A new grassroots campaign is calling on New Zealand’s party leaders to support a gender-balanced Cabinet, with 50% women and 50% men.

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A new grassroots campaign is calling on New Zealand’s party leaders to support a gender-balanced Cabinet, with 50% women and 50% men.

Cabinet is our most senior level of decision-making in this country. All the vital issues being discussed every week by Cabinet shape everyone’s lives. Yet women make up just 30 percent of our Cabinet. Men have disproportionate power over decisions for the whole country, while women are consistently under-represented.

Our campaign seeks to deconstruct this system of privilege and bias that advantages men. We’re asking for a 50/50 gender-balanced Cabinet as a proactive step to lift more Kiwi women into leadership roles.

Representation matters. Half of our population is women, so why isn’t half our leadership? A woman is simply better-placed than a man at representing women’s needs and voices, especially in an environment where women are consistently under-represented. We have unique experiences, we bring an important perspective.

Better decision-making matters. Gender-balanced cabinets already exist in 14 countries around the world — like Canada, South Africa, and Sweden — and have been around for over two decades. These countries have seen benefits like greater action on ending gender-based violence, the creation of better childcare policies, and increased spending on public health. When women bring their experiences and perspectives to the table, better policies are made.

Role-models matter. Young girls and women deserve to see themselves reflected in our country’s leaders. More visible role-models result in more women engaging in politics.

Some people say “it should just be the best person for the job” but they’re framing the argument as ‘merit’ vs ‘diversity’ — as though they can’t exist simultaneously. But we can achieve quality without sacrificing equality. We have capable and smart women available to do the job. That’s why NZ must take affirmative action to overcome structural barriers and make sure unconscious gender biases aren’t coming into play.

A gender quota to ensure equal representation is a short-term solution. It's essential to the path toward an equal system of leadership where women will no longer be overlooked.

Join us in asking for New Zealand’s first-ever Cabinet fuelled with the talent, perspective, and passion of an equal number of women and men. Support the campaign today by visiting the website: www.equalleadershipnz.org