AUT releases Pay Gaps report
Auckland University of Technology has reported continued progress in reducing its gender pay gap, with new data showing a significant improvement when measured across the full academic year.
The University’s sixth annual 2025 Gender and Ethnic Pay Gap Report introduces a strengthened methodology, shifting from a single December snapshot to a 12-month rolling average. The new approach provides a more comprehensive view of pay equity by accounting for seasonal workforce changes, including fluctuations in casual staffing during teaching semesters.
Using the new annual average methodology, the 2025 median gender pay gap is 6.0%. Women make up 63.7 percent of AUT’s workforce, with representation in the upper pay quartile continuing to strengthen.
Māori and Pacific pay gaps have continued to trend downwards. The Middle Eastern, Latin American and African (MELAA) pay gap has risen, driven largely by fluctuations in casual staffing during peak periods rather than identified inequities. The Asian pay gap has also risen as a result of higher representation in lower-band professional roles, with ongoing monitoring to focus on progression and leadership pathways.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damon Salesa, noted that while overall results show encouraging progress, pay equity is not a one-off exercise.
“It requires consistent attention, transparency, and shared accountability,” he said. “This report reflects AUT’s commitment to taking an evidence-based, long-term approach—using better data, clearer insights, and focused action to support fairness and equity for all members of our AUT whānau.”
Key initiatives underway include targeted leadership development programmes for women and ethnically diverse staff, mentoring support for promotion, careful oversight of starting salaries to maintain equity, and bi-annual pay gap reporting to faculties.
Throughout 2026 a primary focus will remain on increasing the representation and progression pathways of Māori, Pacific and women from other ethnic backgrounds in AUT leadership across all levels and job functions.