Gender Equality in New Zealand
A Report Based on a Public Opinion Survey Completed in June 2015
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 2015 Research New Zealand
Research New Zealand | December 2014
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Foreword
The National Council of Women of New Zealand works toward a gender equal New Zealand. As
we mark 122 years since women achieved suffrage, it is promising to see New Zealanders are
highly aware that more needs to be done to get gender equality for women. Research shows that
gender equality will benefit our country both socially and economically, as well as being the right
thing to do.
We are grateful to Research New Zealand for conducting this public opinion survey, which is
useful for informing our work and raising awareness of current gender issues.
Sue McCabe
Chief Executive, The National Council of Women of New Zealand.
Key research findings
The public opinion survey which has provided the results for this report was completed in June
2015, by telephone, with a nationally-representative sample of n=500 New Zealanders, 18 years
and more (defined here as ‘adult New Zealanders’). For more detailed information about the
survey methodology, please refer to the appendix of this report.
The key research findings are as follows:
1. Less than one-half of adult New Zealanders believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ in
business (32 percent) and the workplace (46 percent).
2. Most adult New Zealanders also believe that men have ‘more opportunities’ than women in
a range of settings, from the armed forces, politics and professional sports, to the workplace
and senior management levels in both the private and public sectors.
3. An average of nine percent of adult New Zealanders, both males and females, believe they
have been personally disadvantaged because of their gender in a range of different
settings, from social settings and their workplace to situations in which they have been the
customer of a service provider.
4. Against this background, over one-half of adult New Zealanders believe New Zealand has a
‘better’ gender equality record than ‘most other Western countries’ (55 percent), compared
with 29 percent who believe we have a similar record.
5. Men and women have different opinions about the way men and women are treated and the
opportunities they have in New Zealand.
Detailed results
of adult New Zealanders believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ in
business. In addition, less than one-half believe men and women are ‘treated
equally’ in the workplace (46 percent).
Most adult New Zealanders believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ in the health system (72
percent believe they are ‘treated equally’) and in the education system (68 percent), but the level
of equality is perceived to be very different in other settings (Figure 1).
For example, about one-half believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ in the courts and the
justice system generally (59 percent), in social settings (57 percent) and in government policies
and programmes (54 percent).
In two of these settings, well over twice as many consider men are treated ‘more favourably’ than
women:

In social settings (26 percent believe men are treated ‘more favourably’ compared to 10
percent who believe women are treated ‘more favourably’).

In government policies and programmes (25 percent believe men are treated ‘more
favourably’ compared to 11 percent who believe women are treated ‘more favourably’).
The reverse applies in the case of the courts and the justice system generally, with twice as
many believing women are treated ‘more favourably’ than men (19 percent and 10 percent
respectively).
But the most pronounced differences are in relation to the workplace and in business:

While 46 percent believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ in the workplace; 45 percent
believe men are treated ‘more favourably’ compared to four percent who believe women are
treated ‘more favourably’.

While 32 percent believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ in business; 62 percent
believe men are treated ‘more favourably’ compared to two percent who believe women are
treated ‘more favourably’.
Figure 1: Are males and females treated the same?
Q. In your personal opinion, are males and females in New Zealand treated the same way in each of the
following areas?
Males treated more favourably
In the health system
Same, equal
9%
In the education system
10%
In the courts and justice
system generally
10%
Females treated more favourably
72%
5%
68%
4%
59%
In social settings
26%
In government policies
and programmes
25%
In the workplace
Don't know
7%
54%
10%
46%
62%
0%
19%
57%
In business
20%
60%
10%
11%
6% 4%
32%
40%
18%
12%
45%
14%
80%
5% 2%
100%
Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Research New Zealand June Omnibus Survey 2015.
Furthermore, men and women have significantly different opinions about the extent to which men
and women are ‘treated equally’ in these settings. In fact, women are significantly less likely than
men to believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ in the following settings (Figure 2):

In business (21 percent of women believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ compared
with 43 percent of men).

In the workplace (36 percent of women believe men and women are ‘treated equally’
compared with 56 percent of men).

In government policies and programmes (47 percent of women believe men and women
are ‘treated equally’ compared with 62 percent of men).

In social settings (48 percent of women believe men and women are ‘treated equally’
compared with 68 percent of men).

