Celebrating Women’s Suffrage – A New Zealand First

Celebrating Women’s Suffrage – A New Zealand First

Dunedin (Wednesday, 14 September 2011) –

On 19 September 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world where women won the right to vote in national elections.

Celebrations to recognise this notable historical event will be held throughout the country, including Dunedin.

Dunedin City Library will host an exhibition displaying suffrage materials from Wednesday 14 – Monday 26 September on the first floor. There is also a vast array of information online at www.dunedinpubliclibraries.govt.nz.

For those who want to know if there is a family connection to the Suffrage Movement, the online suffrage petition is available for examination at http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/womens-suffrage/petition.

The suffrage movement was this country’s first truly mass movement, and tens of thousands of New Zealanders mobilised with rallies and a series of massive petitions.

The petitions were signed by nearly 32,000 New Zealanders and nearly 24,000 of those signatures have survived on the copy of the petition presented to Parliament.

Those opposed to the petition were concerned for the fragile 'lady voters' believing they would be hassled at polling booths by 'boorish and half-drunken men'. There was, however, no need for concern; the election was a real success, ran smoothly and without a hitch.

A Christchurch newspaper even reported that the day 'resembled a gay garden party – the pretty dresses of the ladies and their smiling faces lighted up the polling booths most wonderfully'.

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