Women urged to keep fighting
THE spirit and drive that propelled New Zealand women to the polls for the first time 125 years ago are still as vital as ever.
Dunedin women’s efforts to achieve the right to vote were celebrated last night at the final official event held to mark the 125th anniversary of women’s suffrage in New Zealand.
Held at the Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, KATE Talks marked 125 years since the first election in which women were allowed to cast a vote.
They had won the right just two months earlier.
Keynote speaker Dunedin City Council chief executive Sue Bidrose implored the crowd of about 150 mainly women to keep striving for equality.
While there were more women than ever in business and politics, there was still a systemic bias that held society back from achieving true equality, Dr Bidrose said.
‘‘Suffrage still matters 125 years later because we know our suffrage sisters’ work is still to be done.’’
Despite being able to vote for 125 years, women were still underrepresented in politics, both locally and nationally, but next year’s local body elections provided a chance to increase the diversity of voices around council tables, Dr Bidrose said.
‘‘If you want this city to run on in a way that suits you — the female half who lives here — then you need to elect people who understand your concerns . . . I can’t encourage you enough that this does matter.’’
There were those who argued women’s equality had gone too far and it was now middleaged men who were the most discriminatedagainst group. Those people were scared of losing their privilege, she said.
Earlier in the evening, five Dunedin women Dr Helen Roberts, Miriama KetuMcKenzie, Ashleigh Smith, Deborah Manning and Laura Black gave short talks on topics such as women’s health, the gender pay gap, the unequal division of housework and how to find meaning from life.