Women in Automotive New Zealand marks charitable status with free tools to help industry hire and keep more women
Women in Automotive New Zealand has marked its registration as an official charity by releasing two free resources for the sector: a practical hiring guide, developed in collaboration with Automotive Employment New Zealand, and a workplace self-assessment checklist. Both are aimed at a simple, industry-wide problem: women make up just 17% of the automotive workforce, and only 6% in collision repair, at a time when the trade is struggling to fill technical roles.
Motor mechanic and automotive technician roles currently sit on Immigration New Zealand's regional skill shortage list, with diesel motor mechanic on the long-term list. This is a designation the Government reserves for occupations local employers genuinely cannot fill (Immigration New Zealand, Skill Shortage List Checker). Separately, recruiting women into retail sales roles is one of the most common challenges Accord member organisations report to Women in Automotive New Zealand.
The shortage isn't only about supply. It's about which parts of the industry women can see themselves in. Women buy approximately 44% of new cars in New Zealand and influence around 85% of household vehicle decisions, yet they hold just 17% of jobs. For an industry already fighting to fill technical roles, and struggling separately to attract women into retail sales, that's a large pool of capable candidates many businesses aren't reaching.
"Choosing the best person for the job should always remain the priority. But organisations that are intentional about how they attract, assess and select talent can access a wider and more diverse pool of high-quality candidates," says Russell Phillips, Managing Director of Automotive Employment New Zealand. "Following recruitment best practice doesn't compromise quality. It strengthens it."
Two free, no-strings tools
Hiring for Gender Diversity is a step-by-step guide covering job ad language, recruitment agency briefs, structured interviewing, and what NZ employment law does and doesn't allow employers to ask. It includes links to a free "gender decoder" tool employers can run any job ad through in under five minutes.
The Workplace Warrant of Fitness is a 27-point self-assessment covering facilities, PPE and uniform fit, workplace policies, career progression, and culture. It's designed as an internal planning tool: businesses work through it themselves to identify practical improvement priorities, with no cost, no consultant, and no obligation to publish or share the result.
Why Women in Automotive is releasing these tools
Since Women in Automotive New Zealand began, many businesses have told us the same thing: they understand and are right behind the cause. They want more women in their organisations, a more diverse pool of candidates to choose from, and to keep the women they do hire, but they're looking for practical strategies for how to actually do that. That's what these resources aim to offer: clear, workable guidance.
When women can see a future in automotive, and get real support to build a career in it, everyone benefits: the women, the businesses, and the public more broadly. Women in Automotive New Zealand is just one part of that effort, alongside employers, training providers, and the women themselves. These tools are a small contribution on the journey.
Access the tools
Both resources are free to download here. No membership or sign-up required.
