Research Publications

Kennedy, L.M. (1968). A study of the education of girls in New Zealand. Wellington: Department of Labour. 30pp.  Held at the Alexander Turnbull Library

This paper concluded that girls’ career opportunities would be increased considerably by studying mathematics, allowing them access to a wider range of vocational training and university disciplines more suited to the labour market. The Council anticipated this would also eliminate aspects of employment being exclusively male or female. 

Stace, J.  (1973). Employers’ attitudes, work opportunity for women: Report of a New Zealand survey 1971. Wellington: Society for Research on Women in New Zealand Inc. and the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women. 179 pp.  Held at the National Library of New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library

This paper contained information on New Zealand employment practices relating to women, and employers’ attitudes towards women.  The survey concluded that barriers to the wider employment of women seemed more social and psychological than legal, and it was concluded that women could lead the change.

Kitset papers on equal pay. (1980). Wellington:Department of Labour. 19 pp.  Held at the Alexander Turnbull Library

This booklet, designed for use in schools and tertiary institutions, educated students about equal pay.  The first section was heavily based on the pamphlet Equal Pay issued by the Department of Labour.  The kitset had two sections – factual material on the Equal Pay Act, and the wider issue of equal opportunities for women workers. 

Hansen, P. (1987).  Women’s employment issues: New Zealand 1967-1987: An account of the activities and issues addressed by the NationalAdvisoryCouncilon the EmploymentofWomen. Wellington: Department of Labour. 48 pp. ISBN: 0477034160.  Held at the National Library of New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library

This publication covered the Council’s key priority areas over its first 20 year period, including, equal employment opportunities, affirmative action, non-traditional occupations, equal pay, parental leave, and childcare.  It reviewed the social, cultural and economic trends that influenced the Council’s work. 

Beyond the barriers: The state, the economy and women’s employment 1984-1990. (1990).Wellington: Department of Labour. 213 pp. ISBN: 0477034748.  Held at the National Library of New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library

This book examined women’s labour force participation, trends in paid work, and analysed the impact of government policy changes on women in the labour market from 1984 to 1990.  It focused on the experiences of different groups of women, including Māori and Pacific, disabled women, and young women. For many years, this publication was considered an essential reference and was widely consulted. [1]

Forward: A series of forums on employment and training issues for women with disabilities. (1992). Wellington: Department of Labour. 17pp. ISBN: 0477035027.  Held at the National Library of New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library

This booklet summarised a range of views on employment held by women with disabilities and included recommendations based on five forums held throughout New Zealand in 1991.  Issues discussed included anti-discrimination legislation, equal employment opportunities, education and training, the income/support wage relationship, work accessibility, and childcare. 

Gray Matter Research Limited, Rivers Buchan & Associates. (1993). Women and selfemployment:Tewahinehanga mahi. Wellington: National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women. 85pp.  ISBN: 0477035388.  Held at the National Library of New Zealand and the Alexander Turnbull Library.  Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/files/rpt-women-selfemployment.doc  

This paper looked at factors which influenced the increase in the proportion of self-employed women over the previous decade, and in-depth information on self-employed women which had not previously been studied.  The Council was particularly interested in the extent to which self-employment was a positive career option for specific groups of women.  The research included a literature review, an overview of statistical trends, interviews with 47 self-employed women, and a summary of the findings.

Report of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women (NACEW) on women’s access to industry training. (1994). 26pp. Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/files/rpt-women-industry-training.doc

This report assessed the government's Skill New Zealand Strategy, and identified areas where equity and/or efficiency costs may have been likely.  This was because specific groups of women were in danger of being left outside the industry training and national qualifications frameworks. The report noted that data monitoring would be required to assess whether, and to what degree, Skill NZ had improved women's access to employment and training. 

The current position of women in the labour market. (1994). 14pp.  Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/files/current-position-women-labour.doc

This report illustrated that in many cases women's current position within paid employment is linked to their structural position in the labour market, particularly their high representation in part-time and casual work. 

Report on parental leave. (1997). 24pp. Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site:
http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/files/rpt-parental-leave.doc

This report examined parental leave policies, in terms of labour market and wider benefits that flow from the provision of parental leave. It gave an overview of the components and objectives of parental leave schemes internationally. The report then focused on New Zealand provisions available under the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act (PLEPA) 1987, and discussed three key issues: payment, eligibility and access to information.

Childcare, families and work: The New Zealand childcare survey 1998: A survey of early childhood education and care arrangements for children. (1999). Wellington: Department of Labour. 192pp. ISBN: 0477036244. Held at the Alexander Turnbull Library and the National Library.  Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/workandcare/index.html

This survey was New Zealand’s first comprehensive national survey on early childhood education (ECE) and care. It was designed to gather information from parents on the use of ECE and care arrangements for children under 14 years of age, and on the relationship between labour force participation and the use of ECE and care. A total of 3,809 families participated in the Childcare Survey. The Survey was conducted by Statistics New Zealand as a supplement to the Household Labour Force Survey from July to September 1998.

