Unions Bay Plenty representatives handed out free cupcakes with a 20% chunk removed to represent the gender gap in wages during protest action in Tauranga today.

They joined the nationwide protest in support of calls for the Government’s controversial new pay equity law to be repealed as a “top priority” before this year’s general election.

Government MPs say they remain committed to addressing gender discrimination in the workplace and the new pay equity law is already being used to process pay claims.

Graham McKean, local organiser for the Maritime Union of New Zealand, said about 20 representatives of the combined Unions Bay of Plenty held an hour-long protest near Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell’s office on the corner of Spring and Grey Sts today.

“We handed out information about pay equity, enrolling early for the general election, and also free cupcakes with 20% removed to emphasise how this Government views the value of women’s mahi.”

McKean said this was part of a co-ordinated campaign led by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.

He said the Maritime Union of NZ and other Unions Bay of Plenty members were “deeply concerned” with the economic pathway the coalition Government was taking.

“The changes to the Pay Equity Act are a terrible indictment of where this Government places the value of women’s work in society.”

The Pay Equity Amendment Bill passed all stages in Parliament in May, after being rushed through under urgency.

Maritime Union of NZ local organiser Graham McKean. Photo/ NZME

The controversial legislation raised the threshold for proving work had been historically undervalued when making a pay equity claim.

Opponents said it would make it harder for women in female-dominated industries to make a claim.

All opposition parties opposed it.

Thirty-three claims, representing thousands of workers, were dropped.

Ōtūmoetai resident Christine Murphy, and Margaret Down and her daughter Louise Down, both from Pyes Pa, were among today’s protesters.

Murphy said she “fully supported” the Unions Bay of Plenty’s fight for equality for women – not just over equal pay but in every aspect of their lives – especially those in lower-paid jobs.

Margaret Down said she was a member of the NZ Working Women’s Council in the 1970s and was a former primary school teacher who had fought for pay equity for women many times over the years.

She said the Bay of Plenty Times “could not print” what she really thought about the pay equity law changes.

“Women have been fighting for pay equity for decades, and these changes are disgusting.”

Omanu resident Heidi Tidmarsh said she felt “outraged” about the gap in women’s pay compared to men.

“We can run a home, juggle caring for kids, work, and women are very effective, skilled workers, and we shouldn’t be underpaid and undervalued.”

Unions Bay of Plenty co-convenor Jason Smythe said: “We must vote to ensure that our next Government is committed to reinstating and funding pay equity for all workers. This general election, people have the ability and power to vote for pay equity.”

NZ Council of Trade Unions’ secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges said it was calling on political parties to make the recommendations in the report a “bottom-line” heading into the general election.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden, who spearheaded the changes, said the new pay equity law was already being used to process pay claims.

“As I said at the time, equal pay is here to stay, and a pay equity system remains.

“It makes the regime simpler and more robust, focused squarely on sex-based discrimination, sets out a transparent process through which employers and employees can negotiate questions of equal value.”

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. Photo / NZME

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell said the Government, which amended the process for raising and settling a pay equity claim, remained committed to addressing gender discrimination in the workplace.

“As of the June 2025 quarter, New Zealand’s national gender pay gap is 5.2%, the lowest on record. This is a significant decrease from 8.2% in June 2024.

“Equal pay is not being changed in any way. It doesn’t make sense to compare administrative staff with mechanical engineers. The updated process will be more sustainable and enduring for everyone.”

Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell (left) speaks to protesters from the Unions Bay of Plenty near his office. The group included local worker Heidi Tidmarsh. Photo / Sandra Conchie

Uffindell said he had no issue with the protesters positioning themselves near his office and respected people’s right to protest peacefully. He also spoke to some of the protesters.

He said their views were “well-intentioned”.

But he did not agree the gender pay gap was as large as being purported by the Unions Bay Plenty and reiterated there had been “significant progress” in closing the gap.

“They did offer me a cupcake, but I don’t have a sweet tooth.”

Labour MP Jan Tinetti said Labour was committed to reinstating pay equity legislation and “paying women what they deserve”.

Tauranga Labour list MP Jan Tinetti. Photo/Supplied

Kahurangi Carter, the Green Party’s spokesperson for women, said the party was committed to the demands from unions to repeal the legislation and fully fund pay equity claims.

“Pay inequity disproportionately impacts Māori, Pacific and disabled women – the very communities facing the greatest barriers to fair pay. This Government is deepening those disparities, not closing them.”

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 25 years. She mainly covers police, court and other justice stories, as well as general news. She has been a Canon Media Awards regional/community reporter of the year.