Pansy Wong

Wellington, July 1 NZPA - The Government and the Green Party can't both be right -- either the gender pay gap has decreased since National came to power, or it has increased.

Women's Affairs Minister Pansy Wong yesterday told Parliament it had decreased from 12 percent to 11 percent.

Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty said it had increased from 12.19 percent to 12.35 percent.

"We're obviously doing something right," Ms Wong said.

"The minister's statements are quite frankly outrageous," Ms Delahunty said.

Their disagreement followed a demonstration outside Parliament by about 40 people with placards, banners and five large, fake rocks.

The rocks were there to draw attention to Ms Wong's vow last year "to leave no stone unturned" in her efforts to close the pay gap.

"We want legislation, the Equal Pay Act 1972 is ineffective," said Pay Equity Coalition spokeswoman Angela McLeod.

"We have all those pay and employment equity investigations and there's some that haven't even been honoured."