A study has found that New Zealand women are some of the most jealous and possessive in the world.

One in seven Kiwi men say their partners get angry if they speak to other women, compared to nine per cent of women saying the same about their male partners.

Kiwi women are also more likely to stop their partners seeing friends and relatives, and keep track of them "in a controlling or frightening way", than vice-versa.

The results of the national Families Commission research suggest women in New Zealand are more possessive than those in Canada and Britain, where females are more likely to feel controlled than men.

The report's principal analyst, Radha Balakrishnan, says the controversial results will spark debate in New Zealand, where newspapers carried headlines on Tuesday like "women strike fear into their partners".

Kiwi relationship expert Janice Davies says it should be seen as a positive that women there are good at standing up for themselves.

"Assertiveness is a great thing and if women in New Zealand are learning to practice it more readily to be strong in relationships then that's great.''

She said a recent Oxford University study could explain why Kiwi women needed to be so forthright.

It showed their men are some of the laziest in the world, doing little housework or helping out with the kids.

"When that is the climate then it's no wonder that women need to work extra hard to assert what they want and what is good for them," Ms Davies said.

But while Kiwis ranked ninth, Australian men came 12th, in last place, suggesting that Australian women "may be in even greater need of those assertive skills", the expert said.

• The Daily Telegraph
• August 26, 2009 12:00AM