Three years after New Zealand became the first self-governing country in which all women could vote, representatives of 11 women’s groups met in Christchurch’s Provincial Council Buildings to form the National Council of Women.
National Council Of Women
Events In History
Articles
Women and the vote
On 19 September 1893 the governor, Lord Glasgow, signed a new Electoral Act into law. As a result of this landmark legislation, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world in which all women had the right to vote in parliamentary elections. Read the full article
Page 4 - The National Council of Women
Three years after the vote was won in 1893, a convention of representatives of 11 women's groups from throughout New Zealand resolved itself into the National Council of
Suffrage 125
Resources and stories reflecting 125 years of women's activism in Aotearoa Read the full article
Page 1 - Suffrage 125
Resources and stories reflecting 125 years of women's activism in
Women Together
Service
Women's groups offering a differently defined form of service, based on traditional womanly care and skills, rather than cash. Read the full Women Together Theme
National Council of Women of New Zealand
By 1993, the National Council of Women of New Zealand was the largest and most influential women's organisation in New Zealand Read the full Women Together Essay
Biographies
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.
Ada Wells is remembered for her contribution to the women's suffrage campaign in the 1880s and 90s, and for becoming the first woman elected to the Christchurch City Council in 1917.
New Zealand was the first country in the world to grant women the vote. Kate Sheppard, leading light of the suffrage movement, was vindicated when 65% of New Zealand women took the chance to vote in their first general election.
Wilhelmina Bain was a feminist and peace activist who gained notoriety for her outspoken views against New Zealand’s participation in the South African War.
Main image: Kate Sheppard’s House
Kate Sheppard's home during the eventful years of the suffrage movement.
