MAS ‘Sunday Soirée’ sparks conversations for International Women’s Day

Yesterday, we celebrated International Women’s Day with the success of our inaugural Sunday Soirée. It was an afternoon designed to foster open conversation, meaningful connection and greater financial confidence for women.

Held at the stylish Ōrākei Bay, the event brought together women from across professions and life stages to share experiences and challenge long-standing assumptions about money, investing and financial independence.

The conversations were anchored in the evidence. Recent Cotality data shows young women are increasingly being squeezed out of the property market, highlighting persistent barriers to home ownership and long-term wealth creation.

MAS CEO Jo McCauley says the figures reinforce the need to broaden the conversation.

“Home ownership has traditionally been a cornerstone of wealth creation in New Zealand, so when young women are being left behind in that market, it’s a signal we need to pay attention to,” McCauley says. “But property is only one part of the picture.”

She points to broader investment trends that show women are often more disciplined and patient investors, frequently achieving strong long-term outcomes. According to Forbes, women’s wealth is rising rapidly and, by 2030 they are expected to control more than 60% of global assets.

“That projection speaks to both the progress being made and the opportunity ahead,” McCauley says. “Women are building wealth, but the pathways and pace can look different.”

MAS KiwiSaver Scheme data reveals those differences clearly. On average, male Members hold balances around $48,000 higher than females – a gap of 34.7%. The gender difference is 15% among Members aged 26–35 but widens sharply to 31% for those aged 36–45.

“The gap doesn’t start large, but it accelerates through mid-career stages,” says McCauley. “That tells us career breaks, pay disparities and compounding effects over time are likely playing a significant role.”

By profession, the disparities are even more pronounced. Across members of all ages Veterinary records the largest gap of 34.8%, while Accounting is comparatively narrow at 5.4%. Among Members aged 56–65, gaps of around 30% remain in Medical, Legal and Veterinary, compared with roughly 15% in Accounting and just 5% in Dental. Pharmaceutical is the only profession in this age group where women hold higher average balances than men.

“What this shows is that wealth outcomes are not linear and they’re not uniform,” McCauley says. “Different professions, different career structures and different life stages all shape financial outcomes. If we want to close these gaps, we need targeted solutions that reflect that complexity.”

The Sunday Soirée was MC’d by Madison Malone, recognised in Forbes 30 Under 30 and widely known for her Business with Madison show. Madison was joined by an inspiring panel including Dr Savitha Bhagvan, who holds the distinction of being New Zealand’s first female trauma surgeon; Kathryn Wilson, recognised as a premier footwear designer and accomplished businesswoman; and Glenys Talivai, Chief Executive of Public Trust and widely respected for her advocacy for women navigating the challenges of leadership.

Together, the panel explored the pivotal moments that shaped their journeys, the financial lessons learned along the way and the importance of backing oneself – even when confidence wavers.

McCauley said the event reflects MAS’s deep commitment to supporting women to thrive financially.

“International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder that progress does not happen by accident. While the data shows women are often excellent long-term investors, too many still face structural barriers to building wealth – from home ownership gaps to confidence gaps.

At MAS, we believe in creating environments where women can have open, informed conversations about money, share experiences and strengthen their financial capability. When women build knowledge and wealth, the benefits extend far beyond the individual – they ripple through families, communities and future generations.”

Lorraine Coyne, Head of Private Wealth said the openness in the room was a highlight of the afternoon.

“What stood out to me was the willingness of women to be honest – about mistakes, about fear, and about ambition. Conversations like this demystify money. When we talk openly about investing and wealth-building, we normalise it. And when we normalise it, more women step forward with confidence.”

The Sunday Soirée signals the beginning of what we hope will become an ongoing platform for connection and capability-building. By bringing women together to share insight and lived experience, we aim to help close knowledge gaps, build confidence and ensure more women feel equipped to make informed financial decisions.

As the conversations on International Women’s Day made clear, women are not lacking capability. With the right advice, networks and access to information, they are well positioned not only to participate in wealth creation – but to lead it.

Medical Funds Management Limited is the issuer and manager of the MAS KiwiSaver Scheme. The Product Disclosure Statement is available at MAS KiwiSaver Scheme PDS.