New Zealand’s government cabinet now has an equal number of men and women ministers for the first time in its history.
A cabinet reshuffle from the newly appointed prime minister Chris Hipkins on Wednesday April 12 has led to the historic milestone.
After Willow-Jean Prime, a Māori woman politician, was named as the minister of conservation, the cabinet now consists of 10 men and 10 women.
It also has a record number of six ministers who are of Māori descent.
Hipkins, who took over from Jacinda Ardern after she announced her surprise resignation in January, said the new government is now a better reflection of the New Zealand population, according to the BBC.
“It’s a good milestone to achieve. We achieved 50/50 representation in Parliament in this parliamentary term. And now we have that around the Cabinet table as well,” Hipkins said, according to Stuff.co.nz.
Last year, New Zealand’s parliament became a woman majority after Māori woman politician Soraya Peke-Mason was sworn in.
