Sue Whale

The Zonta Club of Whakatāne recently invited distinguished former Minister for Women’s Affairs, Steve Chadwick, QSO, to a public meeting to present information about her work as a member of the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity.

Chadwick gave a very informative speech about the work of the non-government voluntary committee that was formed after the Government abolished the work of the previous government on pay equity and moved the funds that were earmarked for workers, who had applied for pay equity and in some cases had been granted it, to other projects.

A formidable team of 10 women, all ex-MPs, under the leadership of Marilyn Waring set to work to investigate the legal, human rights, labour market, Treaty of Waitangi and Pasifika aspects of the denial of pay equity.

They completed and published a comprehensive report on February 24, 2026. You can find it here: www.payequity.org.nz

Over 130,000 low-paid workers, mainly women, are affected by this radical Government move, Chadwick said.

Pay equity is economic justice for women; it is a human right.

Those most affected are social workers, homecare workers, teachers and principals, teacher aides, nurses who do not work in hospitals, veterinarian nurses, clerical administration workers and mental health workers.

The amendment to the Equal Pay Act also contained a section that makes it impossible for the women affected to lodge a new claim for 10 years.

Chadwick gave the audience some stories of how women were affected by this Amendment to the Equal Pay Act, passed under urgency in May 2025.

Care workers in the South Island who travel long distances to look after people who need assistance in their own homes, using their own old cars and buying their own petrol.

They were told their claims were approved, so they bought new cars. Then they were told to sell their cars, the money was not coming after all.

I wonder what happened to women here in Whakatane? Zonta is interested to hear your stories.

(Opinions expressed in this letter are my personal view and not that of any organisation I am a member of.)