The Minister for Women commended the finalists of the YWCA Equal Pay Awards at a ceremony in Auckland on Thursday night, at which ANZ took out the top accolade.
Hon Louise Upston said she is "a huge supporter" of initiatives that encourage equality and diversity in the workplace, and congratulated businesses that had demonstrated that.
"I would encourage more employers to take up these practices so that equal pay becomes more embedded in our working culture," she said.
"Until women have equal rights, equal choice, equal opportunities, equal expectations and are valued equally, our work will continue."
ANZ was described as a "truly inclusive" working environment that emphasised "gender balance and diverse leadership and teams".
"They have not stopped in their mission to create a more gender inclusive workplace for their staff," YWCA chief executive Monica Briggs said.
"They refuse to rest on their laurels and are true champions of equal pay, proving once again they are an employer of choice to their staff and customers - we are proud to tell their story."
Top law firm Simpson Grierson also excelled, beating out AMP, Sovereign and Russell McVeagh to claim the gold award.
The business' success came after it reached its target of female partners four years early, and made a point of accelerating the development of women within the organisation.
Youthtown Inc took out top spot in the silver category ahead of Auckland City, Bell Gully and the NZ Police, while Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation won bronze.
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