ZONTA CLUB OF WELLINGTON

Media Release

21 September 2016

Capital! Steampunk out vote the Zonta Club of Wellington
Suffrage Day High Tea

Sounds of booing, hissing and, at times, clapping could be heard from within the Khandallah Town Hall as over seventy ladies and gentleman attended the Zonta Club of Wellington’s Suffrage Day High Tea on Sunday; an occasion to celebrate 123 years of women being able to vote.

Attendees, dressed in their finest suffrage outfits befitting a high tea, listened to Capital! Steampunk members re-enact the roles of Mrs Kate Sheppard, Sir John Hall, Meri Mangakahia and suffrage’s arch-enemy Mr Henry Fish. They spoke of the period leading up to the passing of the 1893 Electoral Act that was the culmination of years of agitation by women’s movements.

Capital! Steampunk finished their show by asking the audience to join them in standing, to sing God Save the Queen (Victoria).

Zonta Club of Wellington President Rayoni Keith is especially pleased to be supporting this Suffrage Day high tea as it enables us to remember our forewomen who displayed great tenacity of spirit to achieve the many things we take for granted today.Attendees included Louise Nicholas, Heather Henare, Lynn McKenzie, Rae Duff, Dame Margaret Sparrow, Beverley Shore Bennett,Professor Emerita Jean Fleming, Celia Wade Brown, Vanisa Dhiru, who are recognised as being members of Zonta’s 50 Women of Achievement.

We celebrate Suffrage Day on 19 September and throughout that week.

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