New Zealand cabinet achieves gender parity for the first time

Sydney, Australia, Apr 11 (EFE).- New Zealand has achieved gender parity in its government for the first time in history, as its cabinet will now have ten men and ten women, the country’s prime minister announced Tuesday.

Chris Hipkins, at a press conference, announced that following the appointment of Willow-Jean Prime as Minister of Conservation, there will be a “a 50/50 gender balance in Cabinet for the first time in New Zealand’s history.”

In October last year, New Zealand achieved gender parity in its parliament, a milestone that, according to the United Nations, had only been reached by Rwanda, Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates.

Labour party’s Chris Hipkins took office as prime minister in January, a few days after his predecessor, Jacinda Ardern, in a surprising move, resigned after more than five years in office, saying she had no more energy to continue. EFE

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