Women’s right to vote
Since before it was legal for women to vote in 1893, New Zealand has seen how women have changed the way we vote. As world suffrage day approaches on September 19th, let’s look back on some of the most inspiring and influential females in New Zealand history.
Before women won the right to vote in 1893, New Zealand has had some inspiring and influential females to lead the way.
Kate Sheppard
Firstly, we celebrate the well-known suffragette, Kate Sheppard. Kiwi children learn of Sheppard’s leadership in the New Zealand suffrage movement from a young age, paying for a bag of lollies with a ten-dollar note. She changed the trajectory of female roles in society, fighting for contraception, divorce rights and the abolition of the famously uncomfortable corsets. Her tireless efforts to take petitions to parliament were finally successful when a petition of 30,000 signatures led to a new bill being passed giving women women had the right to vote.
Nancy Wake
Nancy Wake was a nurse and journalist, who during World War II joined the French Resistance and Special Operations Executive. For her service, she was awarded numerous medals of honour. Nicknamed ‘The White Mouse,’ Wake has said: “I was too busy to be afraid.” Her heroic life has been documented in numerous documentaries and biographies. Her efforts in the war are especially impressive as she was one of just 39 women to parachute into France on D-Day and she worked as an escort for Allied soldiers, saving hundreds of lives.
Dame Whina Cooper
As a leader of the Hokianga district, Dame Whina Cooper dedicated her life to fighting against Māori land alienation and improving living conditions for Māori women. At 79 years old she led the 1975 Māori Land March, holding her three-year-old granddaughter’s hand. An image of the two has been immortalised in bronze to honour them. Recently Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised Cooper’s legacy will be taught to New Zealand youth, in the school history curriculum. If an old lady walking with a cane and a toddler can march 1100km, then the least we can do is show up to vote.
Dame Valerie Adams
One of New Zealand’s most famous athletes, Dame Valerie Adams is an Olympic gold medalist shot putter. For seven years in a row she was crowned New Zealand’s sportswoman of the year. In 2017 she was proud to become a Dame for her impressive career, and for inspiring young New Zealanders and Pacific Islanders to change their lives. Adams has earned a seat on the World Athletics Council as deputy chairperson. As a fierce role model for young girls around the world she has been represented as a barbie doll which she was pleased to give her daughter.
Sophie Handford
At 18 years old Kāpiti coast local, Sophie Handford founded School Strike 4 Climate NZ. Her passion for saving the environment led to the organisation of a peaceful protest, including 170,000 kiwis taking action. Wanting to make a positive change in Āotearoa, Handford ran for council. She is the youngest Kiwi to be elected councillor and she uses her seat to advocate for youth and climate. Her goals include supporting homeless youth, councils’ carbon neutral 2025 resolution, and creating opportunities for youth. Handford’s national impact proves you are never too young to make a difference.
These five women have demonstrated leadership and courage over the course of 127 years. Their continuous effort to raise their voices and represent women have encouraged New Zealanders to vote. We experience freedom to be independent females, with opportunities that suffragettes could only dream of.
Voting is our right and privilege to express what kind of world we want to live in. I care about what happens in New Zealand, and my voice and my vote matters. And so does yours.
