Media Releases

NZEI Te Riu Roa fights resurgent gender bias in education

06 Mar 2026

NZEI Te Riu Roa supports efforts to push back against the concerning resurgence of historic gender bias in the education sector, specifically through the ongoing fight for pay equity.

“During Working Women’s Week, which is the powerful lead-up to International Women’s Day on 8 March, we are highlighting the pay inequities still holding women back,” NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ripeka Lessels said.

“Pay equity is a fundamental human right but our access to it was scrapped by the Luxon Government.

“As a union of predominantly women workers, we remain committed to challenging these systemic inequalities. We continue to fight in the courts, campaign in Parliament, and take to the streets to demand the return of fair pay equity legislation,” Mrs Lessels said.

ENDS