Camellia Japonica “Kate Sheppard.” Seen in the grounds of the NZ Parliament, Wellington. Image: Su Leslie, 2016
In November 1893, New Zealand became the first country the first in the world to grant women the vote.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of this event, women MPs planted white camellias — the flower used to symbolise support for women’s suffrage — in the grounds of Parliament House. The specific camellia planted is called “Kate Sheppard“, after the our most famous suffragette.
Zimmerbitch 
perfect flower to celebrate this momentus occasion – 🙂
and how cool that New Zealand was the first country the first in the world to grant females voting rights. Hear hear –
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Thanks Yvette 😃
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Congratulations to NZ for being the first in something we now take for granted. It’s so obvious today, but wasn’t back then. Thank you to all those suffragettes who persevered in spite of the ridicule and scorn.
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Thanks Joanne. The more I learn about the suffragettes, the more I truly admire them.
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What a wonderful historical claim for NZ! And a beautiful way to honor those who made it possible.
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Thanks Amy. As a nation, we punch above our weight in many ways, and yet we continue to have horrendous and unnecessary levels of child poverty and domestic violence.
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I imagine it’s no worse than here, the self-proclaimed greatest nation on the face of the earth. In fact, I am sure it’s worse here.
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You know how insular it can be, but I never knew that New Zealand was the first to pass suffrage and give women the vote. I read up about Kate Sheppard and wondered whether I would have been involved in seeking such rights had I been born in that era. I suspect not. I simply am not that motivated to leave my small sphere of influence. What a good thing Kate Sheppard was a different sort of woman.
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The suffragettes were incredible women. I’ve read a bit about the British ones, and the terrible conditions they endured when they were I prisoner. I am not sure I would have been prepared to risk that. I do protest, and am fairly active politically, but am more risk-averse as I get older.
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Brava, Su. I didn’t know that. We owe a lot to the women of New Zealand.
Leslie
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Thanks Leslie. I think the state of Wyoming was the first legislature to grant universal suffrage — a few years before NZ. And women all around the world were working and struggling for the right to vote. 😃
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Some still are.
Leslie
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Suffragettes! Bravo. Gorgeous flower too.
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What a beautiful way to commemorate a person or an event. My best wishes to all women of New Zealand.
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Thank you so much Inese. There are so many women here now still fighting in the same spirit as the suffragettes to overcome discrimination and injustice. We lost one — a trade union leader — to cancer on Friday, and our little country is mourning.
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So very sorry. Such a beautiful spirit, she cared of others instead of being focused on her own fading life. Such inspiration.
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Yes; she was a powerful advocate until the very end. Truly one of the most inspiring people.
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A country that could teach its neighbour across the ditch a thing or two…
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For a little country, we punch above our weight in many areas — but still manage to have too many children living in poverty and too many women and children experiencing domestic violence. 😦
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Same over here sadly.
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