# Minister for Women (New Zealand)

The Minister for Women is a minister in the New Zealand Government with responsibility for the rights and interests of the country's female citizens. It has been a post in all New Zealand governments since 1984. The Minister leads the Ministry for Women.
The post was established by the Fourth Labour Government on 26 July 1984 preceding the creation of the ministry. It was split from the Social Welfare portfolio after a recommendation from Advisory Committee on Women's Affairs. Holders of the post were known as the Minister for Women's Affairs until December 2014, with the department known as the Ministry of Women's Affairs. There had been a previous ministerial post from 1949 to 1972 adjunct to the Social Security portfolio titled Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children with a similar brief.

## Ministers for Women

The following ministers have held the office:

### Key

Labour  National  Alliance  Green
| No. | No. | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Prime Minister |
| Minister for the Welfare of Women and Children (1949–72) ||||||||
| | 1 | Hilda Ross | 13 December 1949 | 12 December 1957 | Holland |
| | 1 | Hilda Ross | 13 December 1949 | 12 December 1957 | Holyoake |
| | 2 | Mabel Howard | 12 December 1957 | 2 June 1959 | Nash |
| | - | Philip Skoglund Acting Minister | 2 June 1959 | 25 August 1959 | Nash |
| | (2) | Mabel Howard | 25 August 1959 | 12 December 1960 | Nash |
| | 3 | Norman Shelton | 12 December 1960 | 24 January 1962 | Holyoake |
| | 4 | Don McKay | 24 January 1962 | 9 February 1972 | Holyoake |
| Minister for Women (1984–present) ||||||||
| | 1 | Ann Hercus | 26 July 1984 | 24 August 1987 | Lange |
| | 2 | Margaret Shields | 24 August 1987 | 2 November 1990 | Lange |
| | 2 | Margaret Shields | 24 August 1987 | 2 November 1990 | Palmer |
| | 2 | Margaret Shields | 24 August 1987 | 2 November 1990 | Moore |
| | 3 | Jenny Shipley | 2 November 1990 | 12 December 1996 | Bolger |
| | 4 | Christine Fletcher | 12 December 1996 | 11 September 1997 | Bolger |
| | (3) | Jenny Shipley | 11 September 1997 | 26 August 1998 | Bolger |
| | (3) | Jenny Shipley | 11 September 1997 | 26 August 1998 | Shipley |
| | 5 | Georgina te Heuheu | 26 August 1998 | 10 December 1999 | Shipley |
| | 6 | Laila Harré | 10 December 1999 | 15 August 2002 | Clark |
| | 7 | Ruth Dyson | 15 August 2002 | 19 October 2005 | Clark |
| | 8 | Lianne Dalziel | 19 October 2005 | 5 November 2007 | Clark |
| | 9 | Stephanie Chadwick | 5 November 2007 | 19 November 2008 | Clark |
| | 10 | Pansy Wong | 19 November 2008 | 12 November 2010 | Key |
| | (5) | Georgina te Heuheu acting | 12 November 2010 | 8 December 2010 | Key |
| | 11 | Hekia Parata | 8 December 2010 | 13 December 2011 | Key |
| | 12 | Jo Goodhew | 13 December 2011 | 8 October 2014 | Key |
| | 13 | Louise Upston | 8 October 2014 | 20 December 2016 | Key |
| | 14 | Paula Bennett | 20 December 2016 | 26 October 2017 | English |
| | 15 | Julie Anne Genter | 26 October 2017 | 6 November 2020 | Ardern |
| | 16 | Jan Tinetti | 6 November 2020 | 27 November 2023 | Ardern |
| | 16 | Jan Tinetti | 6 November 2020 | 27 November 2023 | Hipkins |
| | 17 | Nicola Grigg | 27 November 2023 | present | Luxon |