W HY H AV E A T ERT I ARY WO ME N ’ S GU I D E TO VOT I N G? Despite significant gains for women in the last century, there are still significant inequities and barriers facing women in Aotearoa New Zealand today. We still earn less, and continue to do most of society’s unpaid work at home, and in the community. Rape, sexual abuse and domestic violence are still common throughout our country and women are disproportionately affected by it. Women are also more likely to live in poverty and be the sole parent in the increasing number of sole parent families. With this in mind, how should we, as women in tertiary education, evaluate political parties in the 2014 General Election? The following guide presents a summary of selected issues facing women in tertiary education, and in New Zealand society. It is intended to assist you to think about the issues which will affect you in the coming three years, and beyond. Parties were asked a series of questions on their policies as they relate to tertiary women. The following responses outline what each party has said they would do in regards to these policies if they were elected in the upcoming 2014 General Election period from 3rd September. This Tertiary Women’s Guide to Voting was brought to you by the 2014 NZUSA Tertiary Women’s Focus Group and National Women’s Rights Officer Samantha Allen.
ST U DE N T LOAN S Removing interest on student loans was a large step towards closing the gender equity gap; however the current system of user-pays tertiary education still perpetuates inequity for women. As women are still paid less and are more likely to take time out of the paid workforce to care for dependents, repayment takes longer. •
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Green, MANA and NZ First: support the current zero-interest scheme and will explore other options such as debt write-off schemes including one year repayment holidays, ensuring that repayment rates reflect borrowers’ ability to repay, and re-introducing a voluntary repayment bonus scheme. National: are committed to interest-free student loans. They say they have been working hard to reduce student debt by increasing the repayment rate of graduates and ex-students, as well as reducing the Government write-off on student loan debt to keep student loans sustainable for the government. UnitedFuture: has a zero-fees policy but support the loans scheme as it is. Labour: it was Labour who removed interest from student loans, and they will undertake a full review of the support system including allowances, loans and scholarships. Māori: support interest-free student loans, student associations and roopu tauira Māori; and will ensure there are transition pathways by bringing national and local organisations, iwi, and hapū together. Internet: zero-fees and a universal student allowance is a top priority, they see these as essential to economic and social policies of moving NZ forward.
ST U DENT ALLOWAN CE S Only about one third of students receive some form of student allowance, due to parental-income means-testing on all students under 24. Students are still the only group in society who are forced to borrow to meet basic living costs. A universal living allowance for all students so they don’t need to borrow each week is crucial in keeping student loan debt down. • • • •
Green, Internet, MANA, NZ First and Māori: all support a universal student allowance. National: does not support a universal student allowance. UnitedFuture: proposes a zero-fees policy for tertiary education in place of student allowances. Labour: will undertake a full review of the student support system with the aim of producing a system that increases access to fair, transparent and sustainable tertiary education.
T RA I N I NG I NCE N T I V E ALLO WAN CE Training Incentive Allowance (TIA) provides support for sole parents to access tertiary education. However, the TIA has been restricted to lower level qualifications since 2009. • •
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Green, Internet, Labour, MANA, NZ First and Māori: will reinstate the TIA for all levels. National: from July 2015 sole parents taking up full-time study will receive at least the same level of accommodation support from the student support system as they do from the benefit system. UnitedFuture: will reinstate for more levels as fiscal conditions allow.
P RO PO S ED C H AN GE S TO T E RT I ARY A N D W A N AN GA COU N CI LS The Education Amendment Bill (No. 2) proposes to reduce the size of university and wānanga councils, and increase the number of Ministerial appointments. The TWFG believes that this would make the councils undemocratic and unrepresentative of their communities and stakeholders. This will have a negative effect on groups already underrepresented, such as women and Māori. •
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Green, Internet, MANA, NZ First and Labour: oppose changes to university and wānanga councils included in this Bill and want to see a more representative governance model for all tertiary institutions where staff, students and communities work in partnership on governing bodies. There is also concern that the predominance and accountability of Ministerial appointees to university councils compromises the academic independence of universities and risks damaging our universities’ international reputations. National: believes that smaller, skills-based councils will be able to respond more quickly and strategically to the challenges of modern-day tertiary education. National wants to help all students get the qualifications they need to succeed, and play their part in growing our economy. UnitedFuture: is “largely relaxed” about the changes and have met with various groups to hear and discuss their concerns. Māori: believes that Māori voices need to be on all governance boards around Aotearoa, and that students, staff and unions should have a voice on all tertiary councils.
