Equality & Diversity

The New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture is committed to developing a referral bar that reflects the diversity of the legal profession and  the wider community.  

The Diversity Committee & Diversity Policy

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee was established to advance the NZBA’s commitment to diversity and has developed a Diversity Policy. 

The Committee develops and promotes initiatives and activities intended to promote equality, diversity and inclusion across the independent Bar.

The Committee’s objectives include the promotion of the independent Bar as a career choice for all, irrespective of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religious belief, cultural or socio-economic background and/or disability.  It seeks to identify and address barriers and assumptions that inhibit the progression of individuals into and within the profession.  Examples of such barriers include discrimination, non-equal treatment and socio-economic factors.

The Committee’s overarching aspiration is to foster and achieve “A profession representative of all and for all”.

The Gender Equitable Engagement and Instruction Policy

The Gender Equitable Engagement and Instruction Policy, launched by the New Zealand Bar Association | Ngā Ahorangi Motuhake o te Ture and New Zealand Law Society on 5 December 2017, has as a key objective that by 1 December 2018, policy adopters will use reasonable endeavours to have women lawyers with relevant expertise take a lead on at least 30% of court proceedings, arbitral proceedings and major regulatory investigations.

The Policy is attached below together with information on the background to it's creation and an article from the March 2018 issue of the At the Bar newsletter.

If your organisation, firm or chambers would like to adopt the policy or find out more information, please email equitable@lawsociety.org.nz

Gender Research Grant

The NZBA received a grant from The Law Foundation to fund research into the gender ratio of lawyers appearing in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. This research was conducted in 2017/18 and the final report was released on 3 September 2018. The research shows the gender ratios of both senior and junior lawyers appearing in both appellate Courts between 1 January 2012 and 1 January 2018. 

Click here to view the Report and press release.