Even though New Zealand was not founded until 1907, it has always been a pioneer in gender equality. The country helped lead the women’s suffrage movement and was the first country in Oceania to legalize same-sex marriage. New Zealand was also the first self governing country in the world to allow all women to vote in parliamentary elections when it was legalized in 1893, although they were unable to run for parliament until 1919.

Here are some women who made their mark around the world, and helped to shape New Zealand into the place it is today.

Helen Clark

**Former Prime Minister of New Zealand**
“When women are able to live in a space and secure environment, they can participate effectively and equally in society […] Every woman and girl has the right to live in safety in her home and community.”
Photo Credit: Britannica

Helen Clark was born in 1950, and became New Zealand’s first female prime minister in 1999. She went on to win three consecutive elections, and in 2008 she had become the country’s fifth longest-serving prime minister and the first Labour leader in the country’s history to win three consecutive elections. Before serving as prime minister, she was elected to Parliament in 1981 and served as chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee from 1984-1987. From 1989-1990 she was deputy prime minister, and in 1990 she became the first woman in New Zealand to be appointed to the Privy Council. When Clark lost her election for a fourth term, she decided to focus on international relations and earned the position of leader of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 to 2017. Throughout her career, she worked for peace and nuclear disarmament in addition to fighting for gender equality. With regards to the latter, she said, “When women are able to live in a space and secure environment, they can participate effectively and equally in society. [...] Every woman and girl has the right to live in safety in her home and community.” It was for this work that she was awarded the Peace Prize from the Danish Peace Foundation in 1986.

Georgina Beyer

The world’s first openly transgender mayor and Member of Parliament.
Photo Credit: Getty Images

Georgina Beyer was born in 1957, and in 1994 became the world’s first openly transgender mayor, governing in the rather conservative Wairarapa. She later went on to complete three terms as an elected Labour Party MP, thus becoming the first openly transgender Member of Parliament in the world. Before working in government, Beyer worked as a councilor, sex worker, screen actress, drag queen, and community leader. When Beyer ran for, and won, her position in the Wairarapa electorate she defeated Paul Henry, a conservative radio show host who openly called homosexuals “unnatural,” used slurs, and advocated for inhumane living conditions for immigrants. Throughout her time in politics, she championed LGBTQ+ causes such as the Civil Union Act of 2004 and Prostitution Reform Act of 2003. Though she is not currently working in politics, she continues to be a fearless supporter and fighter for LGBTQ+ rights.

Jacinda Ardern was born in 1980 and is currently the Prime Minister of New Zealand (elected in 2017 at the age of 37). She is the youngest female leader in the world. She is also the first Prime Minister to be welcomed into the grounds of the Waitangi, a group indigenous to New Zealand, and the first to march in Auckland’s gay pride parade. After growing up in the small town of Murupara and seeing “children without shoes on their feet or anything for lunch,” she was inspired to go into politics to help the lives of people like those in her hometown. Ardern was associated with the Labour Party from the age of 17 when she became involved with the reelection campaign for Harry Duynhoven; and at just 28 she entered the House of Representatives as its youngest member. In response to her critics that say, as a young female leader, she is too empathetic and therefore weak, Ardern says, “I refuse to believe that you can not be both compassionate and strong.” Throughout her career, Ardern has constantly advocated for women and minorities, fought for and succeeded in passing restrictions on firearms, and supported and advocated for the LGBTQ+ community. She has gained media attention in the past year for her swift attack on COVID-19, eliminating new cases in New Zealand by April of 2020 and lifting all restrictions except for those on border closures soon after. In February of 2021, Ardern announced that students across New Zealand will have access to free menstrual products beginning in June, making her country one of the first to do so.

Women’s History Month: Kiwi Women Who Have Made the New Zealand the Place it is Today