Protecting the sex-based rights of women and girls.
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.
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.
Tap an issue to read Women’s Rights Party’s position on it, in our words with their source. 7 of 11 topics have a recorded position.
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.
“An estimated 150,000 women workers whose pay equity claims have been extinguished are now in limbo. Many of these claims will not be able to restart under the new pay equity regime.”
“Minimum wages and benefits need to be increased so that all people have living incomes. In particular, women need increased incomes to promote full participation in society and dignity as we age.”
“In New Zealand, the average KiwiSaver balance for women is 25% lower than the average balance for men across all age groups.”
Summarised neutrally from The New Zealand Women’s Rights Party’s own official policy (as at 2026-09-07) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Economy →
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.