The Minister for Women is the government minister in the

New Zealand Government , background_color = #012169 , image = New Zealand Government wordmark.svg , image_size=250px , date_established = , country = New Zealand , leader_title = Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern , appointed = Governor-General , main_organ = , ...

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 Ministry for Women (Māori: ''Manatū Wāhine'') is the public service department of New Zealand charged with advising the government on policies and issues affecting women. It was formerly called the Ministry for Women's Affairs (MWA), bu ...

. The post was established by the

Fourth Labour Government The Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand governed New Zealand from 26 July 1984 to 2 November 1990. It was the first Labour government to win a second consecutive term since the First Labour Government of 1935 to 1949. The policy agenda o ...

on 26 July 1984 preceding the creation of the ministry. It was split from the

Social Welfare Welfare, or commonly social welfare, is a type of government support intended to ensure that members of a society can meet Basic needs, basic human needs such as food and shelter. Social security may either be synonymous with welfare, or refe ...

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

Notes

References

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Women, Minister of Lists of government ministers of New Zealand Political office-holders in New Zealand