Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard House
Women’s fight to vote
Step into the home of Kate Sheppard, iconic leader of Aotearoa New Zealand’s women’s suffrage movement. Visit the museum to discover how Kate lived, worked, and campaigned, and enjoy the extensive peaceful gardens.
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The story
This gracious four-bedroom villa was the hub of the bold and subversive fight for women’s suffrage in Aotearoa. Kate Sheppard, charmingly persuasive and politically astute, coordinated the movement from her family home. Here she planned speeches and wrote vast numbers of letters, pamphlets and articles.
Supporters of the suffrage campaign also gathered here to discuss tactics. From her dining room, Kate collated the three large suffrage petitions – the last being the ‘monster petition’ of over 31,000 signatures, presented to the House of Representatives by Sir John Hall in 1893. This led to the passing of the landmark Bill, making Aotearoa New Zealand the first country in the world to give women the vote.
Motivated by a strong sense of fairness, and guided by her strong religious beliefs and personal experiences, Kate championed the vote so that women could be involved in decision-making. Kate’s organisational genius brought together the immense efforts of hundreds of women around New Zealand. She became an international icon, inspiring other suffragist leaders around the world.
In 2019 the property was purchased by the New Zealand Government. The name Te Whare Waiutuutu, inspired by the nearby Waiutuutu stream, was gifted to the property by Ngāi Tūāhuriri. The house and gardens are now cared for and operated by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
See and do
Visit the museum, which tells Kate’s story, as well as sharing women’s ongoing struggle for equal rights and social reform in Aotearoa. The knowledgeable staff provide tours which will deepen your understanding of the collections and exhibitions. Children will enjoy discovering the hidden displays and suffrage-era dress ups. Te Whare Waiutuutu Kate Sheppard house also offers a programme of events, talks and travelling exhibitions throughout the year in their function space.
Take time to explore the grounds, with a kitchen garden, generous lawns, tennis court and boundary with the Waiutuutu/Okeover stream.
Morning and afternoon teas are available in the serene Camellia Room, or in the garden.
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