We all belong in property
There is no denying that a diverse industry is a more adaptive industry.
In August 2018, Property Council established our inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Committee, a group of 16 property leaders gathered to lead initiatives that bring the industry together and move us forward.
Chairing this committee is Lauren Joyce from Precinct Properties and Ashley Bray from Colliers, who are supported by an exceptional team of people who are passionate about creating an industry that embraces diversity, attracts the best talent and champions inclusion.
Improving diversity across our industry will have many long-term benefits and many individual members are making significant progress in this area. However, there is certainly a great deal more we can, and should be doing.
The past year has seen the committee refine their purpose and focus their energies on the first and most obvious challenges faced by the property industry; gender inequality.
Goals & Objectives
To lead the property industry in increasing diversity and inclusion
- Create awareness of the issues around diversity and inclusion in the property industry and the importance of addressing them
- Measure and report on diversity and inclusion in the industry, our progress towards improving it and our successes
- Implement a work programme to increase diversity and inclusion in Property Council, its members and the wider industry.
Initiatives
We can’t measure success without a benchmark. The first step to creating change is to assess the key drivers and barriers to attracting, retaining and promoting women in property. From this, we can review baseline metrics, agree on targets, develop action plans to achieve them, measure and correct. Baseline metrics allow us to measure progress and review and revise the effectiveness of the strategies we have put in place. Targets crystallise intent and ensure diversity is a priority.
Download the Gender Diversity Report
We know that the best discussions, thinking and productivity occurs when there is diversity. Many high-profile conferences, events and committees lack gender balance, despite there often being no shortage of expert women. Property Council is committed to ensuring the women in our industry are visible and included. To support this, we are implementing a 40:40:20 Pledge at all Property Council events, where we aim to have a range of speakers who are 40% male, 40% female and 20% either across local and national events, both as attendees and speakers. We will also be expanding this pledge to include Property Council executives and encouraging Property Council members to adopt similar pledges for their own organisations, including in recruitment, retention, management and governance.
Join the Speaker Hub
This initiative aims to drive greater gender equality in the property industry, increase the number of women in leadership roles and grow the talent pool. The Property Champions of Change will bring together senior leaders across the industry’s development and construction, investment, funds management and agency sectors to take action to improve gender equality in the industry.
Gender Diversity Report 2021
In early 2021, 24 participating member companies with a total of 5,442 employees provided their 2020 data to the inaugural Property Gender Diversity Report.
The purpose of this research was to provide a benchmark for the property industry to measure and chart our progress in increasing diversity and embracing inclusion.
The data was split across three sub-sectors;
- Property Investor including Argosy, Auckland Airport, Goodman, Kainga Ora, Kiwi Property, Ngati Whatua Orakei, Oyster Property Group, Panuku Development Auckland, Precinct Properties, Property for Industry, Stride, The Woolstore Management, and Tramco, Trust Management.
- Supplier to Investors including Bayleys, CBRE, Colliers, Hadyn Rollet, Hawkins, Holmes Group, Latham Construction, and Naylor Love.
- Professional Services including Bell Gully and MinterEllisonRuddWatts.
Where to from here?
This research will help create awareness of the issues around gender diversity and inclusion, and provide insights for how the industry might address the issues.
Over the coming years, the Property Council will continue to measure and report on diversity and inclusion in the sector, not just with regards to gender, but also broader inclusivity, charting our progress and successes.
Key Findings
- As a total, the PCNZ working population is just within balance (balance is defined as having at least 40% of employees of each gender), with 59% male and 41% female.
- Women are however under-represented in management, with for example only 20% of KMP positions held by women.
- Gender diversity at non-management levels is far more balanced, highlighting a “power gap”
- Females at “property companies who supply to property investment companies” make up only 36% of the workforce, highlighting a “participation gap”. That is, a gender imbalance in organisations’ workforce as a whole which can be seen at all levels, including with frontline positions.
D&I Toolbox
A little help to get you started
We understand that not everyone has the budget or resources to roll-out massive change in one hit, so the Diversity and Inclusion Committee has gathered a list of resources that their companies have found useful as they have gone on their D&I journey. This includes actions such as creating a D&I statement and strategy, staff training as well as research and articles.
We hope you find them useful and welcome any additions you have to this toolbox – simply send them to comms@propertynz.co.nz
DiversityWorks New Zealand
DiversityWorks NZ is New Zealand’s national body for workplace diversity and inclusion. Their website has a plethora of resources, case studies, and articles that may assist.
Global Women
Global Women’s mission is to catalyse New Zealand’s social and economic success by championing diversity in leadership. GW is a vocal advocate for change and has significant data and research to support and promote greater diversity and inclusion.
MindTheGap NZ has launched a Public Pay Gap Registry, a move that encourages all organisations to sign on and commit to pay gap reporting.
Global Women Research
Global Women’s vision is a business world as diverse as New Zealand itself. They are a community, a launchpad for action, and an influential voice, inspiring leaders and learning collaboratively. Read the latest thought leadership from Global Women, their members and partners.
Ministry for Women Recommended Reading
DiversityWorks NZ Workplace Diversity Survey 2020
Deloitte & Global Women Inclusive Workplaces in NZ
CFC Resources, particularly the flexibility docs
Deloitte Mental Health & Employers
Russell Reynolds Why Diversity Matters in the Boardroom
The Aotearoa Inclusivity Matrix (AIM) by DiversityWorks NZ – The recently launched Aotearoa Inclusivity Matrix (AIM) will allow your organisation to assess your levels of workplace diversity, equity and inclusion across seven key components. This valuable tool will provide an understanding of your current capabilities, identify areas for improvement and provide the information you need to create a roadmap for transformation.
Reviving the art of apprenticeship to unlock continuous skill development | McKinsey
Traits of an inclusive leader:
Six signature traits of inclusive leadership | Deloitte Insights
A diversity statement is a written explanation of your position, approach or commitment to diversity and inclusion in the work your do. Some resources to assist you in writing this statement include:
Clever Copywriting School’s Diversity Statement Template
10 Examples of Awesome Diversity Statements
10 Examples of Awesome Inclusion Statements
5 of the Best Diversity and Inclusion Videos
Examples of Values Statements with Commitments to Diversity and Inclusion
- The Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori website is a good first stop for resources and ideas on how your organisation can get involved
- Tākaro is an incredibly simple yet entertaining and fun card game for the whole whānau.
- Toro Mai is a guided journey to deepen understanding and awareness of Māori knowledge. It offers two introductory courses in Te Reo Māori and Tikanga Māori. These are taught via an immersive multi-media online platform with interactive activities.
Toku Reo Each episode has its own relevant activities and exercises allowing people to practise and develop language skills.
Episode exercises recap key elements of each show and reinforce what is being learnt.
Kia ū, kia mau ki Tōku Reo!- Mahuru Challenge Are you up for the reo Māori Challenge? Spoken, written, sung… It’s easy, fun and a great way to learn.
- Ako Tahi Te Reo Māori Learning App
- Māori Made Easy – for everyday learners of the Māori language. Printed and audio books by Scotty Morrison.
- Waiata – there’s lots of great waiata playlists on Spotify, pop one on the office, or listen over shared kai.
- Māori Language podcasts – there are several Māori language podcasts online, great for audio learners and to help with pronunciation
These links are for Spotify but the podcasts can be found on other platforms.
Everyday Māori Podcast
Starting in Te Reo Māori Podcast
Taringa Podcast
Everyday Māori Podcast
Get in touch
For further information contact:
Sara-Jane Evans | Head of Membership & Commercial Services | sj@propertynz.co.nz | 09 373 3086