Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaking to reporters at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaking to reporters at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
An advocacy group says around 5000 invoices have been emailed to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon by women claiming payment for lost wages due to the gender pay gap.
The gender pay gap is based on the difference in hourly earnings between men and women. Itis currently 5.2%, the lowest since records began, but pay differences are even starker for Māori and Pacific women when compared to pākehā.
In a campaign designed to get Luxon’s attention, advocacy group Still Minding the Gap organised for women to send the Prime Minister’s office around 5000 emails containing “invoices” for the difference in their earnings compared to men.
Luxon said he was aware his office had received emails and “as you know, we have made good progress on the pay gender gap”.
“It’s at 5.2%, it’s better than what we see in Australia and the UK but of course, there is a lot more for us to do.”
Jo Cribb says mandating pay gap reporting would help address gender pay gap issues. Photo / Dean Purcell
Still Minding the Gap project leader Dr Jo Cribb said mandated gender pay gap reporting would help address gender pay gap issues. The previous Labour Government had pledged to make it compulsory for public and private companies with more than 250 workers to publish gender pay gap reports.
This Government has produced new gender pay gap resources and a voluntary tool allowing businesses to calculate their own pay gaps, but it has not introduced any mandatory pay gap reporting measures.
“This is a difficult time for many in New Zealand - the cost-of-living crisis, increased fuel prices that are set to soar, and the people who are most impacted by this are those who can afford it the least,” Cribb said.
“Around 5000 women have emailed the Prime Minister. We think they deserve a reply. New Zealand women deserve to know where Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stands on this issue. How many emails does he need to get in order to give us an answer?”
The gender pay gap is an official statistic measured once a year by Stats NZ and published in a percentage form. It is currently 5.2%, the lowest since records began in 1998.
An NZME business lunch in Christchurch featuring Leeann Watson of Business Canterbury, Minister for Women Nicola Grigg (centre), and Adam Heazlewood of Bayleys Canterbury. Photo / NZME
But the differences in earnings for Māori and Pacific women is much higher. Compared to all men, Māori women on average earn 12% less and Pacific women earn 15.8% less. Another measure of economic wellbeing, unemployment rates, for Māori and Pacific women are nearly double the overall rate for women in general.
Minister for Women Nicola Grigg said in a statement in November last year that these figures indicated although progress was being made, there was still a long way to go. Grigg launched a new toolkit last year that included the pay gap calculator and guidance for women wanting to discuss pay at work.
“I’m incredibly proud of the businesses that have leaned into addressing their gender pay gaps,” she said.
“We know there is more to do to keep growing incomes and closing the pay gap and I encourage all employers to make this a priority. Our Government is focused on supercharging the economy so that all New Zealanders are better off, including women and girls across the country.”
Julia Gabel is a Wellington-based political reporter. She joined the Herald in 2020 and has most recently focused on data journalism.
