A celebration of Suffrage 125

A DigitalNZ Story by Mark Beatty

On the 19th September 1893 Women in New Zealand received the right to vote, a significant moment in New Zealand history. Some of these women signed the suffrage roll. Many would have voted for the first time on 28th November 1893.

Women, suffrage, He Tohu, suffrage petition, wāhine

Image: Group portrait of Cybele Ethel Kirk with nine young women

Group portrait of Cybele Ethel Kirk with nine young women

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait of Cybele Ethel Kirk with nine young women wearing floral dresses with fichues

Group portrait of Cybele Ethel Kirk with nine young women wearing floral dresses with fichues

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Portrait of Sarah Jane Kirk in a domestic garden setting

Portrait of Sarah Jane Kirk in a domestic garden setting

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Kate Sheppard, about 1905

Kate Sheppard, about 1905

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Martin, Alfred :[Unidentified woman]

Martin, Alfred :[Unidentified woman]

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Disguise our bondage as we will, 'tis woman, woman rules us still

Disguise our bondage as we will, 'tis woman, woman rules us still

Auckland Libraries

Image: dress

dress

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Studio unidentified portrait of three women with a young girl, two women [sisters?] with double breasted jacket and a lace trim pleated blouse with bow ties sitting in front with an older woman [mother?] in a [Salvation Army?] dress standing behind, location unknown

Studio unidentified portrait of three women with a young girl, two women [sisters?] with double breasted jacket and a lace trim pleated blouse with...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Woman and children

Woman and children

Auckland Libraries

Image: Cedric de Montalk at Vallombrosa, Remuera, 1906

Cedric de Montalk at Vallombrosa, Remuera, 1906

Auckland Libraries

Image: 3/4 length portrait of a woman, a girl and a baby in the Culpan group.

3/4 length portrait of a woman, a girl and a baby in the Culpan group.

Auckland Libraries

Image: 1/2 length group portrait of a woman and a young girl, the....

1/2 length group portrait of a woman and a young girl, the....

Auckland Libraries

Image: American Photo Company, fl 1870s-1890s :Portrait of unidentified Maori woman and child

American Photo Company, fl 1870s-1890s :Portrait of unidentified Maori woman and child

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: 3/4 length family portrait of the Urquart group, the woman in....

3/4 length family portrait of the Urquart group, the woman in....

Auckland Libraries

Image: Portrait of the Selgren group which consists of two girls....

Portrait of the Selgren group which consists of two girls....

Auckland Libraries

Image: Hesketh group

Hesketh group

Auckland Libraries

Image: Hull group...

Hull group...

Auckland Libraries

Image: Foster family

Foster family

Auckland Libraries

Image: Turner children

Turner children

Auckland Libraries

Image: Unidentified young Maori woman

Unidentified young Maori woman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: O'Neil family group

O'Neil family group

Auckland Libraries

Image: 3/4 length portrait of Mrs Langton and two children.

3/4 length portrait of Mrs Langton and two children.

Auckland Libraries

Image: Group including Mrs Hohepine Love, Mrs Ripeka Love and Mrs Manu Peck - Photograph taken Kinsey and Company

Group including Mrs Hohepine Love, Mrs Ripeka Love and Mrs Manu Peck - Photograph taken Kinsey and Company

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Laurie group

Laurie group

Auckland Libraries

Image: Wooller group 1911

Wooller group 1911

Auckland Libraries

Image: Eyre group

Eyre group

Auckland Libraries

Image: Eyre group

Eyre group

Auckland Libraries

Image: Isaacs family

Isaacs family

Auckland Libraries

Image: Maori woman and child, Hawkes Bay district

Maori woman and child, Hawkes Bay district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Woman in black dress with young child. From the album: The Colonial Family Album

Woman in black dress with young child. From the album: The Colonial Family Album

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: the Wills group 1910

the Wills group 1910

Auckland Libraries

Image: Portrait of Rewa Kahukaka

Portrait of Rewa Kahukaka

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Adams family

Adams family

Auckland Libraries

Image: Harris family group...

Harris family group...

Auckland Libraries

Image: Missie Gorrie 1911

Missie Gorrie 1911

Auckland Libraries

Image: the two? Misses Nankivell 1910

the two? Misses Nankivell 1910

Auckland Libraries

Image: Photograph taken by Robina Nicol

Photograph taken by Robina Nicol

DigitalNZ

Profile of a woman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Cybele Ethel Kirk and Sarah Jane Kirk in garden

Cybele Ethel Kirk and Sarah Jane Kirk in garden

Alexander Turnbull Library

Profile portrait of Cybele Ethel Kirk

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Woman

Woman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait of Cybele Ethel Kirk with nine young women

Group portrait of Cybele Ethel Kirk with nine young women

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Robina Nicol and unidentified woman

Robina Nicol and unidentified woman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait of Amy and Sarah Jane Kirk, Janet Atkinson, and Robina Nicol.

Group portrait of Amy and Sarah Jane Kirk, Janet Atkinson, and Robina Nicol.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Ruruhira (Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district)

Ruruhira (Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district)

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sinclair, Miss,

Sinclair, Miss,

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Sinclair, Miss

Sinclair, Miss

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Lydia Williams with her banjo, Carlyle Street, Napier

Lydia Williams with her banjo, Carlyle Street, Napier

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori women from Hawkes Bay district

Maori women from Hawkes Bay district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lydia Williams, outside her home, with leaves growing on the front entrance, Maitland Street, View Bank, Dunedin

Lydia Williams, outside her home, with leaves growing on the front entrance, Maitland Street, View Bank, Dunedin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lydia Devereux and unidentified woman outside a house, unknown location

Lydia Devereux and unidentified woman outside a house, unknown location

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified group of young women dressed in white and posing under a tree

Unidentified group of young women dressed in white and posing under a tree

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lydia Williams

Lydia Williams

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lydia Myrtle Williams reading book on bench in garden, location unidentified

Lydia Myrtle Williams reading book on bench in garden, location unidentified

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Maori woman from Hawkes Bay district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lydia Williams with Edgar on the verandah of their home in Kew, Dunedin

Lydia Williams with Edgar on the verandah of their home in Kew, Dunedin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Lydia Williams in the conservatory of her house in Royal Terrace, Kew, Dunedin

Lydia Williams in the conservatory of her house in Royal Terrace, Kew, Dunedin

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Portrait of Rihi Te Awa of Ngāti Tū, Ngāi Tatara, and Ngāti Kurumōkihi hapu, and Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Awa, and Ngāti Mamoe iwi

Portrait of Rihi Te Awa of Ngāti Tū, Ngāi Tatara, and Ngāti Kurumōkihi hapu, and Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Awa, and Ngāti Mamoe iwi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Portrait of Heeni Te Rei standing in front of a whare at Karaka Bay, Wellington

Portrait of Heeni Te Rei standing in front of a whare at Karaka Bay, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Allan, Miss,

Allan, Miss,

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Allan, Miss A

Allan, Miss A

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Victory - Women's franchise passed, September 8th, 1893

Victory - Women's franchise passed, September 8th, 1893

Auckland Libraries

Image: Purification

Purification

Auckland Libraries

Image: Janet Atkinson and Cybele Kirk

Janet Atkinson and Cybele Kirk

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Aohanga River [Owahanga River], Tararua District, Wairarapa

Aohanga River [Owahanga River], Tararua District, Wairarapa

Alexander Turnbull Library