Today we celebrate 125 years of women’s suffrage, the first country in the world to do so, and it all started here in Christchurch.
 
We honour the courage and tenacity of the women etched into the memorial and the more than 30,000 women who signed the final petition.
 
When I think of the challenges Kate Sheppard and those suffragists faced – no electronic media, no give-a-little page, no means to communicate other than through cycling and pounding the pavements, street by street, collecting signatures and never giving up.  The first two petitions did not succeed, but the third one did and the rest is history.
 
And then for over 80% of the female population to both register and vote in the election just a matter of weeks later is an extraordinary story.
 
Today we ask all women to feel inspired by the courage and tenacity that represented.
 
And to reflect upon the importance those women placed on the right to right once it had been won. We must never ever take it for granted.
 
It took 25 years for women to get the right to stand for Parliament and another 15 years after that for the first woman to be elected to Parliament – and she was from Christchurch too – Elizabeth McCombs representing the set of Lyttleton. And another 14 years for the first woman to be appointed as a Cabinet Minister – also from Christchurch, the Hon Mabel Howard.
 
In my role as Mayor of the city, Kate Sheppard and the suffrage movement is very much a part of the Christchurch story – they are an important part of our identity – of who we are. 
 

Today marks a milestone year in Christchurch’s rich history.  We are celebrating 125 years of women receiving the right to vote here in New Zealand, making us the first self-governing country in the world to do so.  And it all started here in Christchurch.
 
Kate Sheppard, who lived here at this very house, was the leading light of the New Zealand women’s suffrage movement.
 
Thank you Julia for allowing the Foundation to use your home for today’s event, which not only celebrates the special place Christchurch holds in New Zealand and world history, but also allows us to announce that the Christchurch Foundation is today recognising this legacy by launching the Christchurch Foundation Women’s Fund. 
 
We are launching the Fund to support girls and women in our city who are actively leading change in their community -

• Change that is focused on positive outcomes for our city and its residents
• Change that is driven by people coming together to offer grassroots support for our communities

 
This is very much in keeping with the spirit of the suffragists.  I reflected at the Women’s Suffrage National memorial earlier today, what courage and tenacity they represented.
 
They had no electronic media, no give-a-little page, no means to communicate other than through cycling and pounding the pavements, street by street, collecting signatures and never giving up.  The first two petitions did not succeed, but the third one did and the rest is history.
 
And then for over 60% of the female population to both register and vote in the election just a matter of weeks later is an extraordinary story.
 
It took 25 years for women to get the right to stand for Parliament and another 15 years after that for the first woman to be elected to Parliament – and she was from Christchurch too – Elizabeth McCombs representing the set of Lyttleton. And another 14 years for the first woman to be appointed as a Cabinet Minister – also from Christchurch, the Hon Mabel Howard.
 
In my role as Mayor of the city, Kate Sheppard and the suffrage movement is very much a part of the Christchurch story – they are an important part of our identity – of who we are. 
 
Which is why I am proud that the first endowment fund the Christchurch Foundation is launching is this women’s fund, so that the spirit of 125 years ago lives on. 
 
And we can ensure that the next generation of women and girls can continue to make a difference.
 
The grants will not come with complicated accountability requirements. 
Those that accept the awards will simply be asked to share their story with The Christchurch Foundation and allow us to publicise their progress.  That way a small contribution can spark a major inspiration.
 
These grants will create stories that we can then share showing women and girls making change happen – stories that we need to hear more of.
 
Our first awards will be issued in 2019 and will occur annually.  Our ability to give will ultimately be determined by the level of donations that we get into the fund.
 
Why Women and Girls? We know that women and girls are only getting between 5 – 10% of the charitable dollar in countries like Australia and America. That proportion is likely to be similar here.
 
Few grant-making organisations have a specific criterion of supporting gender equality and are not even aware of what proportion of their funding supports women. Although we have come a long way, in New Zealand:

• Women are still very much the face of poverty;
• 85% of single parent families are led by women
• Women earn 9% less than men on average, a figure which has improved considerably over the years - but for our Maori women this figure is 24%, and for Pasifika women it is 31%
• There is a gender bias to the domestic violence statistics that remain alarmingly high

 
Who can get involved?  Anyone can join, participate and contribute at a level that suits their budget.  We imagine that there will be many women that want to give. However, sons, fathers and brothers care about the world their mothers, daughters and sisters live in, and will want to contribute too.
 
Organisations can also join the Women’s Fund as part of their drive to create change.
 
A group of donors to the fund will be co-opted to drive the awards process at the beginning, along with one of the Christchurch Foundation’s Trustees, and they will put in place a framework for the future, as well as select the first recipients.
 
We welcome your donations and hope you will help us to spread the word about the Fund.
 
I believe it is truly a wonderful way to honour those courageous women who we recognise on the Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage, as well as our place in the world, where it all began 125 years ago, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Westpac Champion Canterbury Business Awards.
Minister, Members of Parliament, fellow mayors, councillors and distinguished guests

It is an honour and a privilege to be here tonight to announce this year’s recipient of the Special Commendation Award.

