Doing It for Themselves: Women Fight for Equality

Doing It for Themselves: Women Fight for EqualityTe Tohe mō ngā Take Wāhine

Women in Aotearoa New Zealand won the right to vote 125 years ago. With this mini exhibition, we honour women who fought, and continue to fight, for gender equality.

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Twitter Facebook

When | Āhea

19 Sep 2018 – 13 Oct 2019

Where | Ki hea

Level 3

Cost | Te utu

Free entry

Ages | TE REANGA

All ages

Allow | ME WHAKARITE

20 minutes

Accessibility | E wātea ana ki

wheelchair accessible

Find out more about accessibility at Te Papa

Some of the objects featured in this small exhibition were acquired this year to celebrate Suffrage 125. Included are items from the Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford, Dame Jenny Shipley, Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, and former Green MP Holly Walker.

Also represented are Nope Sisters Clothing, Women’s Refuge, MyCup NZ, and Women Walk and Work for Peace.

Other objects were already in Te Papa’s collection and feature in a new book from Te Papa Press titled Women Now: The Legacy of Female Suffrage. These include He poi manu by artist Ngahina Hohaia, the Anovlar 21 contraceptive pill, and the $10 banknote featuring Kate Sheppard.

These are tools women have used in their fight for positive change, and markers of their success.

Breast pump (Unimom Allegro# Electric), about 2012, South Korea, by Unimom. Gift of Holly Walker, 2018. Te Papa (GH025334/1-14)

Badge, 'Women can do anything', 1980s, New Zealand, maker unknown. Gift of Anne Else, 2004. Te Papa (GH014496)

Anovlar 21 contraceptive pill, 1965, Germany, by Schering AG. Gift of Dame Margaret Sparrow, 2011. Te Papa (GH022147)

Women's Social and Political Union Medal for Valour, 1912, England, by Toye & Co. Purchased 2016. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (GH024772)

Pussyhat, 2017, New Zealand, by Erin Kennedy. Gift of Erin Kennedy, 2017. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Te Papa (GH018161)

Discover moreKia kitea ake

Pink badge with the words 'Women can do anything'

Whakatū Wāhine: Women in New Zealand

Explore stories that highlight diverse women’s experiences as they have made positive changes for themselves, their whānau, and their communities.

Let’s Go Build: A Festival for LEGO Lovers

A festival for LEGO® lovers of all ages. This summer, go on a journey around the world through huge LEGO models – then pick up some bricks and start building!

Closed

9 Dec 2017 – 18 Feb 2018

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Let’s Go Build: A Festival for LEGO Lovers

A festival for LEGO® lovers of all ages. This summer, go on a journey around the world through huge LEGO models – then pick up some bricks and start building!

Closed

9 Dec 2017 – 18 Feb 2018

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Te ao Māori: The synergy between women and the land

Iwi development manager Migoto Eria looks at the relationship between Heretaunga chief Hēnare Tōmoana and his wife Ākenehi Pātoka, who signed the suffrage petition in 1893, and reflects on the synergy between wahine (women) and whenua (land).

Let’s Go Build: A Festival for LEGO Lovers

A festival for LEGO® lovers of all ages. This summer, go on a journey around the world through huge LEGO models – then pick up some bricks and start building!

Closed

9 Dec 2017 – 18 Feb 2018

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Let’s Go Build: A Festival for LEGO Lovers

A festival for LEGO® lovers of all ages. This summer, go on a journey around the world through huge LEGO models – then pick up some bricks and start building!

Closed

9 Dec 2017 – 18 Feb 2018

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Let’s Go Build: A Festival for LEGO Lovers

A festival for LEGO® lovers of all ages. This summer, go on a journey around the world through huge LEGO models – then pick up some bricks and start building!

Closed

9 Dec 2017 – 18 Feb 2018

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Let’s Go Build: A Festival for LEGO Lovers

A festival for LEGO® lovers of all ages. This summer, go on a journey around the world through huge LEGO models – then pick up some bricks and start building!

Closed

9 Dec 2017 – 18 Feb 2018

Exhibition Ngā whakaaturanga

Frances Parker’s Suffragette medal

Occasional demonstrator Leah McFall, and History Curator Claire Regnault, talk about how Frances Parker fought for women's suffrage in Britain and women's marches today.

VIEW MORE ITEMS