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.
Although a number of other territories had enfranchised women before 1893, New Zealand can justly claim to be the first self-governing nation to grant the vote to all adult 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 contributed to the women's suffrage
campaign in the 1880s and 90s, and for became the first women elected
to the Christchurch City Council in 1917.
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.
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.
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 is the text of a leaflet published by the Women's Christian Temperance Union in May 1888, which was sent to every member of the House of Representatives.
SIR, – I would like, through the medium of your columns, to ask 'Polly Plum' to state in a few short petty sentences, without any of that circumlocution which characterises her letters, what she demands as 'Women's rights'?
Kate Sheppard, the head of the franchise and legislation department of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, became the most prominent leader of the suffrage campaign.
