Families, community members and supporters of fair pay gathered on Saturday at Mount Maunganui as part of a nationwide Day of Action, also marking 132 years since women won the right to vote in New Zealand.

Unions Bay of Plenty member and teacher Katy Thorne estimated there were 100-150 people attending the event on the playground side of Mount Drury during the morning, with around 50-60 marching in a short hikoi along the boardwalk to Mauao and back.

Thorne said Mount Drury was “buzzing” with whānau, union members and community supporters gathering to support Women’s Day of Action “in the ongoing fight for the reinstatement of the pay equity claims lost by so many in female-dominated professions”.

Protestors gathered for pay equity at Mount Drury on Saturday, September 20. Photo / Evie Thorne

“I think the Pay Equity process is one that is complex and widely misunderstood,” Thorne said.

“The 12 groups who settled their claims and the 33 groups who had theirs cancelled were following a robust and well-refined exercise which was developed in conjunction with the government and worked on over a number of years, costing those groups hundreds of thousands of dollars.

“This process was very similar to that followed by the group that sets pay for MPs and the documentation for it is easily available online.”

From 10.30am-1.30pm on Saturday, those gathered at the reserve enjoyed a free union-run barbecue and a special performance from a kapa haka group affiliated with IHC.

Protestors marching for pay equity along the boardwalk between Mount Drury and Mauao at Mount Maunganui on Saturday, September 20. Photo / Evie Thorne

Thorne said a cheeky treasure hunt to “find the pay equity money” brought colour and spirit to the cause.

“This is about the ongoing fight for pay equity in Aotearoa,” said E tū organiser Bertie Ratu.

“Care and support workers and many others are still paid less because their jobs have traditionally been done by women. These workers do vital jobs in our communities, and they deserve pay that truly reflects their skills and contribution.”

Protestors gathered for pay equity at Mount Drury on Saturday, September 20. Photo / Evie Thorne

Organised by the NZ Council of Trade Unions, the event was one of many on Saturday, calling for bold and visible demonstrations across the country in response to recent government changes to pay equity legislation.

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden said, at the time under the previous rules, claims were “able to progress without strong evidence of undervaluation”, or without proving the difference in pay was “due to sex-based discrimination or other factors”.

Van Velden said the changes would not only make the pay equity scheme “workable and sustainable”, but “significantly reduce costs to the Crown” by about $2.7 billion a year.

Saturday’s nationwide day of action came a day after the anniversary of women winning the right to vote in 1893.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon denied the new regime was effectively “cutting pay for women”, RNZ reported.

The workplace relations minister has been approached for comment.

Van Velden said people had a right to voice their concerns.

“All Kiwis have a right to protest,” she said. “I support their right to voice concerns, however, anyone can still take a pay equity claim and I’m heartened to hear a union is looking to use the new pay equity system.”

Speaking about Saturday’s march at the Mount, Thorne said women from a range of backgrounds, across the sectors affected by the cancellation of the pay equity claims, stood up and shared personal stories of being underpaid and undervalued simply because their work has traditionally been done by women; as well as the damaging impact from years’ worth of work on the pay equity claims, done in good faith.

One of those voices was former Education Minister Hon Jan Tinetti, who Thorne said delivered an impressive speech reinforcing Labour’s commitment to reinstating the lost claims if they win the next election.

Protestors marching for pay equity along the boardwalk between Mount Drury and Mauao at Mount Maunganui on Saturday, September 20. Photo / Evie Thorne

The crowd then marched in a spirited hikoi along the boardwalk to Mauao and back.

“If we want teaching, nursing, aged care – and other vital professions to society – to be aspirational professions, we need pay that adequately reflects the skillsets needed, qualifications and responsibility involved,” Thorne said.

“This is what Pay Equity is about and why we will not accept our claims being lost.

“It was fantastic to see so many turn up to the event on Saturday and across the country, from across the sectors affected, the show of solidarity from the other unions in the Bay of Plenty, even those uninvolved in the Pay Equity process was phenomenal and demonstrates the strength of feeling about this issue.”