New Zealand gender pay gap widens to 9.6%

The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) Te Kauae Kaimahi has released its 2026 ‘Work for Free Calendar,’ highlighting a widening gender pay gap in New Zealand. According to data from Stats NZ, the mean gender pay gap rose to 9.6% in the June 2026 quarter, up from 8.7% the previous year.

The report indicates that women effectively begin working for free compared to men starting 27 November. The disparity is more pronounced when accounting for ethnicity: Pacific women begin working for free on 1 October, followed by Māori women on 20 October, Asian women on 21 October, and Pākehā women on 20 November.

NZCTU Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges and the Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa criticized the government for scrapping pay equity tools, arguing these actions have exacerbated the cost-of-living crisis and worsened systemic inequality in sectors such as health, education, and community care.