We summarize the situation for female physicists in Aotearoa–New Zealand in 2021 and identify some of the issues that directly or indirectly affect women in science in general and those in physics in particular. Negative impacts include ubiquitous implicit bias but also extend to structural barriers that often present greater challenges to women than to their male colleagues. We note that the small nature of our science community means that rapid and meaningful change can be enacted. We identify some positive actions that seem to work and suggest a path forward towards a more equitable science system.

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