New Zealand women were the first in the world to win the right to vote in national elections. After years of campagining led by Kate Sheppard and others, the main woman’s suffrage petition was submitted to Parliament on 28 July 1893. Legislation allowing women to vote was signed-off on 19 September 1893, and the first women went to the polls on 28 November, 1893.
Photo: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
But despite significant progress over the past 120 years, women remain under-represented on boards and at parliament, earn less than men for similar work, and violence against females remains a serious problem.
Here is a selection of historical interviews, features and documentaries about women, the vote and equality over the decades.
Look at all our Suffrage125 coverage here.
Collection items
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Women who voted for the first time in 1893
1 Jan 1963Three women residing in Auckland, Mrs. Dickson, Mrs Hills and Mrs Mankelow recall their first vote in the general election on November 28, 1893. Recorded in 1963. Interviewer unknown. Ngā Taonga Sound… Audio
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What they said at the time - when women got the vote
1 Jan 1955This programme features narration and dramatisation that reflects the mood of parliament surrounding the women's Franchise Movement during the late-1800's and women's suffrage in New Zealand. Actors… Audio
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Sandra Coney and Bronwyn Labrum: Women Now
16 Sep 2018A new book Women Now - the Legacy of Female Suffrage looks at what has been achieved, 125 years since New Zealand women won the right to vote - and incorporates objects from Te Papa's collection… Audio, Gallery
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Celebrating suffrage: Miss New Zealand 1949, Mary Woodward
17 Sep 2018From winning Miss New Zealand in 1949 and traveling the world, to dealing with family tragedy, and finally to embracing an identity of her own as an older woman, Mary Woodward, has certainly lived… Audio, Gallery
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Suffrage essay: 'Pao Pao Pao' by Tina Makereti
18 Sep 2018Te Papa has released a book Women Now: The Legacy of Female Suffrage, to coincide with celebrations of the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage, featuring essays by 12 thinkers and authors marking…
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Beyond Kate Sheppard
18 Sep 2018Sonia Sly meets historians, archivists and descendants of women who signed the 1893 petition that won women the right to vote in the 1893 election. Audio
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Call me ‘Madam Maestro’
19 Sep 2018Celebrating women who have blazed a trail in the highly competitive world of orchestral conducting and been instrumental in getting superb female conductors seen on the world’s greatest podiums. Video
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NZ women celebrate 125 years of the vote
19 Sep 2018New Zealand women won the right to vote 125 years ago - but what work still needs to be done to achieve real gender equality? That's the focus of this year's Suffrage Day, which is asking people to… Audio
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Five feminist moments in music
19 Sep 2018Some of them threw rocks at glass ceilings, some of them were visionaries... Here are just a few of music's feminist moments. Video
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Jenny Shipley on Suffrage Day
19 Sep 2018It seems fitting to start by reflecting on what we can celebrate and what still needs to change... On one hand a girl born today can expect to lead a life significantly different from that of her… Audio
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Suffrage 125 celebrated throughout the country
19 Sep 2018Celebrations kicked off at dawn and haven't stopped, as people across the country came together to mark 125 years since women won the right to vote. Video, Audio
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'What has it got us?' - 125 years of women's suffrage
19 Sep 2018It's been 125 years since women gained the right to vote and Aotearoa has since had three women Prime Ministers but MPs in the House say Parliament still has work to do. Audio
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Inspirational women in music
19 Sep 2018After some feedback from our audience, RNZ Concert staff share their personal reflections about the women who have been heroes to them in their musical life. Video
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Why should women have to sell their music based on how they look?
Moana Maniapoto, Victoria Kelly and Cherie Mathieson talk with Karyn Hay about the role of women in the music industry to mark the 125th anniversary women's suffrage. Audio
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A portrait from life, Mabel Howard, M.P. 1954
24 Sep 1954Jocelyn Hollis presents the National Wednesday Women's session: A portrait from life, Mabel Howard, M.P. Recorded 24 Sep 1954. The programme consists of narration and an edited interview with New… Audio
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Helen Wilson: the status of women
1 Jan 1955This programme features a talk by 'My First 80 Years' author Helen Wilson, who was also an early leader of the Women's Division of Federated Farmers. Wilson talks about the circumstances surrounding… Audio
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Leah McFall and the Suffragette medal
8 May 2018This little object is so small it could fit in your pocket, yet it's a powerful symbol of one woman's courage and activism in very difficult conditions. Audio, Gallery
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Spectrum: Whina Cooper 1978 - Part 1 of 2
24 Aug 1978Herea Te Tangata Ki Te Whenua 'Bind the people to the land'. The life and story of land activist and noted Maori leader Whina Cooper, interviewed by Alwyn Owen. Part 1 of 2. Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision… Audio
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Spectrum: Whina Cooper 1978 - Part 2 of 2
31 Aug 1978Herea Te Tangata Ki Te Whenua 'Bind the people to the land'. The life and story of land activist and noted Maori leader Whina Cooper, interviewed by Alwyn Owen. Part 2 of 2. Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision… Audio
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Spectrum: Far out and Feminist
8 Mar 1988Deb Nation looks back at the 1977 Christchurch United Women's Convention with the key players, including Sister Pauline O'Reagan, Alison Cooper, Nedra Johnson, Jane Chatwin and Jenny Heal. It was a… Audio
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Insight: the history of feminism
17 Sep 1993Bronwen Evans looks at what women have achieved since the second wave of feminism of the 60s and 70s. Topics discussed include the feminist backlash, childcare roles, housework and more. First… Audio
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Oral historian Megan Hutching on women getting the vote
18 Apr 2010It was a great day on 19 September 1893 when women got the vote. Audio
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Sandra Grey and Ana Gilling: Women and MMP
19 Sep 2010Dr Sandra Grey, senior lecturer at Victoria University, and Ana Gilling, PhD candidate at Queens University, Belfast, talk about women's suffrage and the role of MMP in improving proportional… Audio
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Differences in coffee price highights gender pay gap
29 Nov 2012Coffee was on sale in Wellington today at different prices for men and women in an attempt to highlight the gender pay gap. Audio
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Mary Ann Muller, the lesser-known women's rights pioneer
11 Sep 2013While Kate Sheppard is usually the first name that comes to mind in the New Zealand women's suffrage movement, there is a less well known Nelson woman who was also a pioneer for women's rights. Mary… Audio
Photo: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
About this collection
A brief history of the participation of women in New Zealand society, focusing on women’s rights, the battle for the vote, and gender equality.
Archival audio supplied by Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero.
Links
- National Library images show changing roles of NZ women over 160 years
- Women's suffrage on the NZ History website
- Votes for Women article on the Te Ara website
- The NZ woman's suffrage petition on the Archives NZ website
Image shared by Archives NZ.
