Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter is challenging the private sector to match the government's commitment for women to make up half of all state-sector boards and committees by 2021.
Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Ms Genter told a Women in Leadership symposium in Auckland the government was committed to increasing women in leadership across all boards in New Zealand and was "leading by example".
"We will ensure half of all directors on state sector boards and committees are women by 2021."
More than 2600 appointments are made to state sector boards every year. These include large SOEs, conservation boards and community trusts.
Ms Genter said there had been a steady increase in representation over the past 20 years, and the previous target of 45 percent was met last year.
She said the target of 50 percent for state sector boards was easily achievable.
"The only reason we don't have 50 percent of women on boards is because there is systemic discrimination against women - historic discrimination.
"It's not because women aren't qualified, there are plenty of qualified hardworking women," Ms Genter said.
In the private sector, however, the 2018 Grant Thorton International annual Women in Business Survey found there were only 18 percent of women in senior leadership roles - the lowest result since the survey began in 2004.
The Women in Leadership symposium in Auckland. Photo: RNZ / Katie Scotcher
Minister 'challenges' private sector
Ms Genter said by making sure the public sector had equal representation at the top, the government hoped to inspire the private sector to lift its game.
"The reason is the public sector has made progress on this is because we had targets and a deliberate effort to increase diversity.
"The private sector needs to catch up.
"We're issuing a challenge across New Zealand to change current workplace cultures and support women into leadership roles, not just because that's the fair thing to do, but also because diversity helps organisations function more effectively."
National Advisory for the Employment for Women chairperson Tracie Houpapa said it was important that women made up half of public boards and committees.
"It shows that there is a commitment to progress and there is a commitment to implementing the conversation and the strategy, so that's important.
"It also gives a benchmark of where we are up to and where we need to be."
The government is also investigating collecting ethnicity data "with a view to ensure diversity and representation of all New Zealanders," Ms Genter said.
By the end of 2017, women represented 45.7 percent of state sector boards and committees.
