Rotorua will host one of Australasia’s largest gatherings focused on women working in traditionally male-dominated industries when the WIMDOI 2026 Conference arrives in Aotearoa New Zealand for the first time.

The Women in Male Dominated Occupations and Industries conference — widely known as WIMDOI — will bring together union members, workers and industry leaders from across New Zealand and Australia in May 2026.

Held at the Millennium Hotel Rotorua, the conference is expected to attract women from sectors including:

• construction,
• maritime,
• aviation,
• transport,
• engineering,
• electrical trades,
• and emergency services.

The event has become a significant platform for promoting workplace equality, union activism and stronger support networks for women navigating industries historically dominated by men.

Organisers say the decision to host the conference in New Zealand reflects growing momentum around gender equity and workforce participation across the trades and industrial sectors.

The conference is being supported by major unions and labour organisations including the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) and the New Zealand Professional Firefighters Union (NZPFU).

Over several days, attendees will take part in:

• leadership workshops,
• networking sessions,
• skills development,
• workplace advocacy training,
• and discussions around equity, safety and inclusion.

The conference also aims to strengthen solidarity among women workers who often face barriers such as discrimination, isolation, unequal pay, harassment and limited career advancement opportunities.

Union representatives say women continue to remain underrepresented in many sectors critical to New Zealand’s infrastructure and economic development.

Despite progress in recent years, industries such as construction, engineering and emergency services continue to have low female participation rates, particularly in leadership and frontline operational roles.

The conference is expected to place strong emphasis on practical solutions to improving workplace culture and creating safer, more inclusive environments.

Issues likely to be discussed include:

• pay equity,
• flexible working conditions,
• recruitment and retention,
• mentorship,
• mental health,
• and pathways for wāhine Māori and Pasifika women entering the trades.

The Rotorua event also carries broader significance for New Zealand’s union movement, highlighting the growing role women are playing in labour activism and workplace reform.

For many attendees, the conference represents more than professional development —
it is also about building collective strength and visibility in industries where women have historically had to fight for recognition and equal treatment.

As labour shortages continue affecting several sectors across Aotearoa, advocates say increasing participation by women will be critical to the future sustainability of the workforce.

The WIMDOI conference has previously been held in Australia and has built a reputation as one of the leading forums for women working across industrial and trade sectors.

Its arrival in Rotorua marks a major milestone for New Zealand’s labour movement and for women continuing to break barriers across some of the country’s toughest industries.

#WIMDOI #WomenInTrades #UnionWomen #Rotorua #NZCTU #NZPFU #WomenInConstruction #WomenInEngineering #WāhineMāori #WorkplaceEquality #TradeUnions #Aotearoa #WomenInIndustry #LabourMovement #RadioWaatea #WaateaNews