September is a memorable month for women in politics: 76 years ago, on 13 September 1933, our first woman MP was elected; four decades earlier, on 19 September 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant all women the right to vote in parliamentary elections.
Three years after winning the vote in 1893, a convention of representatives from 11 women's groups from throughout New Zealand resolved itself into the National Council of Women.
'The Summit at Last' An engraving from the New Zealand Graphic, 21 July 1894, depicts a woman holding a flag that reads: 'Perfect Political Equality'. A man is helping her up to what is labelled the 'Parliamentary Heights'.
Ada Wells worked tirelessly in a bid to achieve equality and economic independence for women. She is perhaps best remembered for her contribution to the women's suffrage campaign in the 1880s and 90s, and for becoming the first women elected to the Christchurch City Council in 1917.
Seated portrait of Mrs Elizabeth Yates, c.1894. In 1893 Yates was
elected mayor of Onehunga, the first woman in the British Empire to
hold this position.
Elizabeth Yates' election as mayor of Onehunga on 29 November 1893
– the day after New Zealand women had led the world by voting in a
general election for the first time – cemented her place as a pioneer
of women's political rights. She was
the first woman in the British Empire to hold the office of mayor.
As well as appearing on out $10 note, women's suffragist Kate Sheppard features in The A to Z of New Zealand stamp series produced by New Zealand Post in 2008.
In 1889 former Premier Julius Vogel wrote a futuristic novel entitled Anno domini 2000; or, woman's destiny in which women held the highest posts in government and poverty had vanished.
Anna Stout was dedicated to the
advancement of women, championing calls for equal political, legal, social and
educational rights. She was particularly concerned for the education of Maori
women.
This extract is from 'What a difference between a fish and a woman', which was an address given by the president of the Women's Franchise League in Dunedin.
