September 19th is Suffrage Day – a day to commemorate the milestone of women gaining the right to vote, and to acknowledge the contributions of women who have fought to advance women’s rights and the betterment of our society.
If you're keen to celebrate, grab a friend and check out this list of amazing things that are happening across Aotearoa – including with our own NCWNZ branches and action hubs. Keep checking back regularly as we add more events around the motu!
NCWNZ BRANCH & HUB EVENTS
Christchurch
National Council of Women Waitaha Canterbury Branch - Annual Suffrage Day celebration
Saturday 19 September, 12–1pm,
Kate Sheppard Memorial, 159 Oxford Terrace
Cost: FREE
AUCKLAND AREA EVENTS
Suffrage Day celebration with Helen White MP
Saturday 19 September, 10:30am-12pm
Alberton - Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Auckland
Cost: FREE
Suffrage Day marks New Zealand's historic achievement as the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote in 1893.
In 2026, we celebrate the courage of those who fought for this change and reflect on the importance of participation, equality, and democracy in our communities today.
And at a time when this equality and participation are being systematically challenged, the legacy of the suffrage movement feels particularly relevant. The right to have a voice, to participate fully in our democracy, and to live free from violence and discrimination are things we should never take for granted.
We hope you can join us for this special occasion.
More information and registration here
Herstory - A quiz celebrating women, their stories, their impact
Hosted by Zonta Club of Ormiston
Saturday 19 September, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
The Park Community Centre (141 Chapel Rd, Flat Bush)
Cost: $15 per person (cash or EFTPOS available at the door)
Join Zonta Club of Ormiston in an afternoon of trivia, inspiration and community celebrating Suffrage Day and the remarkable women who have shaped our world.
RSVP by 12th September. Register your team of 6 people (we will help you find members if you don't have a full team)
WELLINGTON AREA EVENTS
Celebrating 133 years of The Women’s Suffrage Petition
Hosted by National Library Wellington
Friday 18th September, 10:30am-11:30am
Te Ahumairangi (ground floor), National Library, Wellington
Cost: FREE
Come along to the National Library Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to learn about the journey New Zealand women took to gain the right to vote and about the ongoing struggle for equal rights.
View the 1893 petition that led to the Electoral Act 1893, signed into law on 19 September 1893.
To celebrate Suffrage Day, join a 45-minute kōrero and tour of the 1893 Women’s Suffrage Petition — Te Petihana Whakamana Pōti Wahine.
Hear stories about wāhine toa like Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia (Te Rarawa) and suffragists Kate Sheppard, Ada Wells and maybe an ancestor of your own.
More info here (booking not required)
Why Women Matter in this Election and Beyond
Saturday 19th September, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Ocean Road Community Centre, 45 Ocean Road, Paraparaumu Beach
Cost: $5 (unwaged), $10 (waged) + booking fee
A panel discussion, including Allanah Clark, Fleur Fitzsimons and Tessa Mackay, and light kai / tea & coffee. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Sophie Handford, the Labour candidate for Kapiti.
More info here and tickets here
March for Suffrage Day
Hosted by NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi
Thursday 17th September, 12pm - 1pm
Midland Park, 155 Lambton Quay, Wellington
Cost: $5 (unwaged), $10 (waged) + booking fee
Kicking Down the Doors: Women in Parliament
Hosted by New Zealand Parliament
Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th September, times vary
Parliament, 1 Molesworth Street, Pipitea, Wellington
Cost: FREE
Our 60 minute suffrage-themed tour of Parliament celebrates the momentous occasions that have occurred throughout our parliament's history to secure representation and rights for women and gives an insight into how they came about.
Our suffrage-themed tour of Parliament celebrates momentous occasions and gives an insight into how they came about. Hear about the people and events that contributed to Aotearoa becoming the first country in the world where women won the right to vote, learn how our Parliament and society have continued to change since, and see some of the objects and artworks from the Parliamentary Collection, that celebrate suffrage and women in Parliament.
