Kristine Bartlett
Kristine Bartlett is a prominent New Zealand caregiver and advocate for pay equity, best known for her pivotal role in a landmark legal case that highlighted gender discrimination in pay. In 2014, she successfully argued that her low hourly wage of $14.32 was a result of systemic undervaluation of work predominantly done by women, leading to a historic $2 billion settlement that established a framework for future pay equity claims. Bartlett's case initiated significant legislative changes aimed at addressing the gender pay gap in New Zealand, and she remains an influential figure in the ongoing fight for fair pay and workers' rights.
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Recent news mentions
Kristine Bartlett spearheaded a landmark pay equity deal in 2017.
Audrey Young: Behind the pay equity dispute over comparators
New Zealand· 2025-06-17
McCully thinks the change negates a whole lot of amazing work by campaigners like Kristine Bartlett.
Protest in Tauranga over pay equity changesNew Zealand· 2025-05-09
McCully said it negates a whole lot of amazing work [by] campaigners like Kristine Bartlett.
Protest in Tauranga over pay equity changesNew Zealand· 2025-05-09It took Kristine Bartlett five years of litigation to get her landmark pay equity settlement over the line.
Under urgency, without basic paperwork, the Govt moves to change workers’ rights – Thomas CoughlanNew Zealand· 2025-05-06
The pay equity regime was legislated following legal action last decade by Lower Hutt caregiver Kristine Bartlett, who argued her $14.32 hourly pay rate was a result of gender discrimination under the Equal Pay Act.
Government cancels pay equity claims, likely to hit hundreds of thousands of workers, booking Budget savingsNew Zealand· 2025-05-06
