19 September 2001

New Zealand women were the first women in the world to win the right to vote on 19 September 1893 and National MPs celebrated that important occasion with a picnic in the sunshine on the front lawn of Parliament today.

National's Women's Affairs spokesperson Anne Tolley said it was important for all of National's MPs to celebrate this important day in New Zealand's political history.

"Too often we see only women marking this milestone. The reality is that we need to recognise achievements of such importance together, men and women.

"The women who worked to achieve Women's Suffrage did so with the support of men from all over New Zealand and let's not overlook that a male-only Parliament passed the legislation.

"It is essential that this day in history is seen as a New Zealand achievement, not just a women's achievement," Anne Tolley said.

Ends

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