More women needed in leadership

Minister of Women’s Affairs Hekia Parata feels New Zealand needs more women around the board tables to increase the productivity of the country’s economy. 

Speaking in front of more than 60 guests at the Lyceum Club in Tauranga on Friday, Hekia celebrated women’s place in politics.

Minister of Women’s Affairs Hekia Parata celebrates women’s place in politics at the Tauranga Lyceum Club with Val Ready.

“We need more diverse thinking around the board tables in New Zealand companies and to do this we need to have more women in leadership roles on the boards of directors.”

Hekia says only 9.3 per cent of directors in the private sector are women.

“Women make up 42 per cent of Parliament but the private sector it is only 9.3 per cent.”

In the last 10 years the New Zealand Stock Exchange has been monitoring the number of women on the boards of directors of New Zealand businesses, and Hekia says a recent Waikato University study shows there is a correlation between businesses that have three or more women on the board and the increase in return to shareholders.

“We need to lift productivity in the economy and it is not the government that makes money but the businesses.”

In order to get more women into leadership roles Hekia says women need to have economic independence and education which the government is constantly working on.

“We are investing in early education and tax reform for women. Bringing down the cost and affects of violence towards women and girls, which costs the country $5.4billion a year.”

Tauranga’s longest serving National Party member Val Ready, 81, was at the meeting and says having women in Parliament and in regional politics is imperative.

“MPs need to know about a women’s point of view. They need to think about the needs of women and children and take those into consideration. Women have to be given equal opportunities in education, politics and pay.”

Val’s father signed her up to the Junior National Party at the age of 16 as a way to increase her interest in school debating.

The Minister was in Tauranga to recognise 75 years of women in the National Party and also commemorate the anniversary of women’s sufferage in 1893.