CO N T RACE PT I O N Access to appropriate, effective, and affordable contraception is not consistent nationwide, particularly for young women. Without genuine access to contraception, education, and information relating to sexual health and reproductive options, women are often denied the right to meaningful choices regarding when, or if, to have children. •
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Green: will improve access to culturally appropriate information about different contraceptive methods, ensure costs and waiting lists are not a barrier to accessing appropriate contraception, and ensure accessibility of Family Planning Clinics throughout NZ. Internet: believes that there should be no access barriers to contraception and advice, least of all financial barriers. They believe that the ECP should be readily available along with appropriate professional advice, which could be provided by a range of health, community or education workers and professionals. MANA: advocates for free family planning advice and free contraception. National: supports having affordable and accessible contraception. NZ First: believes in allowing people the right to choose contraception so this could require a continual review around access and affordability. They believe that emergency contraceptives should be available from only pharmacists. UnitedFuture: supports increased funding for sexual health and contraceptive programmes. They have no specific policy regarding the availability of emergency contraceptives but support moves to make it more readily available, within appropriate safeguards. Labour: will ensure that all women have access to an affordable and comprehensive range of sexual and reproductive health services. Māori: believes that contraception is a whanau matter and should be discussed within that context. They agree that services should be affordable or free. They do not have a specific policy on the ECP.
A LT ER N AT I V E T R I AL P R O CE SS E S FO R S EXUAL V I O LE N CE The Law Commission is working on alternative trial processes in regards to prosecuting perpetrators of sexual assault and rape. However, there is inadequate funding allocated to work in this important area of research, or any solid plans to pilot and implement these recommendations. •
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Green: believes that the Law Commission’s work with alternative trial processes in regards to prosecuting sexual assault and rape needs to be completed to improve victim’s and survivor’s access to justice in NZ. The fact that the conviction rate for sexual violence is at 1% illustrates to the Green Party how important this work is for them. The Green party does not have a specific policy on implementing the Law Commission’s suggestions regarding alternative trial processes, however they would advocate for, at the very least, a trial of an inquisitorial trial process for sexual violence and domestic violence. Internet, MANA and Māori: supports the Law Commission’s work and is likely to implement their suggestion regarding this alternative trial process. National: would prefer to focus on improving criminal trial processes in ways specific to making it easier for victims of crime to give evidence. NZ First: would welcome the opportunity to be part of the decision making around this and would be interested in a discussion around the required funding models. UnitedFuture: will work with all parties that form the next Government to ensure the Law Commission’s findings are acknowledged and implemented as best as possible. Labour: will allow the Law Commission to complete its review on alternative trial mechanisms. They will ensure that the Police, specialist Adult Sexual Assault teams and Child Protection Services are adequately resourced and trained.
AB ORT I ON It is crucial that women are empowered to exercise control and choice over their sexual and reproductive health. This includes the right to choose whether or when to have children, and the right to genuine access to abortion. The current legislation regarding terminations has remained unchanged for around 30 years, and continues to treat abortion as a crime rather than a health matter. Essentially it denies women the autonomy to make choices about their own bodies. •
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Green, Internet, MANA, Māori and NZ First: support a woman’s right to choose. They also believe that abortion is a personal, whanau or health and wellbeing matter, not a criminal one, and would advocate for abortion to be removed from the Crimes Act 1961. National: has no plans to change the current laws on abortion, and it is a conscience issue for their MPs to vote on. UnitedFuture: it is a conscience issue. Labour: it is a conscience issue. Overall, Labour supports safe, affordable, universal access to contraception, and sexual and reproductive services and inclusive access to abortion. They will get the Law Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act 1977 and all other related legislation.
New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote on 19th September 1893.
V I OLE N CE One in three women will be a victim of domestic and sexual violence in New Zealand. Organisations such as Women’s Refugee, Rape Crisis and more specialist violence and sexual harassment services need to be better supported so that they can both maintain themselves and plan strategically into the future. •
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Green, Internet, Mana, Māori, Labour and NZ First: all have extensive policies which brings together both governmental and non-governmental organisations to develop frameworks for an inclusive and collaborative national action plan. This includes education, services, marketing and legislation. They all acknowledge that there is no one thing that will sort this out and it all needs to be dealt with holistically. National: are doing a range of things to combat these issues including exploring the use of GPS and other technology to monitor people who breach protection orders, have allocated money to help sustain sexual violence social services (though this is not long term and this government has made a lot of cuts in this sector) over the next two years, have a campaign aimed at preventing sexual violence, and ACC is developing a programme on healthy relationships. UnitedFuture: proposes to ensure that police co-ordinate closely with social services and child protection agencies in each community. This includes automatic referral of any criminal activity that involves children and improving responses to domestic violence and child abuse. They support specialist sexual violence services and would like to see more organisations working in these areas as fiscal conditions allow.
STUDENT PAR EN TS AN D CH I LDCAR E The provision of accessible and affordable childcare and Early Childhood Education (ECE) is crucial in ensuring that women (and primary caregivers) can exercise their right to access employment and education. •
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Green, MANA, UnitedFuture, Labour and Māori: will implement and fund a range of policies and programmes which will work to strengthen ECE and childcare centres. This includes diverse models for immersion learning in Te Reo Māori and Pacific languages throughout the country and on tertiary campuses. National: will prioritise teen parents at risk of benefit dependency with education, training, and support through their Youth Services package. NZ First: will increase the number of Teenage Parent Units to extend opportunities for young mothers to remain in education and gain qualifications with a supportive school and community environment. Internet: supports the current 20 hours and endorses its extension to younger children. Their approach is to ensure that access to and affordability of ECE is not a barrier to study or work.
Kate Sheppard was a leader in the New Zealand women’s suffrage movement, helping women gain the right to vote in New Zealand. Today her significant contribution to women’s suffrage is honoured by having her face on the New Zealand ten dollar note.
PA I D PA R EN TAL LE AV E (P P L) Government financial support while taking time out of paid work after giving birth or adopting a child acknowledges the importance and value of parenting. Current entitlement provides women (transferable to partner) with paid leave for 14 weeks (3.5 months) for those employed in full or part time work. In April 2015 this is due to increase to 16 weeks (4 months), and in April 2016, 18 weeks (4.5 months). •
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Green and UnitedFuture: will extend PPL to 13 months, in line with the Families Commission recommendations. The Green’s will also increase the level of payment to 100% of the male wage. MANA: would increase PPL to 12 months. National: by April 2016 will have increased PPL to 4.5 months. Labour and NZ First: support its increase to 26 weeks (6.5 months). Māori: supports its increase to 26 weeks, as well as the extension of leave entitlement to non-standard employees or those who have experience gaps in employment and have diverse family arrangements. They believe this will address some of the inequities that Māori and Pasifika women have experienced within the current scheme. They also support allowing employees to work limited days during the leave period, and the flexible uplifting of unpaid leave. Internet: have not yet developed the specifics of their policy on this but believe that the current provision is too short and the maximum payment is too low. They would also like a separate provision for father/partner leave.
PAY E Q U I TY There is still a significant gender pay gap in Aotearoa New Zealand, and the gap is greater for women with tertiary qualifications. Women earn less because they are more likely, an expected, to do unpaid work (e.g. in the home, raising children, and in the community), part-time work, and because stereotyped “women’s work” is generally undervalued. •
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Green, Internet, Labour, Mana, Māori, NZ First and UnitedFuture: all have a range of mechanisms in mind to progress pay and employment equity in NZ. National: supports and will enforce all current legal requirements, such as non-discrimination in employment and equal pay. National say that they have been working hard to help increase women’s participation on state sector boards and committees, and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs manages a database with over 800 women who are ready to serve on boards and further their governance careers.
W O M EN I N ACADE MI A Women working in tertiary education face numerous inequities. They are disproportionately concentrated at lower levels in academic and management positions, and women are further disadvantaged by the Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) which has seen men’s performance rated as significantly higher than women’s.
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Green: supports organisations that are working to increase the participation of women in high-level positions and set targets for the percentage of women to be employed in the public service and fulfil senior management roles. Specifically in relation to the tertiary sector, it is the Green Party’s policy to undertake a comprehensive review of the PBRF model and investigate the merits of alternative funding streams. MANA: supports the need for pay and employment equity, including the introduction of legislation to give it effect. MANA also supports the need to remove the PBRF model for allocating research funding and would instead design and implement an approach that is fair and equitable, including for Māori and women. National: does not have any policies in place to specifically address this, though believe that women and men can contribute in any areas they choose to advance. Internet, NZ First and UnitedFuture: do not have any specific polices in this area, but they have noticed it and would seek a conversation with the sector on the best methods to address this disparity. Labour: will first prioritise this issue in consultation with universities. They will then support agreed, effective affirmative action measures that correct this imbalance; both in appointments and in research success. Māori: believes in learner centrism and that the researcher needs to be acknowledged by the system for their important work, not just the institution.
M IN I ST RY O F W OME N ’ S AFFAI RS (MWA ) MWA has been under scrutiny for the past six years with funding cuts. It carries out valuable research on women’s roles across sectors, and works to ensure the advancement of women in society. •
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Green: wants to see it better resourced to help develop agendas to progress all women’s rights, with a Minister within cabinet to ensure the policy work is able to influence policy making. MANA, UnitedFuture and Māori: believe that persisting inequalities for women illustrates that there is still a role for the MWA. National: supports MWA as it is the Government’s principle advisor on achieving better outcomes for women, though have made cuts to it. New Zealand First: has no policy for or against the MWA, and says that there is “no will” inside their party to remove the Ministry. Labour: established the MWA and remains committed to ensuring it receives adequate funding and plays the role it was intended to. Internet: supports the MWA but believes that it needs reshaping. They argue that it needs fearless leadership and a clear mission to provide resources and research support to the priorities set by women organising for equality in the wider community.
The white camellia is the symbol of the suffragists who fought hard to get women the right to vote in New Zealand. This symbol comes out each year on September 19th as communities celebrate the anniversary of New Zealand women’s suffrage.
A DVAN CE D VOT I N G The NZ General Election voting period this year is between the 3rd of September and the 20th of September. The early election means that students will have access to advanced voting booths set up on campuses around the country. Even if you have not currently enrolled, you can register and vote on the same day, right up until the 19th of September. Students have the opportunity to decide this election. We number 420,000 nation wide and make up 14% of all eligible votes, and then there are friends, family and wider networks on top of this. By thinking about pro-student issues, particularly those that affect women, we have the power to make or change the Government. NZUSA has been advocating for students’ rights since 1929. We, the TWFG included in this, have a vision of a tertiary education system that is accessible and enables all students to get ahead in life and contribute to the economic, social and cultural success of our communities, society and country. This Tertiary Women’s Guide to Voting and the NZUSA Student Guide to Voting aims to ensure that students feel empowered and informed when casting their vote this year. If you would like to find out more information about the 2014 General Election then go online to the Electoral Commission website: www.elections.org.nz Authorised by TWFG , NZUSA 354 Lambton Quay Wellington 6011
GREEN = STRONG SU PPO RT | PU R PL E = S U PPO RT YEL LOW = AGAINST | B LU E = ST R O NG AGAINST
The Act party did not respond to the TWFG questions.
MINISTRY OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS
WOMEN IN ACADEMIA
PAY EQUITY
PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
STUDENT PARENTS AND CHILDCARE
VIOLENCE
ABORTION
SEXUAL VIOLENCE TRIALS
CONTRACEPTION
TERTIARY AND WĀNANGA COUNCILS
TRAINING INCENTIVE ALLOWANCE
STUDENT ALLOWANCES
STUDENT LOANS
GREENS
INTERNET
LABOUR
MANA
MĀORI
NATIONAL
NZ FIRST
UNITED FUTURE