In the courts and justice system generally (52 percent of women believe men and women
are ‘treated equally’ compared with 66 percent of men).
In addition, whereas most adult New Zealanders believe men and women are ‘treated equally’ in
the news media (63 percent), this is not the case in terms of advertising (41 percent).
Furthermore, men and women have significantly different opinions in this regard.
For example, more men than women believe women are treated ‘more favourably’ in advertising
(32 percent, compared with 25 percent of women), and more women than men believing men are
treated ‘more favourably’ in the news media (24 percent, compared with 13 percent of men).
Figure 2: Are males and females treated the same? Examined by gender
Q. In your personal opinion, are males and females in New Zealand treated the same way in each of the
following areas?
In the health
system
In the
education
system
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
In business
71%
15%
5%
65%
5%
70%
15%
20%
17%
8%
6%
47%
15%
7%
62%
8%
55%
36%
35%
20%
30%
10%
12%
15%
4% 5%
21%
50%
Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Research New Zealand June Omnibus Survey 2015.
10%
7% 2%
56%
72%
10%
20%
68%
33%
0%
17%
48%
17%
Male
3%
12%
34%
Male
16%
13%
66%
12%
5%
5%
52%
4%
Male
Females treated more favourably
73%
Female
Female
Don't know
6%
Male
Female
Same, equal
12%
Female
In the
workplace
In government
policies and
programmes
In social
settings
Female
In the courts
and justice
system
generally
Males treated more favourably
4% 2%
43%
40%
50%
60%
70%
5% 2%
80%
90%
100%
for amateur sports is the best result recorded for any setting (including the
armed forces, politics, professional sports, the workplace and senior
management in both the private and public sector) in which adult New
Zealanders believe that men and women have ‘equal opportunities’.
With the exception of amateur sports, few adult New Zealanders believe men and women have
‘equal opportunities’ in a range of areas (Figure 3). In fact, compared with women, men are
generally considered to have ‘more opportunities’:

In the armed forces (61 percent believe men have ‘more opportunities’, compared with 31
percent having ‘equal opportunities’).

In senior management levels in the private sector (61 percent believe men have ‘more
opportunities’, compared with 31 percent having ‘equal opportunities’).

In professional sports (65 percent believe men have ‘more opportunities’, compared with 32
percent having ‘equal opportunities’).

In senior management levels in the public sector (55 percent believe men have ‘more
opportunities’, compared with 35 percent having ‘equal opportunities’).

In politics (55 percent believe men have ‘more opportunities’, compared with 39 percent
having ‘equal opportunities’).

In the workplace (45 percent believe men have ‘more opportunities’, compared with 46
percent having ‘equal opportunities’).
Figure 3: Do males and females have the same opportunities?
Q. In which of the following areas do you feel male and females have equal or different levels of opportunity
in New Zealand?
Men have more
In amateur sports
Same,equal
Don't know
35%
In the workplace
Women have more
58%
45%
4% 2%
46%
In politics
55%
In senior management levels
in the public sector
55%
4%4%
39%
3%3%
35%
4% 5%
In the armed forces
61%
31%
8%
In senior management levels
in the private sector
61%
31%
5% 3%
In professional sports
65%
0%
10%
20%
Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Research New Zealand June Omnibus Survey 2015.
30%
32%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
2%
1%
90% 100%
Furthermore, men and women have different perspectives in terms of the extent to which men and
women have ‘equal opportunities’ in these settings, with women being generally less likely to
believe men and women have ‘equal opportunities’ and more likely to believe that men have ‘more
opportunities’ (Figure 4). This is most pronounced in the following areas:

In the workplace (38 percent of women believe men and women have ‘equal opportunities’
compared with 55 percent of men, and 56 percent of women believe men have ‘more
opportunities’ compared with 33 percent of men).

In amateur sports (54 percent of women believe men and women have ‘equal opportunities’
compared with 63 percent of men, and 40 percent of women believe men have ‘more
opportunities’ compared with 29 percent of men).

In politics (33 percent of women believe men and women have ‘equal opportunities’
compared with 46 percent of men, and 63 percent of women believe men have ‘more
opportunities’ compared with 46 percent of men).

