11. Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) Link to this
to the Minister of Women's Affairs
Why is the Ministry of Women’s Affairs celebrating Suffrage Day?
Hon PANSY WONG (Minister of Women’s Affairs) Link to this
On 19 September 1893 New Zealand women won the right to vote. Suffrage Day is New Zealand’s first “world first”. It shows that we are a progressive and fair people. We also changed world attitudes. Suffrage Day is an event that defines us a nation, yet we do little to celebrate this significant milestone. That is something we must change. New Zealanders can and should take pride in our achievements, and this is a significant one. I am determined to bring about enduring changes that will see Suffrage Day celebrations take their rightful place and become part of our national pride.
Louise UpstonWe will celebrate, and this year the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has organised a series of activities to raise public awareness of our country’s first “world first” achievement. First of all, a book on Māori women and the vote records the huge role that Māori women leaders played in the struggle for women’s rights. That resource was launched at an event in Auckland on Monday and is now on the ministry’s website. The original petition was signed by 32,000 people. Copies containing 23,853 signatures will be on display at the Wellington and Christchurch libraries. Wellington’s Civic Square also has some innovative footpath graphics that begin to tell the suffrage story. This evening women MPs will be joining women’s organisations and guests to continue our work for the well-being of women. I invite all MPs to wear the cool button I am wearing to celebrate women in our nation.
Sue MoroneyI very proudly point out the sculpture of camellias in the debating chamber. I understand that when Kate Sheppard’s petition was presented to the House, John—I am trying to remember the name; [ Interruption] it was not the Rt Hon John Key but his namesake—rolled out the petition of 28,000 names, it caused quite a stir. It must have been effective, because within a few months the all-male Parliament voted to allow women to participate in general elections, and every one of the 31 percent of my fellow MPs who—
Mr SPEAKERWhich of the following of her Government’s actions does she think is most worthy of celebrating on Suffrage Day this Sunday: the closure of the pay and employment equity unit, the widening pay gap between men and women, the obliteration of adult community education, the funding cuts to early childhood education, the cuts to counselling for victims of sexual abuse, or the scrapping of pay equity reviews for low-paid women?
Suffragettes like Kate Sheppard had a can-do, positive attitude. I tell you what: the National Government does the whole nation proud. The National Government had the first woman Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jenny Shipley, and this Shanghai-born migrant Asian woman made it to be the first—
A point of order has been called. [ Interruption] The House is having a bit of fun but it must obey the Standing Orders.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. What the Minister has to say is very interesting, but she is failing to address the question in any form. I asked her which of her Government’s actions she thought was most worthy of celebrating, and I gave her a list to choose from.
Members will know that when they give a list like that, Ministers may choose to give a different example of what they are celebrating, rather than pick from the member’s list. The Minister may not think any of those issues is worth celebrating, and there is no way I can stop the Minister from doing that. But I would ask the Minister to please be brief in her answer.
National’s vision for women is for us to have choices. That is why I choose to finish off by saying this Shanghai-born Asian migrant woman made it to be New Zealand’s first Asian Cabinet Minister, thanks to the National Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Key. We have a lot to celebrate—for migrants, for women, for everyone.