Manatū Wāhine, Ministry for Women, New Zealand

Manatū Wāhine, Ministry for Women, New Zealand We are the Government's principal advisor on improving outcomes for wāhine women and kōtiro girls. Contact the Ministry at [email protected].

Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women advises the Government and work alongside others to represent diverse voices and improve the lives of women and girls in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our mission is to drive improvements for women and girls and support them to succeed. We have four strategic priorities to drive improvements for all women and girls:
- Economic empowerment: ensuring all women and girls have

economic security and independence, supporting them to thrive.

- Representation and leadership: building meaningful participation for women and girls at every level of society.

- Safety: supporting women and girls to be safe from all forms of violence.

- Wellbeing: supporting women and girls to have good health and wellbeing. In addition to our four priority areas, we are committed to working with wāhine Māori to progress shared goals and aspirations, while our international work protects and promotes the rights of women and girls.

13/08/2026

“Stalking can be very open, very public…very friendly even”

Hear from Rachel Simon-Kumar from Shama Ethnic Women's Trust about the realities of stalking and common misconceptions about what it can look like🔍

Stalking isn’t always hidden or carried out by strangers. It can come from people within our own social circles, communities, workplaces, or extended networks, making it difficult to recognise and respond to.

Understanding the signs of stalking is an important step in supporting those affected and creating safer workplaces and communities🏢🫶

Learn more about the impact of stalking and how to support someone experiencing it.

⬇️ 📖 Download Recognise, Respond, Support: Practical Workplace Responses to Stalking today! https://www.women.govt.nz/womens-safety/stalking-and-its-impact-women/practical-workplace-responses-stalking

12/08/2026

Who inspires you?💭💜

To celebrate this International Youth Day, we asked some of our young kaimahi to reflect on the guidance that’s shaped them, the women who have inspired them, and the advice they’ve received as they navigate their goals and aspirations💡

Give a shoutout to the women who have helped you along the way below! 💬

11/08/2026

For women, adulthood can be one of the busiest seasons of life🏃‍♀️📅

Between work, raising children, caring for whānau, supporting your community, and navigating health changes like menopause, it's easy to put yourself last.

This Women’s Health Week, we want you to prioritise your health first!💜

Whether it's scheduling a health check, taking time to understand and recognise changes in your body, taking a break, or simply carving out some "me time", investing in yourself matters.

➡️Visit the Women's Health Hub for trusted information and resources to support your physical, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing https://lnkd.in/eerUVr3S

We're proud to support Tend Health Ltd for its third year of Women's Health Week, a week of bringing together events, re...
10/08/2026

We're proud to support Tend Health Ltd for its third year of Women's Health Week, a week of bringing together events, resources and activities from across Aotearoa to encourage women and girls to prioritise their health, ask questions, and access the support they need💜💜

Here's what's happening this week:
✨A week filled with health tips, stories, resources, podcasts, recipes and videos
✨ Community events across the country, with many free to attend – from inspiring talks and practical workshops to webinars and wellbeing events
✨ Free cervical screening available across all Tend clinics in Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Canterbury

➡️ Head to the Tend Women's Health Week website to find out more https://www.womenshealthweek.nz/

Together, let's make women's health a priority! 💜

05/08/2026

Having the right information and support can help girls and young women to thrive💜

The pre-teen and teenage years can be exciting, but they can also feel overwhelming. During this stage of life, young women experience significant physical, emotional and social changes that can sometimes feel confusing or worrying 💭💗

Having trusted information can make all the difference. Understanding what’s normal, building confidence, and knowing when to seek support are important steps towards lifelong wellbeing.

Growing into adulthood also means navigating becoming independent, starting work or study while learning how to care for your mental, physical and sexual wellbeing 🧠💪❤️

Building healthy habits, learning about your health, and making informed choices today can help set you up for a healthier future.

Whether you’re looking for yourself or someone you care about, explore the Women’s Health Hub for trusted information for girls and young women! https://www.healthnz.govt.nz/health-topics/conditions-treatments/womens-health/growing-well

What does great governance look like?🤔 Yesterday's Voices of Women in Governance event, co-hosted with Westpac NZ, highl...
04/08/2026

What does great governance look like?🤔

Yesterday's Voices of Women in Governance event, co-hosted with Westpac NZ, highlighted that governance is about much more than board appointments. It's about purpose, learning, and impact.


