The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 was established by Royal Warrant on 1 July 1993. It was created to commemorate

Women's suffrage in New Zealand Women's suffrage in New Zealand was an important political issue in the late nineteenth century. In early colonial New Zealand, as in European societies, women were excluded from any involvement in politics. Public opinion began to change i ...

and to recognize those New Zealand and Commonwealth citizens who had made a significant contribution to women's rights or women's issues in New Zealand. The medal was only awarded in 1993.

Background

Women's suffrage in New Zealand was achieved by the passage of the Electoral Act 1893 on 19 September 1893. To commemorate the centennial of that event the medal was created. The medal served to recognize New Zealanders and other Commonwealth citizens who had made a significant or recognisable contribution to the rights of women or to women's issues within New Zealand. The medal was awarded to 544 men and women.

Design

The medal is circular, struck in bronze with an antique finish. The

obverse Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags, seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, ''o ...

depicts the crowned effigy of

Queen Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...

Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

. The reverse bears the inscription "1893 The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial 1993". The inscription is wreathed by a fern frond and a sprig of camellia foliage with a single flower. The stems of each are crossed and tied with a bow at the base. The medal is suspended from a ribbon 32 mm wide. The ribbon is purple with three narrow stripes of white, yellow, and white in the center. When worn by a woman the medal may be suspended by the ribbon shaped into a bow. The medal was designed by Phillip O’Shea,

CNZM The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for those ...

, CVO,

New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary is the officer of arms responsible for the regulation of heraldry in New Zealand. Although affiliated with the College of Arms in London, the New Zealand Herald lives and works in New Zealand, and is not ...

and was struck by the

Royal Australian Mint The Royal Australian Mint is the sole producer of all of Australia's circulating coins and is a Commonwealth Government entity operating within the portfolio of the Treasury. The Mint is situated in the Australian federal capital city of Canberr ...

Notable recipients

Jill Amos Jill Edwina Amos (née Turner, 26 August 1927 – 19 April 2017) was a New Zealand politician and community leader. Biography Born in the Auckland suburb of Devonport on 26 August 1927, Amos was the daughter of Charles Edwin Ross Turner and ...

– politician, activist *

Mary Batchelor Mary Dorothy Batchelor (née Foley, 7 January 1927 – 12 March 2009) was a New Zealand trade unionist, feminist and Labour Party politician. Biography Early life and career Batchelor was born in Christchurch in 1927, the elder of two daughter ...

– politician, advocate for women's equality *

Dorothy Buchanan Dorothy Buchanan can refer to: *Dorothy Donaldson Buchanan (1899–1985), first woman to join the Institution of Civil Engineers *Dorothy Buchanan (composer) Dorothy Quita Buchanan (born 28 September 1945) is a New Zealand composer and teacher. ...

– composer and teacher *

Helen Clark Helen Elizabeth Clark (born 26 February 1950) is a New Zealand politician who served as the 37th prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, and was the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017. She was ...

– politician *

Joy Cowley Cassia Joy Cowley (; born 7 August 1936) is a New Zealand author best known for her children's fiction, including the popular series of books Mrs. Wishy-Washy. Cowley started out writing novels for adults, and her first book, ''Nest in a Fal ...

– author *

Lowell Goddard Dame Lowell Patria Goddard, (born 25 November 1948) is a former New Zealand High Court judge, from 1995 to 2015. She is thought to be the first person of Māori ancestry to have been appointed to the High Court. In 1988, she was one of the fi ...

– jurist * Catherine Healy – sex workers' rights activist *

Annette King Dame Annette Faye King (née Robinson, born 13 September 1947) is a former New Zealand politician. She served as Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2011, and from 2014 until 1 March 20 ...

– politician *

Areta Koopu Dame Areta Koopu (née King; born 8 March 1941) is a New Zealand social worker and Māori activist. She was a member of the New Zealand Māori Council from 1987 to 1992, National President of the Māori Women's Welfare League from 1993 to 199 ...

– social worker and Māori activist *

Jenny Shipley Dame Jennifer Mary Shipley (née Robson; born 4 February 1952) is a New Zealand former politician who served as the 36th prime minister of New Zealand from 1997 to 1999. She was the first female prime minister of New Zealand, and the first woma ...

– politician *

Cheryll Sotheran Dame Cheryll Beatrice Sotheran (11 October 1945 – 30 December 2017) was a New Zealand museum professional. She was the founding chief executive of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and was credited with the successful completion of ...

– museum administrator *

Marilyn Waring Dame Marilyn Joy Waring (born 7 October 1952) is a New Zealand public policy scholar, international development consultant, former politician, environmentalist, feminist and a principal founder of feminist economics. In 1975, aged 23, she beca ...

– feminist, politician, and academic

References

External links

Obverse view of the medal
{{New Zealand honours lists Suffrage Centennial Medal Women's suffrage in New Zealand * 1993 in women's history