11. SUE MORONEY (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Women's Affairs
What steps is she taking in response to the proposal, in the New Zealand Census of Women’s Participation 2006, to allow the Ministry of Women’s Affairs nomination service to be used by private sector companies interested in women’s appointments to boards of directors?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Minister of Women's Affairs) Link to this
I have asked the Ministry of Women’s Affairs to explore how the success it has achieved in the public sector can be shared with the private sector. I have already informally raised the issue with both the chair and the chief executive of the New Zealand Exchange and I will be exploring ideas with them. My advice is that the nomination service was originally set up in 1979, under a National Government, as the women’s appointment file and was then included in the Ministry of Women’s Affairs as the nomination service by another National Government in 1992. I look forward to National members’ support.
Has the Minister seen the letter to the editor in today’s Dominion Post that states: “shareholders are legally entitled to have the most qualified people available—regardless of gender—to manage a company’s affairs.”; if so, how does she reconcile that with the proposal?
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL Link to this
Yes, I have, and I fully endorse the comments apart from the mistaken reference to management rather than governance. The proposal is about ensuring the businesses concerned know who all of the qualified people are before they select the most qualified to meet the board’s requirements and shareholder expectations. Everyone knows that diversity adds real strength to decision making, and that is why I can explore the proposal in the way that I will.