Gender pay gap moving in right direction, says Paula Bennett

The Gender Pay Gap is now 9.4% as of the June Quarter 2017, down from 12% last year.

That's according to Statistics New Zealand. Women's Minister Paula Bennett welcomes this reduction in the Gender Pay Gap of almost three percentage points, and she believes New Zealand can be the first country to eliminate the Gender Pay Gap.

"It's fantastic to see such a significant reduction.

"Don't get me wrong, I still believe having any Gender Pay Gap is completely unacceptable but it's moving in the right direction," adds Bennett.

"As Minister for Women, I've made sure that this is the top priority for both me and the Ministry for Women."

Bennett says it's been great to see this issue increasingly in the media and at the front of minds of chief executives and board chairs.

"The Ministry for Women has been working with the private sector to give advice on how to close the gap and will soon release a tool on how to measure it.

Bennett says there is an underlying link between workplace diversity and the business performance. "Research shows that companies that have diversity are more successful and ultimately make more money."

And Bennett believes businesses are taking this issue seriously.

"I would encourage them to keep promoting women who deserve to be promoted and encourage more women onto boards.

"This is something we've worked hard on in the public sector. We recently reached our goal of 45% of women on State Sector Boards and 46% of women in senior leadership roles in the public service."

"I hope this is an issue we keep talking about and taking action on so that the gap continues to trend in this direction because in 2017 there is absolutely no excuse for someone to be paid less just because of their gender.