New Zealand Grants Universal Suffrage to Women
On September 19, 1893, New Zealand made a historic move by granting universal suffrage to women, becoming the first country in the world to do so. This milestone allowed female citizens to participate in the electoral process, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the nation. New Zealand, located in the South Pacific and comprising two large islands, had a diverse population of around 4 million, including European settlers, indigenous Maori, and other minority groups. The achievement was the result of extensive advocacy and civil rights efforts led by women who fought tirelessly for their right to vote. Following the passage of the electoral bill signed by Lord Glasgow, New Zealand women were able to cast their votes in the elections of 1893, a moment that represented both a culmination of struggle and a catalyst for further advances in women's rights. This development not only influenced New Zealand's political framework but also served as an inspiration for women's suffrage movements globally.
On this Page
Subject Terms
New Zealand Grants Universal Suffrage to Women
New Zealand Grants Universal Suffrage to Women
On September 19, 1893, the South Pacific nation of New Zealand granted its female citizens the right to vote. New Zealand primarily consists of two large islands off the southeast coast of Australia and has a population of roughly 4 million people. The capital is Wellington, with some 170,000 inhabitants, but the largest city is Auckland, with a population of more than 1 million. Most of the people are descended from European settlers, but there are significant minority groups with Chinese, Polynesian, and indigenous Maori ancestries. By the terms of the electoral bill signed by the governor, Lord Glasgow, it was on this date in 1893 that New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant universal female suffrage (Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Canada had already granted suffrage to unmarried women only). The women of New Zealand had worked long and hard for this victory, investing years of effort in various civil-rights initiatives, and after the passage of this bill they were able to go to the polls in the fall of 1893 for the first time ever.