Research shows that when there is more gender diversity in leadership, there is better governance, financial performance, and decision-making.
There are benefits to having women in leadership 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.
- Financial performance: gender diverse boards result in better decision-making and improved financial results.
Women’s leadership in New Zealand
Women hold leadership and governance roles across New Zealand from the community and not-for-profit sector through to CEOs of major companies.
Public sector
As at December 2024, women hold 52.1% of public sector boards and committee roles. Women also make up 44.5% of public sector board chairs.
When including ethnicity, NZ European or European women held 34.1% of public sector board roles, wāhine Māori held 14.5%, Pacific women held 3.6%, Asian women held 3.4%, and Middle Eastern, Latin American or African women held 0.3%.
Women hold 56.7% of senior management roles (Tiers 1 – 3) in the public sector, including 49.4% of Tier 1 roles (as at 30 June 2024).
Private sector
Women hold 31.0% of director positions across NZX-listed companies, including 36.4% of S&P/NZX50 company director positions (as at 31 December 2023).
Central and local government
At the national level, after the 2023 election, 57 of 123 MPs (or 46.3%) are women. Since 1933, 197 women have represented New Zealand as MPs.
When including ethnicity at the national level, 17 women Members of Parliament self-identify as Māori (13.8% of all MPs), 4 women Members of Parliament self-identify as Pacific (3.3% of all MPs), and 6 women Members of Parliament self-identify as Asian (4.9% of all MPs).
After the 2022 local government elections, 39% of elected members were women.