#YouChoose2020

We want Aotearoa New Zealand to lead the world in gender equity. In the lead up to the General Election in 2020, we came together to ask our politicians how committed to gender equity they were. 

That national conversation resulted in two parts of mahi: firstly, the #YouChoose2020 survey, which was a nationwide survey for women, womxn, wāhine, trans women and those who walk between the binary world to share what they need and want to help achieve this vision. Over 3,500 people responded to our questions, making this a truly in-depth and motivating piece of work. That informed the second piece of work; WeChoose2020, an Election Scorecard, designed to rank and measure how well political party policies are supporting gender equity in Election 2020.

Survey | Tatauranga

In the lead up to the 2020 New Zealand Election, we conducted the YouChoose2020 survey and over 3,500 women, non-binary people, trans women, intersex people, and takatāpui responded. 

The top ten policy issues for YouChoose2020 respondents are set out below. The survey comprised of eight categories; the three most supported issue areas from each category formed the basis of the Election 2020 Scorecard (more on that methodology over here). 

The top ten policy issues for YouChoose2020 respondents

  • 87% of respondents believed Legislation to ensure pay equity i.e. people get the same pay for similar work/work of equal value as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 87% of respondents believed Greater enforcement to ensure the protection of our waterways and rivers as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 86% of respondents believed Healthcare providers understand the dynamics of sexual and whānau/family violence as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 85% of respondents believed Mentoring/leadership programmes and coaching for women and non-binary people (to increase their representation in leadership roles) as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 84% of respondents believed Trained professionals who respond safely and appropriately to women and children who have experienced violence and abuse e.g. policy, social workers, GPs as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 83% of respondents believed Free visits to GPs for children as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 82% of respondents believed Public places that are accessible for people with a disability as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 81% of respondents believed Better access to publicly-available information about what domestic violence is, including controlling behaviours, and how to get help as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 79% of respondents believed Stronger government commitment to protecting our native species as very important to women & non-binary people. 
  • 78% of respondents believed More legal aid for women who experience violence and abuse as very important to women & non-binary people. 

Check out the Election Scorecard to see how the political parties fared on these issues & more. 

 

Who completed the YouChoose2020 survey? 

The survey was completed by 3,508 people. 

96% of respondents identified as female; 3% as non-binary. 

 

In terms of ethnicities (respondents could choose more than one option), respondents identified as:

  • NZ European/Pākehā, 82%

  • Other European, 11%

  • Māori, 10%

  • Pasifika, 4%

  • Asian, 4%

  • Indian, 2%

  • Other, 3%

 

In terms of getting to know our respondents:

  • 45% identified as living with a disability

  • 75% identified as heterosexual/straight

  • 23% identified as Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, pansexual

  • 86% were urban, whilst 14% were rural

 

Scorecard | Election 2020

In the lead up to the 2020 New Zealand Election, we conducted the YouChoose2020 survey and over 3,500 women, non-binary people, trans women, intersex people, and takatāpui responded. Thank you!

You told us what you want and need from your elected representatives. We have taken the top three issues from each of the sections of the survey and analysed the election manifestos and policies of each of the political parties to see how they stack up.

The results:

Learn more about the scorecard here.

Download a printable version of the scorecard here.


CARING RESPONSIBILITIES

 
Paid parental leave
Childcare funding
Elder care funding

 

HEALTH AND WELLBEING

 

Specialist violence
healthcare providers

Free GP visits for children

Accessible public places

 

MONEY AND FINANCE

 

Budgeting education
in schools

Retirement savings
information

Accessible bank
information

 

FAIRNESS IN THE WORKPLACE

 
Pay equity legislation
High-quality part-time jobs

Flexible work

Stronger employment discrimination legislation


EQUALITY IN RELATIONSHIPS

 
Domestic violence information
Healthy relationships education

Access to financial information


VIOLENCE AND ABUSE

 
Trained violence responders
Legal aid for victims of domestic violence
Family Court to better protect victims of domestic violence


LEADERSHIP AND DECISION-MAKING

 
Mentoring or coaching
Leadership programmes

Hiring targets for businesses and organisations


ENVIRONMENT AND WHENUA

 
Protection of waterways

Protection of native species

Reduction of carbon emissions

Engage Māori about land use

 

KEY

If a policy exists that aligns with the proposition

Example, if the proposition supported longer paid parental leave, and the party has a policy that explicitly states they support the extension of paid parental leave to x weeks.

The policy talks about the policy area being important, but the party does not offer a specific policy proposal. For example, the party talks about the importance of longer paid parental leave, but does not offer a concrete policy proposal.

The party offers conflicting policies in regards to the proposition. For example, if the proposition supports the reduction of carbon emissions, but the party offers one policy which will reduce emissions, but another which will increase emissions.

The party offers specifically, explicitly exclusionary policies in regards to the proposition. For example, if the proposition supported paid parental leave, but the party offered such leave for married, but not other, couples.

The party has no policy or does not support the policy position of interest.

Example: No policy position.

Example: We support the existing paid parental leave entitlement (where the proposition supported more leave).

Example:  We support removing/rolling back paid parental leave entitlements.

Learn more about the scorecard here

We want to ignite a national conversation about issues affecting these groups and move towards ensuring subsequent governments will have our concerns high on their agenda.

Want to join us? 

Want to know more?

Karanga mai rā, maranga mai rā! Ka āhei te wāhine ki te tū i runga i tōna mana motuhake! Ka huri tai, ā, he au kume, he au kaha, te ia e rere ana