Who is Kate Sheppard and What Would She Think?

For immediate press release

Media Release:

Who is Kate Sheppard and What Would She Think?

The New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW NZ) asks the question of all New Zealanders, who is Kate Sheppard and what would she think?

Kate Sheppard and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union obtained a 766-foot-long (233.50 metre-long) petition, with 32,000 signatures and presented it to the members of both Houses of Parliament in 1893. This was the largest signed petition of the day, its affect resulted in the success of the NZ Electoral Act, 19 September 1893 for all women over 21 years old in New Zealand to vote, the first of its kind worldwide.

“This was the first step to give women some say in the nation's decision making, says Carolyn Savage, President, BPW NZ.

“But the quote by Kate Sheppard to the National Council of Women (NCW) 1902 can be still a reality today….

"The crudity and unfairness of the present method of election. . . still goes on sending men to Parliament for whom only a minority of their constituents have voted, leaving the majority quite unrepresented. As a representative system, it is a sham, a delusion and a snare to the unthinking."

“Women make up over 60% of those graduating from tertiary institutions, 49% of the workforce and 51% of the population, so we should have a more balanced representation on Boards and in leadership roles both in the public and private sectors.

“There are companies that are now making the standard to bring a balance to leadership and direction of management, but it is a slow process.

“The UN Women and UN Global Compact initiative, Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEP’s) has taken off in NZ since it's launch here in February.

“Along with UN Women Aotearoa New Zealand, Dr Judy McGregor EEO Commissioner, Human Rights Commissioner and the EEO Trust, BPW NZ would like to think Kate Sheppard would support this initiative.

“We think its fitting that in the same week we have celebrated Kate Sheppard's achievments with Suffrage Day, that we welcomed the newest WEP’s signatories of the CEO Statement of Support, Methanex NZ Ltd and Kiwi Bank,” says Mrs Savage.

ENDS

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