SDG 5 – Gender Equality , He Ira Mana Taurite

Increasing proportions of female students

In 2023, 64.8 per cent of all Massey students identified as female. In 2023, this comprised 17,250 students of 26,632.

This percentage has steadily increased over the last six years. The percentage of students identifying as female in:

• 2018 was 63.5 per cent
• 2019 was 63.8 per cent
• 2020 was 64.2 per cent
• 2021 and 2022 was 64.7 per cent.

The percentage of female Māori and Pacific students is higher at 72.7 per cent and 71.5 per cent, respectively. These rates have been stable since 2020 for Māori students, but have increased from 70.5 per cent in 2022 for Pacific students.

Conversion rates for female students are slightly higher than those for males.

• 62.4 per cent of applications in 2022 were submitted by female applicants.

In recent years, the number of students identifying as another gender has also increased from less than 20 in 2020, to 70 in 2021 and 167 in 2022, 167 in 2022 and 213 in 2023.

See more Massey student statistics

High achievement rates for female students

In 2023, qualification completion rates for full-time, bachelor-level students were 69 per cent for female students compared with 65 per cent for male students (based on Tertiary Education Commission Educational Performance Indicators data). These rates have both increased by 1 per cent since 2022.

The percentage of female students completing all Massey qualifications was 65.1 per cent or 4,318 out of 6,637 qualifications awarded in 2022.

• 64.8 per cent for bachelor degree-level qualifications.
• 65.7 per cent for postgraduate qualifications.

Increase in women in senior positions

The proportion of women in senior positions at the university is rising.

In 2023, the percentage of female professors and associate professors was 41 per cent, the same as in 2022 and up from 34 per cent five years ago.

Women held 54.5 per cent of senior manager, directors and manager roles in 2023, slightly down from 55 per cent in 2022. However, this is a notable rise from 46 per cent five years ago, with an 8 percentage point increase over the past five years.

Supporting females in the creative arts

Massey University’s Toi Rauwhārangi College of Creative Arts supports many initiatives and provides many mentoring opportunities for female students. These include:

Contrast is a vibrant student-led club supporting women and gender diverse screen artists, providing a platform for connection, collaboration and growth within the creative industry. In 2024, Contrast hosted several screenings, created a short film for the 48 hours Film Festival, hosted an acting workshop, held a film festival showcasing members’ work, and has regular meetings to provide ongoing support to its members. With a membership of over 100, Contrast was voted Massey’s best social club in 2024.

To the Front is a holiday programme hosted by Massey University in 2024 for 12-17 year olds who are women, intersex, trans, takatāpui and gender diverse. By creating an inclusive, fun, and supportive space for our young people, we’re helping to build a brighter future for music and musicians in Aotearoa.

The Pathways Programme is an extension of To the Front for 16-19 year olds that was run in 2024. Participants take part in specialty workshops illuminating paths for music beyond high school, develop new skills and make new contacts to support their music journey.

Massey University is actively researching the underrepresentation of women, Māori, and Pacific peoples in creative technologies. The aim is to identify barriers and solutions in order to create a more diverse and inclusive industry.

Find out more about Contrast

Find out more about To the Front

Read more about our research

Books published on topics of importance to women

Adjunct Professor Jane Park is an editor of Women and Work in Asia and the Pacific. This recently published book from 2023 addresses workplace discrimination against women.

Dismantling Rape Culture: The Peacebuilding Power of ‘Me Too’ is a new book by Massey’s Dr Tracey Nicholls that analyses rape culture through the lens of the “Me Too” era.

Postfeminism and Body Image, co-authored by Massey’s Professor Sarah Riley, is a new book exploring the postfeminism idea that women empower themselves by working on their appearance. The research looks at how the pursuit of ideal femininity can undermine women and make them vulnerable.

Development and launch of Kāhui Irarau – a student-led project!

In 2022, a team of College of Creative Arts students who identify with the rainbow community worked alongside the university to develop a community service to support rainbow and takatāpui community individuals.

The initiative, known as Kāhui Irarau (loosely translated to a flock or gathering of many lives), is an indigenous-led approach to promoting LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

The name draws inspiration from the whakataukī (proverb) e koekoe te kōkō, e ketekete te kākā, e kūkū te kererū. This signifies the diverse richness of both our native birds and our people, much like the tūī squawking, the kākā chattering and the kererū cooing.

Kāhui Irarau serves as a platform for fostering connections and offers a range of events throughout the year.

You can find out more about this initiative using Facebook and Instagram.

First-ever female Young Farmer of the Year

In 2023, Massey alumni Emma Poole has made history by becoming the first-ever female FMG Young Farmer of the Year. The competition has run for 55 years and is the flagship event for NZ Young Farmers, showcasing the level of skill and knowledge of young people in the food and fibre sector.

Doctorate research explores gender equity in sports and politics

Recent doctorate research has focused on gender equity. It explored women’s historical participation in sports organisations to better understand ongoing gender inequities, and analysed discriminatory media portrayals of female politicians.