In senior management levels in the public sector (26 percent of women believe men and
women have ‘equal opportunities’ compared with 45 percent of men, and 69 percent of
women believe men have ‘more opportunities’ compared with 40 percent of men).
Figure 4: Do males and females have the same opportunities? Examined by gender
Q. In which of the following areas do you feel male and females have equal or different levels of opportunity
in New Zealand?
Female
Same,equal
33%
In senior
management
levels
in the public
sector
In the armed
forces
3%3%
55%
5% 7%
63%
Male
Female
6%2%
54%
Female
Female
3%3%
63%
40%
Male
Women have more
54%
29%
Female
Female
Don't know
40%
Male
In senior
management
levels
in the private
sector
In politics
In the workplace In amateur sports
Men have more
33%
46%
46%
4%4%
69%
Male
26%
40%
45%
26%
57%
9%
35%
64%
Male
3%
1%
5% 10%
64%
Male
2%
2%
7%1%
30%
33%
7% 4%
In professional
sports
57%
4%2%
Female
66%
31%
2%
1%
Male
64%
33%
2%
0%
10%
20%
Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Research New Zealand June Omnibus Survey 2015.
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
of adult New Zealanders, on average, believe they have been personally
disadvantaged because of their gender in a range of different settings,
including social settings, their workplace and situations in which they have
been the customer of a service provider.
Figure 5 shows the extent to which adult New Zealanders believe they have been personally
disadvantaged because of their gender in various situations. Although the percentages are
relatively small, the situations in which gender discrimination occurs most frequently is in terms of
peoples’ ‘dealings with government departments’ (12 percent), ‘in their personal life’ (12 percent),
‘in their job’ (11 percent) and ‘with their family’ (11 percent).
Figure 5: Have you been disadvantaged recently because of your gender?
Q. In which of the following areas, if any, do you feel you have been disadvantaged recently because of your
gender?
Yes
No
Don't know
In your personal life
12%
In your dealings with government departments
12%
With your family
11%
88%
1%
In your job*
11%
87%
1%
In dealing with your bank
9%
90%
1%
With your male friends
8%
91%
1%
With people in your neighbourhood
7%
92%
2%
95%
1%
With your female friends 4%
On average
9%
86%
83%
89%
2%
5%
2%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
*Based on respondents who identified as being in paid employment.
Source: Research New Zealand June Omnibus Survey 2015.
Furthermore, men and women are significantly different in terms of the extent to which they report
having been personally disadvantaged because of their gender. Relatively speaking, this is
particularly the case in terms of the following situations (Figure 6):

With people in their neighbourhood (12 percent of women report being personally
disadvantaged compared with one percent of men).

In dealing with their bank (12 percent of women report being personally disadvantaged
compared with five percent of men).

In their job (16 percent of women report being personally disadvantaged compared with
seven percent of men).
Figure 6: Have you been disadvantaged recently because of your gender? Examined by gender
Female
In your job
With your male
friends
Female
Male
Male
82%
7%
88%
5%
1%
87%
1%
97%
2%
94%
Male 3%
0%
1%
94%
12%
5%
2%
95%
11%
Female
1%
86%
5%
1%
2%
92%
12%
Male
2%
92%
16%
Female
4%
85%
8%
Female
6%
87%
13%
Male
2%
78%
9%
Female
1%
89%
15%
Male
Male
84%
9%
Female
Female
With people in
With your female
your
friends
neighbourhood
15%
Male
In dealing with
your bank
In your dealings
with government In your personal
With your family departments
life
Q. In which of the following areas, if any, do you feel you have been disadvantaged recently because of your
gender?
Yes
No
Don't know
1%
96%
10%
20%
30%
Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Research New Zealand June Omnibus Survey 2015.
40%
50%
1%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
of adult New Zealanders believe New Zealand has a ‘better’ gender equality
record than ‘most other Western countries’
In comparison, nine percent believe New Zealand does ‘worse’ than most other Western countries
and 29 percent believe it does the ‘same’ (Figure 7).
Men and women have different perspectives on New Zealand’s gender equality record, with
significantly more men than women believing New Zealand does ‘better’ than most other Western
countries (61 percent and 49 percent respectively).
In fact, twice as many women as men believe New Zealand does ‘worse’ (12 percent and six
percent respectively), although the majority of women believe New Zealand does ‘better’ (49
percent).
Figure 7: New Zealand’s gender equality record compared with other Western countries, examined
by gender
Q. Overall, do you feel New Zealand does better, worse, or the same as other Western countries on gender
equality issues at present?
Better
Total sample
Same
Don't know
55%
Female
29%
49%
Male
7%
32%
61%
0%
Worse
20%
Total may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Source: Research New Zealand June Omnibus Survey 2015.
7%
26%
40%
60%
9%
12%
7%
80%
6%
100%
Appendix - Method
The interviewing for this public opinion survey was conducted by telephone, from our CATIenabled call centre1, as part of our monthly omnibus survey for June 2015. Each omnibus survey
is completed with a nationally-representative sample of 500 New Zealanders, 18 years and more.
Survey respondents are sampled using a multi-random method, with households initially randomly
selected using a random dialling method and then one person randomly selected from all those
who are eligible (based on being 18 years of age or more and the fact that they normally live in the
household).
The resulting survey data was weighted to ensure that the results are truly representative of the
New Zealand population, by age, gender and region. The weighting parameters were sourced
from Statistics New Zealand and are based on the 2013 Census of Population and Dwellings.
Results based on the (weighted) total sample are subject to a maximum margin of error of +/- 4.5
percent (at the 95 percent confidence level) 2. This means, for example, that if 50 percent of
respondents interviewed believed men and women were ‘treated equally’ in business, we could be
95 percent sure of getting the same result, plus or minus 4.5 percent, had we interviewed
everyone in the population. Higher margins of error apply in the case of sub-samples.
1
CATI is an acronym for Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing.
The margin of error is slightly higher than the conventional margin of error calculation as it takes into account the fact that
the data has been weighted.
2