One of our country’s most significant achievements - becoming the first in the world to give women the right to vote on 19 September 1893 - is officially marked by the Kate Sheppard National Memorial but the site is underwhelming and hard-to-find.
Te Whakaoranga is a project by volunteers to enhance the Kate Sheppard National Memorial site in Christchurch - and give this significant achievement the mana it deserves.
Our vision are objectives are to:
Strengthen the visibility and presence of the memorial in Ōtautahi Christchurch;
Expand the narrative to more fully acknowledge the contributions of wāhine Māori and other unsung heroes of social change;
Deepen public understanding of the suffrage movement and its ongoing relevance;
Create a welcoming space that invites more people into the memorial and encourages meaningful interaction; and,
Embed community voices and lived experiences into the design of the site.
