WaiBOP Football has launched its Gender Equity Framework and Action Plan, outlining a clear pathway to strengthen women and girls’ football across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region.

View the Gender Equity Plan

The plan has been developed following research, surveys and consultation with players, coaches, referees, club volunteers and administrators over a two year period. Workshops and interviews were conducted across the region, alongside analysis of membership data and feedback from more than 900 survey responses. 

The findings highlighted both progress and ongoing challenges.

Women and girls currently make up 27 percent of players, 31 percent of coach education participants, and 24 percent of active referees in the WaiBOP region. Participation numbers are growing, particularly among junior and youth players, but the research also identified gaps in visibility, leadership representation and access to opportunities. 

The Gender Equity Action Plan sets a clear direction through to 2030, with measurable targets designed to increase participation and improve the football experience for women and girls.

This plan gives both WaiBOP Football and our clubs a shared framework to guide decisions and actions that support the growth of women and girls’ football.

By 2030, WaiBOP Football aims to see:

• 40 percent of players being women and girls
• 40 percent female representation in leadership roles
• 20 percent growth in women coaches
• 25 percent of referees being women
• 75 percent of women and girls feeling their club is committed to gender equity 

Karyn Walters, WaiBOP Football CE, says “Football should be a place where everyone feels they belong. Gender equity is an important priority for WaiBOP Football, and this action plan sets a clear direction for where we want to go. By working alongside our clubs and community, we can create more opportunities for girls and women to be involved and to feel valued in the game.”

The framework guiding the plan is built around four key pillars: Showing, Telling, Doing and Being.

Showing focuses on leadership and governance, including increasing the number of women in decision-making roles and reviewing organisational policies through a gender equity lens.

Telling aims to increase visibility for women and girls’ football by sharing stories, celebrating achievements and ensuring women’s football is well represented across communications and media.

Doing centres on practical delivery. This includes growing opportunities for girls and women to play, coach and referee, supporting club initiatives, and strengthening player pathways across junior, youth and senior football.

Being addresses culture. The goal is to create welcoming club environments where women and girls feel safe, valued and able to participate fully in the football community.

A range of initiatives support these outcomes, including leadership programmes, new-to-football programmes, female only coaching courses, club support resources, and the development of inclusive policies and guidelines. 

The plan also recognises the importance of collaboration across clubs, schools and the wider football community to ensure more girls and women can find a place in the game.

Over the next five years, WaiBOP Football will monitor progress against the plan’s targets and continue working alongside clubs to build a stronger and more inclusive football environment across the region.

Read More about the plan here

Article added: Sunday 08 March 2026