21 Jan 2017

Commissioned: Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Jackie Blue

From The Weekend , 8:30 am on 21 January 2017
Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Jackie Blue.

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Jackie Blue. Photo: Supplied

New Zealand dines out on the fact that it was the first country to give women the vote back in 1893.

Not so many years ago, women held all the top jobs at the same time. Women were Prime Minister, Governor-General, Attorney-General, Chief Justice, and in charge of Telecom.

Why haven't has New Zealand built on this legacy? Women and young people are more likely to be paid less than any other New Zealand workers. Pacific women are at the bottom of the pay ladder.

So with gender equality in the workforce is it perhaps a case of two steps forward and one step back?

Lynn Freeman speaks to former National List MP and Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission Dr Jackie Blue.