Five women share their suffrage stories

Susan Hughes QC Prominent Taranaki lawyer, member of the New Zealand Medical Council and trustee of the Len Lye Foundation.

‘‘I am endlessly grateful for the opportunities that I have had and remember well the unwavering support and pride of my grandmothers, both of whom completed their matriculation but neither was permitted to go to high school – one was sent to work as a maid and the other to milk cows.

‘‘The opportunities I have had come from those who have gone before and have fought for rights for girls and women to have equal opportunities. Yet we find in 2018 that a significant pay gap exists between the sexes. There is still much to do as equality for many women has not yet been achieved.

‘‘I have always believed that the defining feature of a New Zealander is a strong sense of egalitarianism, that ‘Jack or Jill is as good as his or her master’. And yet, with the acknowledged gap between the sexes, it is clear that we still have a distance to go. 2018 is not a time for us to sleep on our laurels.’’

Debbie Ngarewa-Packer Kaiarataki of Te Ru¯ nanga o Nga¯ ti Ruanui

‘‘Women’s Suffrage is a time for us as wa¯hine to pay homage to all of those who fought for us to have the vote. These women used an absolute conviction to do what is right to mobilise masses while under huge judgement, spending their lifetime making immense sacrifices to advocate for positive change.

‘‘It’s the same tenacity that was shown by those who formed the Ma¯ori Women’s Welfare League, Iraka Ratana in becoming the first Ma¯ori to win a seat in Parliament, Dame Naida Glavish saying the first ‘kia ora’ to callers instead of hello, Hinewehi Mohi as she sang the national anthem in Te Reo Ma¯ori and Dame Tariana Turia as she crossed the floor to vote against the Foreshore and Seabed Act.

‘‘I’m heartened as I watch the young wa¯hine I know rise and take up opportunities, exercise their right to vote in tribal and marae matters or as board directors, lead schools, businesses, communities and countries.’’

Barbara Kuriger MP for Taranaki-King Country and Senior Whip for the National Party Caucus

‘‘Without the historical fight (for the vote), I wouldn’t have had the career that I’ve had. ‘‘Today we have close to

40 per cent in terms of Parliamentary representation in New Zealand. Of all the boards and councils I’ve been on up until I entered Parliament, many had about

10 per cent women, but thankfully this is growing. The most noticeable was when I was the DairyNZ strategic partner member on the NZ Young Farmers Board in

2013. Gender wasn’t even discussed, it just happened, so that does show a generational change.

‘‘The way I’ve worked over the years is to be the best I can be, value the fact that I am a woman but not make huge fanfare about it. I find in that way of operating, people have been accepting of who I am as a person. ‘‘In terms of the ongoing work to gender equality, I would reiterate for women to be the best they can be and have the courage and confidence to make some bold moves. The opportunities are there. I don’t believe in quotas, I believe in merit and we have many fantastic women so let’s support each other to the

Karen Venables Lawyer, business owner and trustee of the Taranaki Life Education Trust and Mellowpuff Charitable Trust.

‘‘What I have learnt from the Suffrage movement is if you have the courage to fight for what you believe in, you may actually make a change that not only improves your community but also the world.

‘‘It has been a hard slog for women in law firms and this year we have read a lot about some of the issues women lawyers are still facing. I don’t believe the issue is men versus women. I believe the issues are around workplace culture – long hours, high pressure and constant stress. I also believe that if we encourage more diverse voices to sit at the board table, then we will see a significant improvement in the workplace and community culture.

‘‘I can see that there is a space being made for diverse voices at the table. It is time for us to step up. I am determined to improve law firm culture. I wonder if by doing this I can improve my community?.’’

Kararaina Te Ira Poutiaki Taonga (Curator) of the Taonga Ma¯ ori Collection at Puke Ariki Museum.

‘‘As a young Ma¯ori woman I am constantly framed. Framed as a Ma¯ori maiden or as an exotic doll where these stereotypes are often not placed on men. The submission of the women’s suffrage petition to the New Zealand Government 125 years ago is a reminder to all people that equal treatment, mana and aroha should be given to all people regardless of gender, ethnicity and age.

‘‘He aha te mea nui i te ao? Ma¯ku e k¨ı atu, ‘He ta¯ngata, he ta¯ngata, he ta¯ngata’’ (if you ask me what is most important in this world, I will reply, ‘people, people, people’). ‘‘The suffrage movement is one of many that remind us about the importance of gender equality. It is a basic human right to be considered and treated with mana and aroha. Commemorating it is all about supporting these basic human rights and principles and allowing Aotearoa to celebrate womenhood.

‘‘Ma¯ te wa¯hine, ka ora ai te tangata – It is women who bring life to humanity.’’