Rural Women New Zealand among coalition bringing UN complaint over NZ pay equity rollback

‍Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is part of a coalition that has filed a formal complaint with the United Nations, asking it to investigate whether the government's changes to New Zealand's pay equity laws amount to systemic discrimination against women.

The complaint, brought by Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa (PECA), which includes New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission, and RWNZ, comes exactly one year after legislation cancelled existing pay equity claims and introduced stricter tests for bringing new claims.

Pay equity claims are raised to ensure that people receive equal pay for work of equal value.  The cancelled claims covered more than 180,000 workers across care and disability support, education, health, and community and social services, the vast majority of them women.

“The amendments were made without proper engagement, and they ignored the government’s own guidance when it comes to protecting rural communities against policy changes that may negatively affect them.”

"A year on, the women who lost their pay equity claims are still showing up, still caring for our elderly, still teaching our children, and still waiting to be paid fairly for it, in a system where the goalposts have been moved so far that many may never get there,” says Sandra Kirby, CE of RWNZ.

The complaint asks the United Nations to consider whether the legislative changes have created systemic discrimination against women, particularly in relation to equality in employment and equal pay for work of equal value. Both are protected under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which New Zealand is a signatory.

RWNZ has been advocating on this issue since the Equal Pay Amendment Act was passed without consultation in May 2025, including a submission to the People's Select Committee on Pay Equity in August last year.

"Workers across the country were hurt, but rural communities feel it in a particular way, because so much of what keeps them alive depends on work in health, education and care that has historically been undervalued and underpaid."

"For 100 years Rural Women New Zealand has believed rural women deserve fairness and dignity, and we’ll keep advocating until they have it,” says Kirby.

The United Nations will now assess whether the complaint is admissible. If accepted, it will be sent to the New Zealand Government for a response. The CEDAW Committee will then consider the case and provide its views and recommendations.

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ENDS

Media enquiries to:

Georgia Nelson

Communications Manage

021 530 769

georgia.nelson@ruralwomennz.nz

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About Rural Women NZ

Rural Women New Zealand is a nationwide charitable membership organisation with a proud history over nearly 100 years of empowering and supporting women at the heart of rural communities. With regional branches and groups across the country providing connection and support, we are recognised as a leader across the rural sector and provide a trusted voice on issues affecting rural communities. You can learn more about Rural Women New Zealand on our website at https://www.ruralwomennz.nz/

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Read more about the complaint.

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