WHANGANUI AREA EVENTS
Creative Lettering Workshop
Hosted by Needle Felted Fairytales
Saturday 19th September, 1pm - 3pm
Women's Network Whanganui, Ladies' Rest Building, 75 St Hill Street
Cost: FREE
I am very excited to announce I am co-hosting a Creative Lettering workshop as part of the Suffrage Day Celebrations at the Women’s Network. I have been making and using positive affirmations as a way of flipping my script and empowering myself and changing my mindset, especially now that I am on my own. And now I get to offer this to other women to help flip their scripts. It doesn’t need to be an affirmation, it could be a favourite quote, a line from a favourite book, or whatever. But it’s going to be fun!
More info here (booking not required)
CHRISTCHURCH AREA EVENTS
Public Roles, Private Lives: John Hall and Kate Sheppard at home
Hosted by Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House
Sunday, 20 September, 1:30pm-3:30pm
Kate Sheppard House, Christchurch, and Terrace Station
133 Years of Suffrage: Two Homes, Two Stories
To mark the 133rd anniversary of women’s suffrage in Aotearoa New Zealand discover the story of Aotearoa New Zealand’s women’s suffrage campaign leaders from the homes of Kate Sheppard and Sir John Hall. This special two-part experience exploring the lives and remarkable political partnership of Kate Sheppard and Sir John Hall will be held on two consecutive weekends.
Follow the story from one historic home to another.
Tickets for the two experiences can be purchased separately, allowing you to attend one or both parts of this unique suffrage story.
Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House - from 1.30pm, 20 September 2026
Discover the woman who led the campaign and Sir John Hall, who led the campaign in Parliament, and hear of their lives, values and role in the suffrage campaign, presented by Helen Osborne and Kate Foster and then a tour through Kate Sheppard's home, the new suffrage exhibition and the acre of spring garden.
Ticket entry price: $15 + booking fee
Terrace Station - from 12pm, Sunday 27 September 2026
Hear more about the man who helped take the women's campaign into Parliament. The Terrace Station event begins with a BYO picnic in the garden, then a talk by Kate Foster at 1pm followed by a tour through the office and display areas.
Ticket entry price: $25 + booking fee
Get more info and tickets here
Public Roles, Private Lives: John Hall and Kate Sheppard at home
Hosted by La French Tech New Zealand
Thursday 17 September, 5pm - 8pm
VIP Suite, Parakiore, 50 Saint Asaph Street, Christchurch
Cost: $15 + booking fee
On the 19th of September, we will be celebrating the day women in New Zealand won the right to vote . Women in France had to wait until the 21st of April 1944.
Today, some women are still fighting to be recognized as leaders. Our role? Work on bridging this gap so everybody is equal in a job or in a board room. So we'll celebrate a couple of days early!
Delphine Ducaruge, board member of Tech NZ; Chloe Sabbadin, Co-President of La French Tech and founder of XO Recruitment; and Vanessa O'Brien, co-founder at Orbviz will talk about their journeys.
Networking, drinks and nibbles on the night!
Get more info and tickets here
ONLINE EVENTS
Celebrating Suffrage Day - From the Right to Vote to the Power to Lead in Corporate Aotearoa
Hosted by UN Women Aotearoa NZ
Friday 18 September, 12pm-1:30pm
Cost: $15.00 + $0.75 fee (General Admission)
In 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to grant women the right to vote. Today, that legacy challenges us to ask a new question:
How do we ensure women not only have a voice, but the opportunity to lead, influence and shape the future of corporate Aotearoa?
As organisations navigate workforce change, leadership succession, skills shortages and increasing expectations around diversity and inclusion, creating environments where women can thrive has become more than an equity issue, it is a strategic advantage.
This special Suffrage Day event brings together business leaders, current Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Signatories, governance leaders and organisations from across Aotearoa to explore how the legacy of women's suffrage continues to shape leadership today.
Find more information and book tickets here