than other teams, even with a lack of bonuses.

Sevens rugby star Michaela Blyde told the Herald’s In the Loop podcast last month that while they don’t get bonuses, their salaries had increased “massively” in the last few years.

Robertson said bonuses were decisions for NZ Rugby, but he would be “delighted” if they did that.

There was “extraordinary brand value”, in the Black Ferns as demonstrated over the past six weeks of the tournament, Robertson said, and he believed that would play a part in their future contract negotiations.

Sports and Acting Prime Minister Grant Robertson has said the Black Ferns have taken the game to a place where all New Zealanders could feel a part of it, and it was important to build on the legacy of this year’s tournament.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

“To give the Black Ferns the resources and game time they need, and for all women and girls in sports.”

Robertson said we should be working towards pay parity across all sports.

“This is an area that I’ve spoken about a lot since we launched our women and girls and sports strategy [in 2018].

“I believe we should be working for pay parity across all sports. There are lots of reasons why individual sports will tell you that that isn’t possible.

“One of those in the past has been the commercial value. In this case, I think we saw ample demonstration on the weekend that there is an extraordinary brand value there in the Black Ferns.

“I [have] no doubt that New Zealand Rugby will now be considering that for future negotiations.”

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

He said he believed that eventually the Black Ferns would be paid the same amount as the All Blacks.

“We’ve seen that in other codes and other sports. In Eden Park on Saturday night, I have never felt an atmosphere like that. I think that the talent and skill level of this team was extraordinary.”

Save
    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

Crime

Australian manslaughter defendant accused of fatal Auckland Airport crash named

Premium
New Zealand

Fire and fury: Deadly bee disease spreads in Dannevirke as rumours swirl

New Zealand

Motorsport legend gets well-known Kiwis to drive for him in new podcast


Sponsored

Kiwi campaign keeps on giving

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Australian manslaughter defendant accused of fatal Auckland Airport crash named
Crime

Australian manslaughter defendant accused of fatal Auckland Airport crash named

The victim was dropping off his wife at the airport to attend a funeral in Fiji.

09 Sep 10:24 PM
Premium
Premium
Fire and fury: Deadly bee disease spreads in Dannevirke as rumours swirl
New Zealand

Fire and fury: Deadly bee disease spreads in Dannevirke as rumours swirl

09 Sep 10:13 PM
Motorsport legend gets well-known Kiwis to drive for him in new podcast
New Zealand

Motorsport legend gets well-known Kiwis to drive for him in new podcast

09 Sep 09:48 PM


Kiwi campaign keeps on giving
Sponsored

Kiwi campaign keeps on giving

07 Sep 12:00 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP