Gender equity plan

Find out how the University’s commitment to an equitable work and study environment is shown in the following policies, initiatives, and opportunities.

The University is committed to continuous improvement in gender equity, as with other aspects of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The University’s commitment to an equitable work and study environment is shown in the following policies, initiatives, and opportunities.

Equal Employment Opportunities

The University is committed to people participating equitably in all areas across the University. We require managers and staff to integrate Equal Employment Opportunities principles into everyday practice.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework

Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework was approved in 2018 as a University policy. It underlies the way in which our University incorporates equity, diversity, and inclusion goals and principles in its management, and is underpinned by our aspiration to be a vibrant, creative, supportive, and inclusive environment.

Equitable outcomes for all

Our Strategic Plan includes equitable outcomes for all. We consciously build our university community in a manner reflecting the diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand’s population and we are proud to have staff and students with a diverse, broad range of experience, knowledge, and backgrounds from here and overseas.

Academic career promotions

The criteria for academic career promotions recognises performance in learning and teaching, research, external engagement, and Haututanga/leadership, and to support equitable academic promotion decision-making, committee members are required to make themselves familiar with the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Framework, and our material on unconscious bias in recruitment.

Parental leave and academic parents returning to work

The University offers a generous parental leave package to permanent staff members and staff members on fixed-term employment agreements of 12 months or more, and who satisfy the eligibility requirements for statutory parental leave.

A scheme is available that supports academic parents returning to work after a long period away from the University. This includes funding to support attendance at conferences, training, and development in support of academic career and research progression, which especially supports women and under-represented academic staff. We also offer a writing retreat for returning carers.

Hybrid work arrangements

Flexible working arrangements acknowledge that people have different work styles, personal responsibilities, lifestyles, values, and wellness needs. As a health-promoting and inclusive employer, the University recognises the value of flexible work arrangements in supporting and retaining a diverse community of talented staff and offers staff flexibility when possible.

Women in Engineering

The Wellington Faculty of Engineering is committed to supporting the development of future women scientists, technologists, and engineers. A more diverse workforce in these areas will help New Zealand's social and economic prosperity, as well as benefiting individual women.

Support and opportunities for students

We offer a range of supports and opportunities for students, including free menstrual products, a number of scholarships specifically for women, and a range of clubs and groups, like Women in Tech, the Women’s Collective, the Victoria University Feminist Organisation, and Women and Gender Minorities in Science.

Kahukura—Rainbow and Inclusion

The University’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual/agender (LGBTQIA+), and takatāpui communities are known as the rainbow community.

The University's rainbow and inclusion service supports LGBTQIA+ and takatāpui students and works with our community to make sure our campuses are a safe and inclusive environment for students of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and sex characteristics.

Rainbow Research Network

The Rainbow Research Network is an interdisciplinary coalition of staff and students at Te Herenga Waka who have a shared interest in research initiatives related to our LGBTQIA+ and takatāpui and MVPFAFF+ communities. It is a cross-discipline group of researchers from a range of programmes, schools, and faculties, united by a shared commitment to create a dedicated space for supporting intersectional research on gender, sex and sexuality, race, class, feminism, and queer and trans studies. The Rainbow Research Network runs a monthly research seminar series and hosted their inaugural symposium in late November 2023.