Former Woman’s Affairs Minister Steve Chadwick will be in Whakatāne next Tuesday to speak about the impacts of changes to pay equity laws.

Chadwick is being hosted by the Zonta Club of Whakatāne, part of an international organisation dedicated to empowering women.

The former Rotorua Mayor served as Women’s Affairs Minister under Helen Clark’s government and has been a passionate advocate for women’s rights and pay equity in New Zealand.

As a member of the People’s Select Committee on Pay Equity, she will speak about the impact for women and low paid workers of the Equal Pay Amendment Act passed under urgency in May last year.

The act discontinued 33 open claims for pay equity and introduced stricter criteria for bringing forward new cases of sex-based wage undervaluation.

The act led to protest action around New Zealand including about 80 people picketing outside East Coast MP Dana Kirkpatrick’s office.

Chadwick will be speaking at Acacia House, 19 Louvain Street from 6.30pm on Tuesday, June 2. Entry is by gold coin donation.