The journey towards pay equity in Aotearoa
Find out about the history and ongoing work towards equal pay for women in New Zealand by doing an eLearning module about fifty years of the Equal Pay Act.
Fifty years of the Equal Pay Act
Until 1972, it was legal to pay men and women differently for doing the same or similar work.
The passing of the Equal Pay Act 1972 meant that men and women doing the same work requiring the same or similar skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions are paid the same.
What you will learn
In this learning module you'll learn about the:
He Tohu exhibition and the suffrage movement that gave rise to a wider women's rights movement, including equal pay, in Aotearoa.
difference between equal pay and pay equtiy
history of the Equal Pay act and its significance
continued mahi for pay equity, largely led by unions and the passing of the Equal Pay Amendment Act 2020
pay gaps that remain, particulary for Māori and Pacific women, and what is driving these, and
how individuals and employers can take action to reduce pay gaps.
About the module
The module consists of several chapter and would take about 45 minutes to complete. You don't have to do it all at once, you can complete a chapter and come back to complete other chapters later.
The 6 chapters are:
The origins of women's rights in Aotearoa
The first wave of the equal pay campaign
The Equal Pay Act 1972, and its amendment
The work continues
Working together to address the pay gap
Review: Key points
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