Facilitated by Shane Collins, Women in Leadership Manager at Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women, panellists Dame Ranjna Patel, Traci Houpapa, and Jacinta Gulasekharam generously shared insights and lessons from their governance journeys.

Some standout advice from our panellists:
⭐Be clear about who you are serving and why
⭐Treat every day as a learning opportunity
⭐Take feedback constructively and use it to grow
⭐Seek mentors, including those outside your industry
⭐Build resilience and stay focused on the difference you want to make

As Traci Houpapa noted, "Ask yourself why you want to get into governance and seek out people who you can talk to about their experiences."

➡Interested in starting or furthering your governance career? Register to be a member of BoardConnector to grow your governance journey today! https://www.women.govt.nz/women-leadership/register-with-BoardConnector

What a fantastic turnout at the Gender Pay Gap roadshow with the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce last week!⚖ It was grea...
03/08/2026

What a fantastic turnout at the Gender Pay Gap roadshow with the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce last week!⚖

It was great to see so many come together to join our discussion on how women can better support one another, building stronger, more inclusive leadership pipelines and the practical barriers that still exist for women in some industries.

A huge thank you to our panellists Sally Morrison (ASPEQ Limited), Claire Byrne (Gibson Sheat) and Colleen Upton (Hutt Gas & Plumbing Systems Ltd) for sharing their experiences and insights.

Sally highlighted the difference inclusive leadership can make, comparing sporting boards that gave little attention to women’s leagues with those achieving a 40/40/20 gender balance. Colleen spoke candidly about the challenges women continue to face on trade sites, including access to appropriate bathroom facilities. Claire shared how Gibson Sheat's commitment to tracking its gender pay gap over the past three years has provided valuable insights and helped drive meaningful progress.

Ngā mihi to everyone who attended, and to our partners at the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce for helping make the event such a success. Special thanks also to the team at Angus Inn for their excellent hospitality and support💜💜

31/07/2026

Stalking is a serious issue, and it is now a crime in New Zealand.

Last week we launched Recognise, Respond, Support - which has practical workplace responses to stalking 📖

Women's Refuge New Zealand research shows stalking frequently extends into workplaces. A study shows more than 70% of victim-survivors report the perpetrator sat outside their home, school or workplace🏠 🏢

Hear from Women's Refuge, Chief Executive Naomi Ogg, talk about the fear, heaviness and guilt that stalking creates for women. She also talks about ways Women's Refuge can support women experiencing stalking and harassment.

➡️ Visit our website to download the guide for workplaces: https://www.women.govt.nz/womens-safety/stalking-and-its-impact-women/practical-workplace-responses-stalking

29/07/2026

Would your workplace be ready to support an employee experiencing stalking?

Stalking can have serious impacts on a person’s safety, wellbeing, and work life.

Our new guide, Recognise, Respond, Support: Practical Workplace Responses to Stalking, provides practical guidance, conversation prompts and resources to help workplaces support their people📖💬

➡ Download the guide today to equip your workplaces with free guidance and tools to respond to stalking https://www.women.govt.nz/womens-safety/stalking-and-its-impact-women/practical-workplace-responses-stalking

Hear from attendees at the Recognise, Respond, Support launch event last week! 💜

Last week, the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW) and partner organisations came together with...
28/07/2026

Last week, the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW) and partner organisations came together with Minister for Women Nicola Grigg to discuss the Council's work programme and share insights on improving economic outcomes for women.

As an independent advisory body to the Minister for Women, NACEW plays an important role in advancing women's employment outcomes. NACEW has just five members but draws on a range of views from women and girls across Aotearoa New Zealand, including partner organisations, such as Māori Women's Development Inc - MWDI, P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc, YWCA, Rural Women New Zealand and the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

Ngā mihi to everyone for the incredible work you do to support women and girls across Aotearoa New Zealand💜 💜

Address

Te Iho, Level 7, 1 Bowen Street
Wellington
6011

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Manatū Wāhine, Ministry for Women, New Zealand posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Manatū Wāhine, Ministry for Women, New Zealand:

Shortcuts

Share

Category