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Contesting 2026
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Women’s Rights Party

The New Zealand Women’s Rights Party
Not in Parliament Founded 2023
JO
CD
Co-leaders
Jill Ovens & Chimène de la Varis

Protecting the sex-based rights of women and girls.

Official websiteparliament.nz Track
0
Seats
0.0% of 123

Overview

The Women’s Rights Party is a registered New Zealand party formed in 2023 to advocate for the sex-based rights of women and girls. It describes itself as women and men who believe in “democracy, equality and biological reality”, and campaigns on single-sex spaces and services, defining “woman” and “man” in law by biological sex, and the welfare of children. It holds no seats in the current Parliament.

History

The party was founded in April 2023 by Jill Ovens and around 20 other women, and registered with the Electoral Commission the same year. It contested the 2023 Port Waikato by-election and the 2023 general election, and is standing across the country in 2026. It is co-led by Jill Ovens (also its national secretary) and Chimène de la Varis.

Founded in April 2023 by Jill Ovens and around 20 other women, in the week after a New Zealand visit by UK women’s-rights campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen.

Core values

Protect single-sex spaces and services for women and girls
Define “woman” and “man” in law on the basis of biological sex
Safeguard the welfare of children in health and education
Uphold the rights women have historically won, and women’s autonomy
Base law and policy on what the party calls biological reality

Where they stand

Tap an issue to read Women’s Rights Party’s position on it, in our words with their source. 5 of 11 topics have a recorded position.

Women’s Rights Party on Economy
Pay equity, income support, and living wages for women

This party wants women to be paid fairly compared to men, in both government and private jobs. They want employers to publish pay data by sex and ethnicity. They support income support for mothers and carers, saying that caring work contributes to society. They also want minimum wages and benefits raised so all people, especially women, have enough money to live on as they age.

What they say they'll do

  • Require employers to publish average hourly pay by occupation, sex, and ethnicity
  • Deliver pay equity policies covering private sector as well as public sector jobs
  • Reinstate legislative support for Fair Pay Agreements
  • Raise minimum wages and benefits to living income levels
  • Provide income support for mothers and carers raising children or caring for elders

Who this affects

Women workers
Employers would be required to publish pay data and meet pay equity obligations in both private and public sector jobs.
Low-income earners
Minimum wages and benefits would be increased so that all people receive what the party describes as a living income.
Mothers and carers
People raising children or caring for elders would receive income support, with their unpaid work formally recognised as contributing to society.
Older women
Increased incomes are specifically aimed at supporting women's full participation in society and dignity in retirement.

In their own words

“We advocate for effective policies to deliver pay equity in private sector as well as public sector jobs, including a strong onus on employers, publication of average hourly pay statistics by occupation, sex and ethnicities, and reinstatement of legislative support for Fair Pay Agreements.”
“Minimum wages and benefits need to be increased so that all people have living incomes.”
“The Women's Rights Party advocates for income support while raising our children or caring for our elders, recognising that mothering and caring is work and contributes to society.”
Verify at The New Zealand Women’s Rights Party — official policy page

Summarised neutrally from The New Zealand Women’s Rights Party’s own official policy (as at 2026-07-16) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Economy →

Full breakdown Every party on economy
Leadership
JO
Jill Ovens
Co-leader
CD
Chimène de la Varis
Co-leader
At a glance
Total seats0
Electorate seats0
List seats0
Share of House0.0%
Founded2023
Sources

Seat counts from the 2023 General Election (Electoral Commission). Party background from parliament.nz and official party records. Leadership verified against the parliament.nz member roster.