Mr Shearer said Labour's NZ Council had agreed to withdraw the proposal, dubbed the 'man ban', which would have allowed some electorates to block men from seeking selection as a candidate.
However, he said the party still hoped to move toward ensuring at least 45 per cent of its caucus was female after 2014, and 50 per cent after 2017.
"The distraction is turning our attention away from the issues that most New Zealanders are concerned about. They don't want to know about what is happening in the Labour Party.
What they want to know is what we are doing on the issues that affect them. That's power prices, home ownership and good jobs."
Asked whether it was undemocratic for the party to withdraw a proposal put up for discussion by the party's wider membership at its annual conference in November, he said the recommendation for a quota of 45 per cent of women within caucus would remain up.
The proposed changes, backed by the council, were released on Thursday and Mr Shearer spoke against them on Friday, saying that he preferred targets to strict goals and did not agree with running female-only electorate selections.
He had refused to give interviews or answer questions on it since then.
The proposal would have allowed some electorates to seek nominations for selection from women only, with permission from council.
Mr Shearer was not at last month's meeting at which the council agreed to back the proposal. It is understood deputy leader Grant Robertson was the only caucus member at that meeting and he was absent when that item was accepted.
- Claire Trevett
