Lack of Public Consultation on the Pay Equity Amendment Bill w/ University of Auckland Law School teaching fellow Simon Schofield: 8 May, 2025

This week, the New Zealand government has pushed through with urgency, the introduction of a Pay Equity Amendment Bill which makes changes to the Equal Pay Act 1972, making the criteria for pay equity claims stricter, and discontinuing thirty three existing claims, which were representing thousands of workers.

While coalition party politicians say the amendment would benefit women and could save ‘billions’, opposition parties and community commentators reject these notions and have expressed disappointment and frustration at the lack of opportunity for public engagement on the issue.

Producer Sara spoke with University of Auckland teaching fellow Simon Schofield about the issue. She began the interview by asking why this bill is so problematic