Bennett, Parata: National not a boys' club

  • Breaking
  • 12/08/2011

By Patrick Gower

The National Party’s annual conference is underway in Wellington – and it’s 75 years old.

This evening, the role of women in the party is the toast.

Paula Bennett and Hekia Parata are a powerful couple of National Party women, but there is no denying they are in the minority and in what National usually keeps as “jobs for the boys”.

Just two out of nine on National’s front bench are women. In cabinet, it is just six out of 20 and in caucus only 16 of 57 – that’s 28 percent.

But Labour aren’t much better, 15 out of 42 of their MPs are women – just 35 percent.

Ms Bennett says more women are needed in caucus.

“I’ve love to see more women in caucus. I’d love to see more women in cabinet and I’d love to see more women in Parliament – that’s the reality of it,” she says.

Watch the full interview with Paula Bennett and Hekia Parata

Jenny Shipley showed women can get to the top and Prime Minister John Key says the reality is today’s women must apply like everybody else.

“We would love to have more women put up their hands and to run for us,” he syas.

“If they do, then we’ll be looking very favourably at them.”

Watch the video for Patrick Gower’s full report

3 News

source: newshub archive