Beyond economic gain, trade and trade agreements can be a real force for good. As Aotearoa New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, I will continue to promote the benefits of baking in meaningful and concrete provisions on gender equality into trade agreements. Commitments to trade and gender not only advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, but promote a gender perspective in trade and investment relationships.

I commit to support efforts in our organisation to more systematically consider gender and diversity in the hiring and retention of locally-engaged staff. This includes the consideration of gender pay issues for our locally employed staff, in line with work done for staff employed on New Zealand contracts.