Jacinda Ardern has made history with her most diverse cabinet yet
The appointment of New Zealand’s most diverse cabinet in history has been heralded as a win for workplace diversity.
Jacinda Ardern’s newly-appointed team includes eight women as well as five ministers who are Māori, three Pasifika and three who are LGBT.
Diversity Works New Zealand chief executive Maretha Smit described the diverse nature of New Zealand’s Parliament as a “cause for celebration”.
As well as promoting diversity on the political stage, Ardern’s cabinet will raise the bar for workplaces too.
“Ensuring all groups and sectors of society have representation in Government is essential to establishing equality in Aotearoa,” she told HRD.
“Not only that, Parliament is a workplace like any other, and it’s gratifying to see our country’s leaders sending a signal to all organisations that there are immense benefits to having diverse teams.”
Read more: How to make your workplace more LGBTQ friendly
Among the 40 new faces entering government are New Zealand’s first African, Latin American and Sri Lankan MPs.
While Nanaia Mahuta has become the first Māori woman appointed to foreign minister, a move that has been applauded across the globe.
It’s not the first time Mahuta has made history after becoming the first female lawmaker to wear the traditional Maori chin tattoo.
Having served in Parliament since 1996, Mahuta’s recent appointment is monumental for both gender and cultural diversity.
Smit added: “In holding that critical portfolio, Minister Mahuta is providing a great example to girls and young women from Māori descent, that they have a place and a voice on the global stage.”
Research into workplace diversity in New Zealand by Global Women and Deloitte found a correlation between how included employees felt and how successful they believed their company to be.
Proactive HR strategies in equal pay and fair promotions were also key to making sure staff felt included.
Read more: Revealed: The state of gender quality in NZ
Inclusion scores rose by 45% in companies where employees believed there to be fair and transparent practices in place.
The research highlighted five key suggestions to improving workplace diversity:
- Implement initiatives targeted at women earning $70-100k to support them through the glass ceiling
- Give millennials a voice in the workplace to promote inclusivity. The research reported the lowest overall workplace inclusion scores among millennial men
- Ensure senior execs are leading the way and holding others to account
- Focus on transparent practices for pay, performance management and promotions
- Consider innovative paternity leave strategies for men, giving them more flexibility and allowing women to return to the workplace earlier
