Good governance in Aotearoa New Zealand means that women are represented in leadership and governance roles at all levels. We know that women have the skills and talents to succeed and lead us into the future.
We need to identify, support, and grow future generations of women in governance in Aotearoa New Zealand, and encourage them to take the next step into governance roles.
Research shows that when women and men work together on boards, there is better governance and economic performance results. Governance boards that are more gender diverse consider a wider range of issues and perspectives and generate more innovative solutions.
One measure of success is the number of women on public sector boards and committees. As at 31 December 2023, women hold 53.9% of public sector boards and committee roles. Women also make up 46.2% of public sector board chairs.
Women also hold 55.9% of senior management roles (Tiers 1 – 3) in the public sector, including 48.0% of Tier 1 roles (as at 30 October 2023).
However, women are currently under-represented in governance and leadership roles in the private sector, with women holding 31.0% of director positions across NZX-listed companies, including 36.4% of S&P/NZX50 company director positions (as at 31 December 2023).
It is also critical that we recognise the contribution of women in the community and voluntary sectors who are not as frequently recognised.
There are benefits to having women in governance roles:
- Diversity of thought: a diverse leadership team will consider a wider range of issues from a variety of perspectives and generate more innovative solutions.
- Representation: research shows that the interests of women, children, and families are more likely to be considered by women, which could lead to decisions or policies with better outcomes.
Nominations Service
Manatū Wāhine has a dedicated Nominations Service that is available to support women to start, or further, their governance career in the public service.
Our Nominations Service:
- supports women to start their governance careers and advises women enrolled on our nominations database about vacancies on public sector boards and committees
- supports public sector agencies with a board vacancy to find high-calibre women candidates
- works to maintain women’s representation at a minimum of 50% for Minister-appointed roles on public sector boards and communities
- works to increase the gender and ethnic representation on these boards
- works with other government agencies and organisations that also provide nominations services to Ministers and government agencies seeking to fill board vacancies
- undertakes an annual stocktake of gender and ethnic diversity on public sector boards and committees
- maintains the Leadership Learning Hub, a centralised place showcasing a range of courses and resources to grow women's leadership and governance skills in New Zealand.
We encourage women, as appropriate, to also consider joining these agency databases:
- Ministry for Ethnic Communities
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples
- Te Puni Kōkiri Ministry of Māori Development - Governance and Appointments
- Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People
- The Treasury (preferably women with significant board experience).