Whiria te Tangata – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan

At the Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora we value our people and we do our best to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

As a good employer we strive to treat people fairly and with respect. We ensure that our employment practices are set up to value contributions from people at all levels of our organisation. We encourage our people to use behaviours and make decisions that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Public Service Act 2020 requires our leadership to work together to create a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We must endeavour to develop employment policies and practices to create a working environment that is more inclusive for everyone.

Whiria te Tangata, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, builds on our previous strategies. It includes the focus areas of Papa Pounamu, the diversity, equity and inclusion work programme for the Public Service, and Kia Toipoto, the Public Service Pay Gaps Action Plan 2021–2024.

Our data as at 30 June 2024

• As at 30 June 2024 we employed 800 total staff (fixed term and permanent), up from 754 in 2023. This was only a temporary increase with the headcount reducing to 713 as at 30 September 2024.
• 69.6% of staff were female and 30.4% male.
• The Ministry continued to meet the target of gender balanced leadership set by Te Kawa Mataaho - with at least 50% of tier 2/3 leadership roles held by females. As at 30 June 2024, 58.3% of our tier 2/3 leadership roles were held by female leaders.
• The average unadjusted gender pay gap was 14.1% (up from 13.2% in June 2023). The gender pay gap is measured as the difference between the average salary for women and for men. This compares to an overall Public Service gender pay gap of 6.1% as at 30 June 2024.
• The pay gap for Māori and Pacific staff has decreased while the pay gap for Asian staff has increased since 2023. 

Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan for 2024/25

Download the Whiria te Tangata Strategy and Action Plan 2024/25.

The Ministry’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan 2024/25 aligns with both Papa Pounamu, the diversity, equity and inclusion work programme for the Public Service, and Kia Toipoto Public Service Pay Gap Action Plan 2021/24.

Previous Pay Gaps Analysis

Download our Pay Gaps Analysis (infographic) 2023 (PDF, 276 KB).

View the latest jobs

Visit the Ministry of Health’s careers website to view all jobs