Before I do that, I want to reflect on the significance of the 19th September as a milestone in our history as a city and as a nation.  Today is the 125th anniversary of the passing of legislation that gave women the right to vote – the first country in the world to do so.  And it all started here in Christchurch. 

It is not insignificant that the only woman appearing on any of our banknotes, apart from Her Majesty the Queen, is Kate Sheppard.

She was an indomitable force. It took courage and determination to achieve what she did all those years ago.The suffragists won the vote on the 19th September 1893 after a massive petition – the third attempt – was tabled in parliament. No electronic mail, no social media, no give-a-little pages – no means of communication except cycling and pounding the pavements – street by street.

Even more extraordinary is that over 80% of women registered and voted in the General Election on the 28 November just 10 weeks later.
This is our story and we should be proud.

Today, the Christchurch Foundation Women’s Fund has been launched and you are all invited to contribute to the fund that will be used to support girls and women who are actively leading change in their community. Your support will make a real difference.

We know that most charitable dollars do not find their way to the hands of women who seek to be the change they want to see in the world.  And all we will ask in return is that they give us their stories so others can be inspired to reach for the stars.

What a fitting way to recall the courage and tenacity that is our suffrage story - our story as a city and a nation.

And this leads me onto the Special Commendation Award, which on every level, but especially today, is so well deserved.  You’ve already heard me use two words - courage and tenacity - to describe an incredible and inspirational leader. How fitting they are.
​
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my absolute privilege to announce this year’s special commendation award recipient –Dame Adrienne Stewart. 

Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust Suffrage 125 Celebration
 
Thank you for inviting me to share in this special occasion.
 
I am sorry I cannot stay, as I have a special role to perform at the Canterbury Champion Awards Ceremony tonight presenting the Special Commendation Award, which will be, I am told, in keeping with the theme of our suffrage celebrations today.
 
So I’m thrilled to be here, as I really didn’t want to miss the awarding of the Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust Award.  It is one that is near and dear to my heart.  When the call went out for additional financial support for the Trust Fund earlier this year, I put my hand up, as I’m sure many of you did too.
 
A fund that supports educational opportunities for a woman to develop her potential by undertaking further education, study, research or training in areas which are of value in Aotearoa/New Zealand is in keeping with Kate Sheppard’s mission.  The vote for women was good for women but it was also good for the country.
 
I was reminded today of the history of the fund, dating back to the 1993 Suffrage centennial, where the surplus from the fundraising efforts to build the Kate Sheppard National Memorial were made available for this purpose.
 
There has always been a strong link between the Council and the Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust. The original fundraising campaign’s financial chair was the late Councillor Mollie Clark. And Judith Lady Hay was the patron and convened the fund-raising committee.  We remember these women and their hard work.  They have left us a legacy to uphold. And I thank Cr Sara Templeton for keeping the connection alive today.
 
So onto this year’s recipient of the Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust Suffrage 125 Award. She is completing a PhD at the University of Canterbury, Health Sciences and the Ngai Tahu Research Centre. Her topic is ‘Raro Timu Raro Tae – Ngai Tahu Birthing Traditions’.
 
The Awardee’s fascination with indigenous birthing practices and the ongoing public interest in her Master’s thesis and film on traditional Māori birthing practices encouraged her to extend this research with a doctorate at the University of Canterbury.  She is currently in her fourth year of study specifically exploring Ngāi Tahu birthing traditions and practices pertaining to conception, pregnancy and birth. 
 
She was fortunate to have her research supported by the NZ Health Research Council, the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre, the Health Science Department, her whānau, her rōpu kaumatua, the Canterbury Māori Midwifery Rōpu and now the Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust Award.
 
Her hope is that her research will aid the implementation of Ngāi Tahu birthing knowledge and practices within New Zealand’s maternity services and Southern midwifery education. Plans have already been drawn up to produce resources post her doctorate in order to return the research to the hands of midwives and whānau.
 
The Awardee is quick to declare that she herself is not a midwife although she has the upmost respect for her colleagues in this field.  She is an experienced Registered Nurse currently working for the Canterbury District Health Board in Children and Youth Mental Health.  She has completed the Huarahi Whakatū PDRP Programme to expertise level through Te Rau Matatini and has worked for Māori Health Providers and in a variety of clinical areas under the Auckland, Wellington, Otago and Canterbury District Health Boards over a 20-year period.
 
In 2008, the Awardee decided to expand her nursing into the field of health research and commenced work as a research assistant for the Donald Beasley Institute (a research institute that promotes research and education in the field of disability).  She has worked on a number of short and long term national and international research projects as their Māori Researcher and continues to work with the Institute as a Research Associate. 
 
Alongside her health and academic research she thrives off the many creative opportunities that have been presented to her over the years in: radio, film and dance. 
 
She has produced a number of radio documentaries, created short films for exhibitions, danced in Puaka/Matariki (Māori New Year) Performances and generally enjoys viewing or being part of Māori arts in its many expressive forms.
 
The Awardee is dedicated to her doctoral thesis and describes it like a pregnancy that is both stunning and harrowing, and like her whānau, she is keen for this baby to be born so she can see her research grow and provide a resource for others to grow from too. 
 
