Landmarks go purple for suffrage
18 September 2018
Two Waipā landmarks will be bathed in purple light for a week to commemorate the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand.
On 19 September 1893, the Electoral Act 1893 was passed, securing all women in New Zealand with the right to vote. It meant New Zealand was the first self-governing country in the world in which all women could vote in Parliamentary elections. In most other democracies, including Britain and the United States, women did not get that right until after the First World War.
Despite succesfully fighting for the right to vote, women were not allowed to stand for Parliament until 1919 and the first female Member of Parliament (Elizabeth McCombs) was not elected until 1933 - 40 years after the introduction of women's suffrage.
To commemorate the 125th anniversary, the Cambridge town clock and Te Awamutu library will be bathed in purple light until September 25. Purple is a colour strongly associated with the suffrage movement, led in New Zealand by Kate Sheppard. Sheppard now features on New Zealand's $10 note.
Photo caption: The Te Awamutu library has gone purple to commemorate the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand.