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
No. Name Portrait Term of Office Prime MinisterMinister for the Welfare of Women and Children (1949–72)1Hilda Ross13 December 194912 December 1957 Holland Holyoake 2 Mabel Howard 12 December 1957 2 June 1959Nash - Philip Skoglund 2 June 1959 25 August 1959 (2) Mabel Howard 25 August 1959 12 December 1960 3 Norman Shelton 12 December 1960 24 January 1962Holyoake 4 Don McKay 24 January 1962 9 February 1972Minister for Women (1984–present) 1 Ann Hercus 26 July 1984 24 August 1987Lange2Margaret Shields24 August 19872 November 1990 Palmer Moore 3 Jenny Shipley 2 November 1990 12 December 1996 Bolger 4 Christine Fletcher 12 December 1996 11 September 1997 (3) Jenny Shipley 11 September 1997 26 August 1998 Shipley 5 Georgina te Heuheu 26 August 1998 10 December 1999 6 Laila Harré 10 December 1999 15 August 2002 Clark 7 Ruth Dyson 15 August 2002 19 October 2005 8 Lianne Dalziel 19 October 2005 5 November 2007 9 Stephanie Chadwick 5 November 2007 19 November 2008 10 Pansy Wong 19 November 2008 12 November 2010 Key (5) Georgina te Heuheu 12 November 2010 8 December 2010 11 Hekia Parata 8 December 2010 13 December 2011 12 Jo Goodhew 13 December 2011 8 October 2014 13 Louise Upston 8 October 2014 20 December 2016 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 Hipkins 17 Nicola Grigg 27 November 2023 present Luxon
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