Key findings: Childcare, families and work – the New Zealand childcare survey 1998. (1999). 9pp.  Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/files/nz-childcare-survey.doc

This report discussed the key findings of the New Zealand Childcare Survey and found that the use of early childhood education (ECE) and care, and the types of ECE and care used, vary by parental labour force status, family income, the number of parents in the household, and ethnicity. 

Armitage, J., Burges, F., & Stephenson, A.  (2001). A strategy for supporting pacific nations women into early childhood education courses. Wellington: Wellington College of Education. Phase 1 (8pp), Phase 2 (18pp) and Phase 3 (17pp)

This three-phased report identified a bridging course as a way of supporting Pacific women to succeed in tertiary level training for early childhood teacher education.  The report included a consultation process, identified language difficulties for Pacific students applying for course entry, and outlined a bridging course tailored to Pacific women.

Ehrhardt, P. (2002). Does the student loan scheme impact differently on males and females, and does this vary between different cultural groups? 73pp.  Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site:
http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/files/report-revisions.doc

This paper looked at the differential impacts of the student loan scheme on males and females, and examines differences between different cultural groups. The gender differential in repayment times is significant in terms of equity and its likely impact on the life plans of debtors.  This is due largely to inequalities in the labour market and women’s continued responsibility for childrearing. Solutions are likely to lie in creating equal employment opportunities and providing greater access to childcare.

Harris, C. & Massey, C. (2003). Discovering the potential of women in small business.  45pp.  Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/files/potential-women-sm-biz.doc

This report aimed to improve an understanding of the status, motivations, and experiences of self-employed women in New Zealand, and ultimately to improve the potential of women to contribute to the growth of the wider economy. 

Fawthorpe, L. & Gendall, K. (2006).  Decisions about caring and working: A qualitative study. Wellington: Department of Labour. 79pp.  ISBN: 0478280742 Held at the Alexander Turnbull Library and the National Library.  Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.dol.govt.nz/publications/research/decisionsaboutcaring/decisionsaboutcaring.asp

This qualitative research study explored how and why people with caring responsibilities made decisions about paid work. Fifty men and women were interviewed, either primary caregivers or couples with equally shared caring responsibilities.  The study shows that multiple factors influence people’s choices about paid work, and that different situations suited different people. 

Top Drawer Consultants.(2006). Improving the quality of work for women in the homecare, residential and cleaning sector. Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/quality/background/index.html

This is a collection of four papers:

• Attachment 1: NACEW’s recommendations on government contracting in the homecare, residential care and commercial cleaning sectors. 4pp
• Attachment 2:Summary report of project conducted by NACEW 2005-2006. 6pp
• Attachment 3: Quality of work for women in precarious work: The international experience. 41pp
• Attachment 4:  Improving the quality of work for women in homecare, residential and cleaning sectors: New Zealand context: Executive summary.  46pp

Two research reports on the New Zealand context and international interventions were the result of this project along with a summary report and recommendations. The project examines how the government’s contracting/funding processes could be used as a lever to improve precarious employment issues affecting women in these sectors. The nature of precarious employment in New Zealand is discussed and compared with overseas experiences. 

Dwyer, M. (2006). The economic rationales for narrowing the gender pay gap. 41pp. Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/quality/women/index.html

This report discusses the factors that contribute to the gender pay gap, and considers the gender equity issues that impact on business performance.  It provides a rationale for including a gender focus in the economic transformation and productivity arenas.

Priority improvements to parental leave. (2007). 15pp.Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/workandcare/leave/

In 2007, the Minister of Labour asked the Council for advice on priority improvements to the parental leave scheme.  The Council recommended five improvements to strengthen it’s performance against the scheme's objectives, namely gender equity within the labour market and within families. The improvements include extending the scheme further to ensure wider eligibility, and increasing its length.

Dwyer, M. (2007). Critical Issues for New Zealand women’s employment, now and in the future. 16pp.Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/general/critical-issues/index.html

This paper looks briefly at the current status of women in the labour market and NACEW’s current priority areas.  It then discusses four key future priorities which the Council sees as critical for improving women’s employment and labour market outcomes over the long-term.

National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women:Forty years of work 1967-2007. 29pp.Retrieved 14 June 2008 from NACEW web site: http://www.nacew.govt.nz/publications/general/nacew40/index.html

This paper reviews NACEW's contribution to women’s employment over its 40 year history as a way of marking social, economic and legislative progress over this time.  The paper outlines the wide ranging areas in which the Council has been involved and offers a comprehensive record of its work.

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