New Zealand businesses can now take meaningful action to drive down the gender pay gap with the launch of an online calculator today.

“Women are paid, on average, 8.2 per cent less than men and this gap has barely moved since 2017 - which is why reducing it is one of my key priorities as Minister for Women,” said Minister for Women Nicola Grigg.

The Gender Pay Gap Calculator toolkit is now live on the Ministry for Women’s website, making it easy for businesses to calculate – and then address – their pay gaps.

Grigg said this toolkit has been informed by working with businesses and organisations including Spark, ANZ, the NZ Law Society and Tonkin + Taylor, to make sure it is user-friendly and has a common methodology.

She said it has also been shaped and road-tested by many others across the country including Transpower, the Port of Auckland, National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women, the Diversity Agenda, Champions for Change and Global Women.

“I am so grateful for this invaluable input – it demonstrates a real commitment from New Zealand employers to drive this thing down. Pay gaps are complex, nuanced and have been around since women entered the workforce. This is an excellent first step to eradicating the stubborn 8.2 per cent pay gap.

“There are significant benefits to understanding and addressing pay gaps, including increased productivity, so our Government is taking action.

“Businesses who use the tool will have access to the following:

1. A pay gap calculator (that calculates the pay gap using a common methodology).
2. A downloadable action plan, tailored to individual organisations.
3. Guidance material to support them throughout the process.

“Many businesses are taking steps to improve their gender pay gaps, and so I encourage all businesses to be courageous and calculate their gaps. This is not about casting judgement on those who have wider gender pay gaps but, instead, is a useful tool that encourages organisations to look beyond the numbers.

“I want to thank Champions for Change, and the many employers and staff who have helped develop this comprehensive package. Champions for Change Co-Chair Roger Chair has said that the tool is a ‘positive step forward’, and fellow Co-Chair Antonia Watson has said that measurement and reporting of gender pay gaps is an ‘important part of the Champions’ progress’.”

“It is my strong desire for this to be a continued partnership with business as we make further developments to the toolkit overtime, including considering ways to address ethnic pay gaps."