Eden Park celebrates Suffrage 125 with Kiwi sportswomen

Eden Park is celebrating 125 years since women were given the right to vote by showcasing some of the leaders in our country’s female sporting history.

Aotearoa became the first self-governing country to grant women the vote on 19 September 1893, after a petition received almost 32,000 signatures. New Zealand’s national stadium is commemorating this by commissioning local artist Kate Hursthouse to create a mural to illustrate the successes of some of our most renowned sportswomen.

Included in the tribute are Yvette Williams (Track and field), Suzie Bates (Cricket and basketball), Farah Palmer (Rugby), Fiao’o Fa’amausili (Rugby), Ruia Morrison (Tennis), Dame Valerie Adams (Shot put) and Lisa Carrington (Kayaking).

Eden Park CEO Nick Sautner says, “The concept was created after watching the Black Ferns’ heroic victory last month at the Park. It’s important to celebrate the women who are pushing limits and breaking boundaries in both the professional and sporting worlds. Most of those featured in this piece have had long affiliations with our stadium.”

Local artist Kate Hursthouse lives near the Park and is currently working on ‘Our Wāhine’, an illustrated history of our extraordinary women in line with Suffrage 125, which sparked this opportunity.

“It’s great to have such an iconic venue in my local neighbourhood celebrate New Zealand sportswomen, acknowledge Suffrage 125 and additionally make these seven women a permanent feature of the stadium,” says Hursthouse.

This follows a number of art installations at Eden Park to ensure the stadium is utilised for not only cricket and rugby but all other recreational, musical and cultural events for the benefit of the public of the region.

The mural will be open for public viewing tomorrow, Wednesday 19th September, from 4.00-7.00pm when neighbours and Aucklanders are welcome to visit. Eden Park’s lights will also illuminate purple in honour of the event.

“My great grandmother signed the scroll to get women the vote and we all have the ability to celebrate a number of great New Zealanders as a legacy for generations to experience,” says Sautner.

The Ministry for Women is leading a range of celebrations to recognise New Zealanders from diverse cultural backgrounds that have contributed to progressing women’s rights.

#suffrage125 #whakatuwahine

ENDS

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