The second article relating to democracy and elections.

Sheppard, Kate Wislon, nee Malcolm (1848-1934), leader of the women’s suffrage movement, was described by poet Jessie Mackay as “the woman whose life and personality made the deepest mark upon New Zealand’s history”.

Born at Islay, she emigrated to New Zealand in 1869 with her mother and sister, and joined the newly-formed Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)in 1885.

In 1887 she took charge of WCTU’s suffrage campaign, and in 1888 the first of five suffrage petitions was presented to Parliament asking for the removal of the Electoral Bill stipulation that “Persons does not include female”. The final petition of 1893 carried 31,872 names, about a third of the adult female population, and on the 19^th of September women finally won the right to vote.

Pioneer Feminist Jounalist

Kate Sheppard was a pioneer feminist journalist. From June 1891 she edited the WCTU page in the Vanguard and from 1895 she co-edited the WCTU’s own paper The White Ribbon.

After a visit to England in 1894, where she became interested in the International Council of Women, she helped to organise the 1896 Christchurch convention representing 11 women’s societies which set up the National Council of Women. She was repeatedly elected its national president, and in 1922 became its first life member.

Widowed in 1915, in 1925 she married W Lovell-Smith. She has no descendants. Her only son married the only daughter of Margaret Sievwright, but their one child died young.

“A woman of intelligence, good sense and forceful personality,” wrote Patricia Grimshaw, historian of the suffrage movement, “undaunted by criticism and moderate in her methods, she proved an excellent leader.”

Kate Sheppard’s image can still be seen today on every New Zealand $10 bank note.

Source: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of New Zealand – Bateman, 1986

22/09/25