A female construction woman in New Zealand said she was “disgusted” to be told by a recruitment agency that they don’t hire women, reports stuff.co.nz.

Selene Harvey contacted NZ Labour Hire to apply for a civil construction labourer's position, but was told she wouldn't be considered for a job as she was a woman.

She said: "They didn't even give me the chance, not an interview, nothing, they just said flat out 'we don't hire women'. I'm pretty angry, I wouldn't obviously apply for the job if I didn't think I could do it, I mean I could dig a hole just as well as any man could, just because I'm a female it doesn't make any difference."

Ms Harvey is a resident of Christchurch where the 2011 earthquake caused substantial damage. Recruitment companies in the region have been employing workers from overseas in an attempt to stem skills shortages that are threatening to delay the rebuilding efforts.

NZ Labour Hire branch manager Marlon Henri has since apologised, and said the female staff member who made the comment had erred. She said it was not company policy and the company did not discriminate against woman.

Ms Henri said: "The person that answered the phone was completely incorrect, at the time the call was made the branch manager was away and the person that was filling in the role was completely wrong.”

Ms Harvey said she had not been made aware that the woman who answered her phone call was covering a shift for someone. She has since lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission (HRC), and NZ Labour Hire said it was now in touch with them.

A spokesperson for the HRC confirmed Harvey laid the complaint on September 3. 

Green Party MP Jan Logie said the fact that the women answered the phone and thought the company did not hire women was a reflection of the labour environment, even if it was a mistake: "The people in key positions such as those at the front desk obviously don't see many women coming in for them to think the company doesn't hire women."

Ms Logie said it made her wonder if this case was indicative of wider spread discrimination which was less obvious: "We know that women are highly underrepresented in these less traditional roles, which are better paid."