Minister condemns gender bias after naval mishap

New Zealand's Defence Minister Judith Collins criticized online trolling of a female naval captain after her ship, Manawanui, sank. She affirmed that the incident was unrelated to the captain's gender, highlighting ongoing gender bias challenges faced by women in authority, despite New Zealand's progressive gender equality record.

New Zealand's Defence Minister, Judith Collins, has openly criticized the online harassment faced by the female captain of a naval vessel that sunk last weekend. Despite unresolved questions surrounding the incident, Collins asserted emphatically that the captain's gender was not a contributing factor.

The Manawanui, a navy diving and hydrographic vessel, was conducting a survey off the coast of Samoa when it ran aground on a reef. The beleaguered crew of 75 were safely evacuated using life rafts, and a court of inquiry is now investigating the circumstances behind the sinking, which has already sparked significant public debate.

Collins lamented the vitriolic comments made by those she described as 'armchair admirals' unfamiliar with the burden of leadership. New Zealand's track record on gender equality contrasts sharply with the abuse levelled at the captain and other women in uniform post-incident, reflecting broader societal issues.

(With inputs from agencies.)