On 19 September 1893 Aotearoa became the first self-governing country in the world where women could vote. But the road to get there was anything but smooth. So… How did it happen? Well that’s a wild ride from the French Revolution, through the colonisation of Aotearoa, to battles over booze, to ultimate victory. In this episode we discuss: - How New Zealand's first parliamentary election had far more liberal voting rights than in the UK. - The role of Māori women in decision making before colonisation. The global suffrage movement. - The rise of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and the role debates over alcohol played in the battle for suffrage. - The story of Kate Sheppard and her allies in the campaign for suffrage. - The story of Māori suffragists including Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia. -- For more on this subject: A History of New Zealand Women by Barbara Brookes. Women's Suffrage in New Zealand by Patricia Grimshaw. Women and the Vote - NZHistory.govt.nz: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/womens-suffrage Voting Rights - Te Ara Encyclopaedia: https://teara.govt.nz/en/voting-rights

Take a voyage through the history of New Zealand with The Aotearoa History Show from RNZ - a part-animated web-series that travels all the way through from 100 million years ago to the modern day, capturing the highlights of our nation’s story. Fourteen short, sharp episodes dissect the what, when, how, and (most importantly) why of our past. Co-presented by RNZ's Maori Issues Correspondent Leigh-Marama McLachlan and William Ray from the smash hit Black Sheep podcast, it’s an accessible and entertaining tale perfect for history newbies and history buffs alike. [YouTube, 2019] The story of New Zealand and its people from its geological origins to modern day, hosted by William Ray, Māni Dunlop and Leigh-Marama McLachlan, with animation by Chris Maguren. [Radio New Zealand, 2019-2022]