Report: Wāhine Māori and the Gender Pay Gap
No matter how we measure, large ethnic pay gaps exist for wāhine Māori. Compared to all men, gender and ethnicity combine to create a pay gap of 15.0%, and compared with tāne Māori, wāhine Māori experience a pay gap of 4.7%.
Pay gaps for wāhine Māori vary by occupation. The most common occupations for wāhine Māori are as professionals, as community and personal services workers, and as clerical and administration workers.
Professionals have the highest hourly pay. However, they also have the one of the highest pay gaps for wāhine Māori: 15.0%. Over 13% of wāhine Māori work as managers, where the pay gap is 20.0% compared with all male managers.
Employers have an important role in reducing inequality and ensuring that the capability and contributions of wāhine Māori are realised, valued, and rewarded.
| Occupation (by most to fewest wāhine Māori) | Wāhine Māori median hourly pay | All men's median hourly pay | Wāhine Māori's pay gap compared with all men |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professionals (45,800 wāhine) | $40.76 | $47.95 | 15.0% |
| Community and Personal Service workers (27,500 wāhine) | $27.00 | $29.50 | 8.5% |
| Clerical and Administration workers (26,900 wāhine) | $30.69 | $33.56 | 8.6% |
| Managers (24,000 wāhine) | $34.50 | $43.15 | 20.0% |
| Labourers (20,700 wāhine) | $25.66 | $27.33 | 6.1% |
| Sales workers (16,700 wāhine) | $25.03 | $26.78 | 6.5% |
| Technicians and Trade workers (8,300 wāhine) | $26.00 | $32.00 | 18.8% |
| Machinery operators and drivers (5,500 wāhine) | $27.49 | $30.39 | 9.5% |
| Total All Occupations (177,500 wāhine) | $29.71 | $34.95 | 15.0% |
There are around 195,700 wāhine Māori employed in the New Zealand labour force (as at September 2024).
Of wāhine Māori aged 15 or older, in 2024:
- 65.9% were in the labour force (employed, or looking for employment)
- 60.0% were employed
- 8.9% of wāhine Māori in the labour force were unemployed.
A 2018 study by the Ministry of Education (drawing from their 2018 PISA database) showed that 15-year-old Māori girls aspired to the following top 10 careers:
- Lawyer
- Beautician
- Nurse
- Psychologist
- Veterinarian
- Police officer
- Flight attendant
- Doctor
- Film and stage director or producer
- Physiotherapist
Wāhine Māori in Business
In May 2024, the Ministry released new research on the Māori women’s economy. This research was undertaken by Business and Economic Research Ltd (BERL).
The report highlights the economic and wellbeing contributions of wāhine Māori in households, businesses, and communities, detailing their socio-economic participation, labour market outcomes, business ownership, leadership, and the value of unpaid work.
It found that wāhine Māori generated $5.9 billion to the economy, or 1.9% of the National GDP. The report examined the unpaid work undertaken by wāhine Māori and valued it at $6.6 billion. Combined, the wāhine Māori economy is estimated to be valued at $12.5 billion, or 3.2% of the National GDP.
The research also found that young wāhine Māori are one of the most rapidly growing cohorts of entrepreneurs in New Zealand business, achieving increasingly higher levels of education and starting businesses at a faster rate.
2019 research on wāhine Māori in business found:
- Around 6,500 wāhine Māori are in business (or 3% of all wāhine Māori), with business ownership highest among wāhine aged 45-60.
- Wāhine Māori who own businesses are more likely to be based in rural and provincial areas than non-business owners.
- The top industries for wāhine Māori businesses were agriculture, forestry and fishing; professional, scientific and technical services; construction; and health care and social assistance.
Wāhine Māori in Leadership
Wāhine Māori hold important positions of leadership across society – in education, politics, health, justice, governance, community, and much more.
The Ministry undertakes an annual stocktake of public sector boards and committees. As at December 2023, wāhine Māori held 15.7% of board roles and made up 28.7% of women board chairs.
Following the 2023 election, 17 women Members of Parliament now self-identify as Māori (13.8% of all MPs).
While Māori made up 16.7% of the New Zealand public service (as at 30 June 2024), Māori are under-represented as policy analysts compared with Pākehā public servants. Māori make up 17.1% of tier 1 – 3 leadership in the public sector.