What we do

The Ministry of Women’s Affairs,
Te Minitatanga mō ngā Wāhine, is the Government’s principal advisor on achieving better outcomes for women in New Zealand. The Ministry has three priority areas: greater economic independence, more women in leadership and increased safety from violence. 

Increased safety for women
Learn about the research and policies to reduce violence against women. Violence against women comes at a great cost to individuals, their families, communities, society and the economy.
Women in leadership
Learn about the initiatives to increase the number of women in leadership positions and find out how you can develop your own goverance career.
Economic independence
Learn about how women in New Zealand can increase their economic independence, bringing benefits to themselves and their families.

Info and resources

Read more about our work and the resources we have available.

Reminder: update your governance CV
Do we have your updated governance CV? If not, read here how to send in your updated CV.
Changes in women’s earnings (2013)
This report, prepared by NZIER, describes the drivers of changes in the economic returns to women’s skills over the past 30 years and considers how these drivers may affect returns to women’s skills over the next 10 to 15 years.
Preparing for a board role?
Find out more about preparing for governance roles and do an assessment of your governance skills.
International
Learn about the international agreements that protect and promote the rights of women in New Zealand and around the world.

Latest news

Read the latest news and media releases from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

Applications open for Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships
Applications are now open for this year’s Prime Minister’s Business Scholarships.
New research on women in the electricity supply industry
Women’s Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew has launched new research from the Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation (ESITO) on how to attract and retain more women in their industry.

Upcoming events

19th Sep
Suffrage Day