Our History

NCWNZ was formed in 1896 at a women’s convention in Christchurch and Kate Sheppard, who had led the campaign for women’s suffrage, was elected President. The International Council of Women (ICW) had been formed in USA in 1888 and it was from this that the New Zealand organisation took its name.

From the start, NCWNZ was an advocate on behalf of women in the home and in the workplace. The Council tackled key issues of the time including prison reform, capital punishment, and working conditions for women industrial workers.

During the early years, from 1896 to 1900, NCWNZ grew in size and influence, and policy was made through resolutions passed at conferences in the main centres.

Under President Margaret Sievwright of Gisborne (1901-1905), the government legislated to provide equal male and female grounds for divorce, old age pensions, protection for industrial workers and new adoption laws. The legal profession was opened to women, husbands were required to provide for their wives in their wills and technical schools were to be established throughout the country.

After NCWNZ went into recess during the early 1900s, an initiative to revive the Council came during World War I. By this time, a quarter of all women were in the workforce and the time was right to bring women’s issues to the fore again.

The new NCWNZ established branches around the country and by 1940 there were 14 branches nation-wide. Increasingly, NCWNZ co-ordinated women’s opinions and relayed them to the government. A large number of women’s organisations were founded and many of them joined NCWNZ branches.

In 1944, the NCWNZ conference had an important new feature; the attendance of presidents of seven nationally organised societies. This major change meant that from that time NCWNZ could tap into the expertise of those societies and respond to their particular concerns.

The post war years were quiet ones for NCWNZ, dominated by one over-riding concern – equal pay. In 1957, The Council for Equal Pay and Opportunity was formed. NCWNZ joined in this new organisation with major unions and some of its most influential affiliated societies.

During the late 1960s, President Mavis Tiller (1966-1970) moved NCWNZ into the modern era. The role of the Parliamentary Watch Committee was clarified in 1968 and it has played a key role ever since. NCWNZ’s most effective political action became the submissions made on most bills and many discussion papers.

Women were encouraged to seek membership of boards and organisations and the subject of equal pay was still a dominant issue.

As the 21^st century began, NCWNZ members identified three major issues: accessibility and affordability of education, mental health, and women in employment, particularly with respect to part time and casual work.

From 2004-2008, the public profile and exposure of NCWNZ was raised through increased dialogue with the media. During this period there was a focus on freedom from violence especially in respect of women.

Constitutional changes were made to increase the contribution from National Members and to provide for the legal framework to enable NCWNZ to register as a charity.

Today there are 22 branches nation-wide and, under the current leadership of National president Elizabeth Bang, the members of NCWNZ are as enthusiastic as the women who founded NCWNZ in 1896. They will continue to serve women, the family and the community through study, discussion and action at local, national and international levels.

These notes were made from "The National Council of Women: a Centennial History" by Dorothy Page. Auckland University Press with Bridget Williams Books, 1996