New government data shows women representation remained above 50% for sixth consecutive year
Women representation in New Zealand's public sector board and committee roles remained above 50% for the sixth consecutive year, according to new data from the Ministry for Women.
Women hold 50.2% of board and committee roles in 2025, down slightly from the 52.1% a year prior, but still above the 50% target held by the government.
According to the report, women hold 43.8% of board chair positions, down slightly from 44.8% in 2024, but still above the 31.7% recorded in 2015.
"It is encouraging that women's representation on public sector boards has remained above 50% again this year," said Minister for Women Nicola Grigg.
In the report, Grigg said the sustained progress in women representation reflects the government's commitment to balanced, capable governance.
"Diverse boards deliver better outcomes. They bring broader perspectives, strengthen decision-making, and enhance overall governance performance," she said.
"We remain focused on appointing women on merit and ensuring boards reflect the depth of talent, skills, and experience across New Zealand."
Momentum of women in leadership
Grigg said it is important to keep building the momentum by strengthening the pipeline of women ready for board roles through the refreshed BoardConnector.
The BoardConnector is a database that expands the Ministry for Women's existing Women in Leadership Service beyond the public sector. It aims to connect women with governance opportunities across both public and private organisations.
The database now includes more than 1,100 women seeking board opportunities, and half of those are at an experienced level, according to Grigg.
"There's no shortage of skilled, qualified women ready to contribute in the boardroom," she added.
"We're building on that by encouraging more women to register with BoardConnector, to further broaden the talent pipeline and the range of skills available."
The minister added that the government is working with the public and private sectors on opportunities to support women in governance, including partnering with the Institute of Directors, organisations, and leadership services that are committed to supporting board opportunities for women.
New Zealand's private sector continues to lag behind the public sector when it comes to women in leadership. Data from the Ministry for Women in March revealed that women only hold 31% of director positions in NZX-listed firms.