The winner of this year’s Kate Sheppard Memorial Award on this 125th anniversary of suffrage is: Kelly Waiana Tikao of Waitaha, Ngāti Māmoe and Ngāi Tahu.
 
Congratulations Kelly

Thank you Suzanne and the local branch of the TEU for inviting me today, and thank you to Lana Shields and the Ara Institute of Canterbury for your generous hospitality today.
 
What a great way to mark the 125th anniversary of NZ women being granted the right to vote. 
 
Christchurch has a proud history as the birthplace of the suffrage movement, home to Kate Sheppard, the only woman to appear on a New Zealand banknote apart from the Queen. 
 
Betty Cuthbert (Sheppard’s great-niece and a former President of the National Council of Women) said “Kate fought for what she thought was right all the way through.  She was concerned by poverty among women and children, at men spending all the money on alcohol, but realised they were powerless until women had the chance to vote."
 
This victory for gender equality, the first country in the world to grant women the vote, was an inspiration for other women worldwide who were also campaigning for the right to vote. 
 
The extraordinary thing though was that first election held just 10 weeks later. Despite the short timeframe for voter registration, 109,461 women – about 84% of the adult female population – enrolled to vote. On polling day 90,290 of them cast their votes, a turnout of 82% (far higher than the 70% turnout among registered male voters). There were then no electoral rolls for the Māori seats, but women cast perhaps 4000 of the 11,269 Māori votes that year.
 
That is an extraordinary commitment and we owe it to the suffragists for making this happen.  I think of them when I vote. Voting honours their courage, commitment and tenacity.
 
2017 General Election overall turnout as a percentage of enrolled electors was 79.8%. And in local government here, for the election in 2016 the voter return was 38.34% despite voting forms being posted to all registered voters.
 
The suffragists knew the vote was vital step in their struggle for equal rights.  It would give them the political power to hasten social reform.  We may wish to ask ourselves are we fully using our political power to achieve the social reform we want to see. 
 
We cannot be complacent.  There is gendered face to poverty and domestic violence that we cannot ignore.  Hard won rights and privileges can unfortunately be taken away all too swiftly and therefore we need to take our responsibility to vote seriously and that includes standing for public office too.
 
When Kate Sheppard died in Christchurch on 13 July 1934, the Christchurch Times said: ‘A great woman has gone, whose name will remain an inspiration to the daughters of New Zealand while our history endures.  We can all continue to be inspired by Kate Sheppard and her fellow campaigners.  Our city and country benefits when we all claim our rights as citizens and accept the responsibility these rights bestow.’
 

​Mihi
 
Prime Minister, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Councillors and all our guests who have joined us today.
 
Can I make special mention of Dame Ann Hercus, who was New Zealand’s first Minister of Women’s Affairs, who persuaded our PM to be here today. Thank you.  I remember Dame Ann saying at the launch of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs now the Ministry for Women:  "We are the only government department working for our own demise."
 
Unfortunately demolishing the structure of inequality has not happened yet and nearly 35 years on we still need our Ministry.
 
It seems fitting that we celebrate 125 years of Women’s Suffrage in the Isaac Theatre Royal.  This theatre has over 100 years of history of its own.  This is its third incarnation. Like the three petitions it took for the Women’s Suffrage campaign to be successful, this place stands testament to the spirit of tenacity and determination.
 
Can I on that note acknowledge the large number of young people from the 22 local schools represented here today.
 
I remember coming to the Theatre Royal for the first time.  The Mayor came out on the stage to welcome all the school children.  I can’t remember anything he said, and I don’t expect any of you to remember anything I say either, except for one thing.
 
Be proud of your city.  Your city is part of who you are.  And it’s history is part of who you are too.
 
Today we are beginning the celebration of 125 years of women’s suffrage, the first country in the world to do so, and it all started here in Christchurch. Today we ask you to feel inspired by the tenacity and determination of the suffragists – and never let go.
 
It took 25 years for women to get the right to stand for Parliament and another 15 years after that for the first woman to be elected to Parliament – and that was here in Christchurch too – Elizabeth McCombs representing the set of Lyttleton.
 
I should make the point that Kate Sheppard campaigned on behalf of women on many issues; contraception, the right to divorce, the importance of physical exercise, and even doing away with corsets.  I mention the corsets because they represent being constrained – and women cannot and must not be constrained if they are to achieve equality.
 
Sadly there are women in NZ and throughout our world who continue to have their rights, and therefore none of us can afford to be complacent.
 
Kate Sheppard knew she couldn’t be complacent. Three years after the first vote, Kate helped establish the National Council of Women (NCW) with the first meeting here in Christchurch. In three years time we will celebrate 125 years of that organisation which continues to be a powerful voice for women.
 
So what better way to start our city’s celebration of what we have contributed as a city to our nation’s story, than to have our Prime Minister address us today. 
 
The Rt Hon Jacinda Adern is the third woman to become New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
 
She has quickly established herself as an outstanding leader and a role model for generations of leaders to come.
 
I am really looking forward to hearing her speak to today, and I know you are too. 
Please join me in welcoming Jacinda.