New Zealand midwives are getting solidarity from their Canadian counterparts in their bid for equal pay.

Canadian midwife and educator Professor Vicki Van Wagner will be the keynote speaker at the New Zealand College of Midwives conference in Auckland today.

She'll discuss a case in Ontario where midwives have taken their allegations of gender discrimination over pay to the Human Rights Tribunal.

Professor Van Wagner said they were among the thousands of Ontario women stuck in the gender wage gap, earning far less than their male counterparts in comparable professions.

"It is sad, but not surprising that women in New Zealand are being discriminated against in the same way," she said.

"New Zealand’s midwifery-led maternity care system is admired the world over and it would be a tragedy if it were to be eroded because midwives could no longer stay in the profession."

The New Zealand College of Midwives is currently in confidential mediation with the Health Ministry over its pay claim.

It says midwives are being discriminated against on the basis of gender because their pay and conditions have not kept pace with that of traditionally male-dominated professions carrying similar levels of education and responsibility.

High Court action the College was taking under the Bill of Rights Act remains adjourned in the meantime.

That can be reassessed if no settlement is reached by November 4.

The College's Chief Executive Karen Guilliland said the claim wasn't just about its own members.

"Our profession is particularly vulnerable because it is almost exclusively female but there are many examples in other professions and workforces where women are still being discriminated against when it comes to pay," she said.

"We are delighted to welcome Vicki Van Wagner to New Zealand and to have her support at such a crucial time in our battle for equal pay for work of equal value."