On 19 September, exactly 125 years since Aotearoa became the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the vote, Te Papa will open a pop-up exhibition and launch a new Te Papa Press publication to mark Suffrage 125.

Dr Bronwyn Labrum, Te Papa’s Head of New Zealand and Pacific Cultures and her team are using stories from the last 125 years to reflect on gender rights today.

“2018 provides us with an opportunity to look at the legacy of female suffrage – to celebrate the milestones that have been fought for and won, but to also acknowledge that the battle for equality is ongoing.”

“I remember the centennial suffrage celebrations in 1993, and the reality is that not much has fundamentally changed in terms of advances in women’s rights in the last 25 years. There is still pay inequality, while sexism and sexual abuse are experienced at every level of society.”

“However, the tide certainly feels like it’s turning. There’s renewed energy, a braveness to ‘call it’ and momentum for change. I feel very hopeful about the changes we’ll be able to examine for Suffrage 150,” says Dr Bronwyn Labrum.

Pop-up exhibition: Te Tohe mō ngā Take Wāhine / Doing It for Themselves: Women Fight for Equality

To honour Suffrage 125, Te Papa curators have initiated a special collecting project, sourcing contemporary items related to women’s rights. Recent acquisitions include a breast pump from former Green MP and writer Holly Walker, the NopeSisters T-shirt which addresses sexual abuse, a menstrual cup from MyCup, a company committed to ending period poverty, a suit worn by Dame Jenny Shipley on her first day in office as New Zealand’s first-ever female Prime Minister, and Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban’s puletasi (formal Sāmoan outfit) which she wore to give her maiden speech as New Zealand’s first Pacific Island female Member of Parliament.

Dr Katie Cooper, who is heading the collecting project and curator of the exhibition says: “We’re in discussions with a number of female leaders, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, about acquiring items from them for the national collection and this project will continue throughout this anniversary year.

Some of these recently acquired items, along with objects from Te Papa’s extensive collections, will feature in the pop-up exhibition.

“With this exhibition, we honour women who fought and continue to fight for gender equality. We’re presenting the tools they have used to make their voices heard, and markers of their success,” says Dr Katie Cooper.

Te Tohe mō ngā Take Wāhine / Doing It for Themselves: Women Fight for Equality, will be located on level 3, Te Papa and will run until the end of February 2019.

Te Papa Press book: Women Now: The Legacy of Female Suffrage

Several objects from the exhibition also feature in a new publication from Te Papa Press, which will be launched on 19 September at Te Papa.

Women Now: The Legacy of Female Suffrage, edited by Dr Bronwyn Labrum, is a collection of essays by 12 authors in response to an object in Te Papa’s collections.

Dame Fiona Kidman reflects on contraceptive pills, Grace Taylor on a Pussyhat from the controversial Pussyhat Project in response to Donald Trump’s expressed disrespect for women, Sue Bradford on New Zealander Frances Parker’s Suffragette Medal for valour on hunger strikes, and Tina Makereti on a poi created by Ngahina Hohaia as a reflection on whakapapa, power and grace, amongst others.

“The book aims to prompt readers to reflect on and rethink their ideas about women’s rights and where we are going 125 years on from that historic moment,” says Dr Bronwyn Labrum.

Events:

There is also a range of events taking place at Te Papa around and in the lead-up to the anniversary of Suffrage 125 including:

• Young Feminist Hui - Sat 15 September 10am-5pm, Te Huinga Centre, level 3, Te Papa, free
In collaboration with a team of young Wellington feminists from local high schools to discuss what the feminist landscape of modern Aotearoa looks like from a variety of different perspectives. To book your place visit: tepapa.govt/hui

• Exhibition tours and talks - throughout October 2018
Join us for a series of curator lead tours of Te Tohe mō ngā Take Wāhine / Doing It for Themselves: Women Fight for Equality.

• Kids Polling Booth - Sat 24 & Sun 25 November, free
To mark the day that women first voted in 1893, Te Papa invites young people and their whānau to participate in a Kids’ Polling Booth, in partnership with Barbarian Productions.

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