The under-representation in senior and decision-making roles in New Zealand is shown for example in the Human Rights Commission's New Zealand Census of Women’s Participation (2008).

Employers tend to recruit women into some roles and men into others, so that gender segregation continues to be common in New Zealand workplaces. The female-dominated roles and occupations often have fewer career steps than male-dominated roles and occupations, so that many women may have fewer opportunities than men for career advancement.