Kia Ora readers
Kate Sheppard was born in Liverpool in 1847 and then moved to the Christchurch, New Zealand in 1868.
Kate Sheppard married with Walter Sheppard in 1871 and then Sheppard joined in the (WCTU ) that means ( Womens Christan Temprance Union) which aimed to restrict the sale of alcohol.
Sheppard became passionate about women receiving the right vote in New Zealand.
At this time women were unable to vote in any country in the world.
Sheppard travelled all over New Zealand writing he newspapers and holding the public meeting and talking to the member of parliament.
Many men in New Zealand didn't agree and that women should be allowed to vote, women were seen as being better looking after children and cleaning the house and thinking about politics.
In 1893 Kate Sheppard and her team collected the signature of nearly 32,000 women and men to show how many people supported for their cause and they also had a support for prime minister at the time, John Balance. This petition was 270 meters long!
This Premier, Richard Seddon, did not think women should be able to vote.
However, in 1893, in Electoral Act was passed and became law on the 19th of the September.
Women could vote now! New Zealand women were the first in the world to able to vote.
Since her death Sheppard has received many honours within New Zealand.
Buildings and Street and Neighborhood throughout New Zealand are named after her and she also featured on a postage stamp, in 1991 her image was placed on New Zealand
$10 note.
In 1999 Helen Clark became the first women to be elected as Prime minister in New Zealand.
Kate Sheppard would have been very Pleased!
