Logie Jan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLogie Jan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 02 July 2013. Volume:691;Page:11726. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]10.JAN LOGIE (Green)to theMinister of Women’s Affairs: What has she done to address the Human Rights Commission’s criticism of the prevailing “pale ambition for women’s progress in New Zealand”?Hon JO GOODHEW (Minister of Women’s Affairs):Tēnā koe e te Mana Whakawā. I disagree with the statement from the previous Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner. The Government’s targets for women’s progress are very ambitious. We are focusing on achieving greater economic independence for women more women in leadership and women’s increased safety from violence.Jan Logie: Did the Minister consider when she used her only opportunity to appoint to a statutory board that to appoint a man to the National Advisory Council on theEmployment of Women undermined her commitment to advancing the representation of women at board level?Hon JO GOODHEW: The way that I will answer that for the member is to talk about what this Government believes and that is that when around the table there is diversity of thought diversity of representation—be that age gender ethnicity—then there are better decision makers. The person that the member is referring to Michael Barnett with his work in the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust is ideally suited to bring a particular view skills and knowledge to the table to advance progress for women. This particular Government believes in diversity.Jan Logie: I seek leave of the House to table the Human Rights Commission report from 2012 that shows a decline in the number of women on statutory boards.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is none. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Jan Logie: Did the Minister meet with the Prime Minister regarding the Queen’s Birthday Honours List to discuss why only 15 percent of the top 40 honours went to women?Hon JO GOODHEW: I am trying to be really sure about whether I have ministerial responsibility for this but when I have met with the Prime Minister to discuss the advancement of women we have certainly discussed bringing in more nominations. And I certainly put to my colleagues that I am very keen to see as many nominations as possible not only for appointments and honours but also for appointments to boards. In fact we rely on all members of this House and the public as well to nominate women for honours. Yes I was disappointed that there were not more women but we have to deal with what is actually put forward in the way of nominations.Jan Logie: Is the Minister comfortable that although her ministry monitors the gender pay gap there is no ministry responsible for the delivery of initiatives to close it?Hon JO GOODHEW: Could I ask the member to repeat—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Could the member repeat the question for the benefit of the Minister.Jan Logie: Is the Minister comfortable that although her ministry monitors the gender pay gap there is no ministry responsible for the delivery of initiatives to close it?Hon JO GOODHEW: The member is simply incorrect. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs is a policy ministry that does a lot of work to assist New Zealanders to actually close the gender pay gap. I might remind that member that it is now at its lowest level ever. Although not responsible for the legislation the ministry in fact is working very very hard to assist in closing the gender pay gap.Tracey Martin: Kia ora. As the Minister of Women’s Affairs has she requested any reports on the effects of her Government’s previous cuts to adult and community education funding for Māori Pacific and migrant women in light of these women being identified by the Human Rights Commissioner’s report as the most vulnerable; if not why not?Hon JO GOODHEW: No.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I seek leave to table two reports. The first is of the National Party in 1975 appointing a man as Minister of Women’s Affairs. The second one is a report where at the first world indigenous conference the Australians sent a white man.Mr SPEAKER: On the basis that they could assist members leave is sought to table those documents. Is there any objection? There appears to be none. They will be so tabled.Documents by leave laid on the Table of the House.Jan Logie: Does the Minister understand how her actions and her inactions add to the current perception—Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My apologies to my colleague behind me but it has been and continues to be during this point of order impossible to hear my colleague’s question because of the constant and persistent barraging from the National Party side of the House. I would ask that they be asked to be quiet while she delivers her question.Mr SPEAKER: The member is making a reasonable point. The level of noise from many parts of the House has been quite excessive today. Jan Logie supplementary question without interjection from the back right-hand corner of the House.Hon Gerry Brownlee: What about down here?Mr SPEAKER: And that also includes where Mr Brownlee happens to be sitting.Jan Logie: Does the Minister understand how her actions and inactions add to the current perception that she is failing to take leadership on anything positive for women in New Zealand?Hon JO GOODHEW: The member started her first question by quoting fromSex and Power: A Report Card  and I will do similarly. I quote from page 3: “The Prime Minister John Key and successive Ministers of Women’s Affairs Hekia Parata and Jo Goodhew have helped mainstream the debate about women on boards.” That is just one example.Jan Logie: Point of order—Mr SPEAKER: Order! On a point of order Jan Logie and this point of order will be heard in silence.Jan Logie: I seek leave to table the 2012 survey that shows only 5 percent of New Zealand women consider women have equality—Mr SPEAKER: The member needs to identify the source of the survey.Jan Logie: It is from theNextmagazine investigation.Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is available to members if they so want to subscribe.Jan Logie: No it’s really hard to find Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption ] Order! That is available to members if they want to subscribe to theNext magazine.