Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU)

Image : Map of WCTU petitions

Map showing some women’s signatures of the WCTU petitions, the year they signed and the place where they signed. [National Archives]

Throughout the nineteenth century in Europe, America and other nations, there was a growing interest in the rights of women. As early as 1869, a pamphlet advocating women’s political rights had been published by Mary Muller in New Zealand. However the issue was not taken up in an organised way until the establishment of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). This organisation wanted to control the use of alcohol which it believed was the cause of many social and economic problems for women and children.

Branches of WCTU were set up from 1884, and from 1886 the organisation lobbied for the parliamentary franchise. By 1890 many members of the WCTU had widened their goals and saw the vote as an issue of justice: an ordinary right that women were entitled to as citizens of the state, as well as a means of achieving far reaching social reforms including equal opportunities in employment and education.

It is not known exactly when Māori women first became involved with the WCTU, but those concerned about alcohol abuse had been joining the temperance movement from the 1870s.

Māori women’s signatures have been found on the national franchise petitions of 1892 and 1893. These were initiated by the WCTU to demonstrate to the Government that significant numbers of women wanted the vote. Herewaka Poata (Porter) of Kaiti Hill (Gisborne) signed the 1892 petition as did Louisa Matahau of Turua (Hauraki). Matilda Ngapua of Napier and Mrs M Rangiora of Rangiora who both signed the 1893 petition could also be Māori. Other Māori women signed using European names, eg, Jane Driver of Purakanui, Mary Cross of Bluff Harbour and Mary Bevan of Otaki. It appears that all the Māori women who signed had Pākehā connections.

Image: Cartoon

Māori and Pākehā women were considered to face similar problems as a result of the use of alcohol by their menfolk. Women argued that if men who were drunkards would vote, sober and thoughtful women should not be denied the privilege. [New Zealand Graphic]

Cartoon reads: 'You permit this gentleman to influence your election, you surely might allow me to have a voice in the matter too'

Image 16: Herewaka Porourangi Poata – 1845-1904

Herewaka Te Rangipaea was born at Tokomaru Bay in 1845 and inherited the title of ArikiTapairu. Her mother was Mereana Tongia and her father was the Ngāti Porou rangatira Tamaiwhakanehua i te Rangi. As a young woman in the 1860s, she is said to have played a leading role in fighting off a Hauhau attack. In 1873 she married Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Porter. They are known to have had at least eight children. Several of them had outstanding talents. The eldest Fanny Rose, born in 1868, was later to become a well known singer under the name of Princess Te Rangi Pai. One of her sons, Tame Poata, was widely recognised for his skill as a tohunga moko.

Herewaka held a prominent position in the Māori world and achieved a similar status in Pākehā society. She was noted for the standard of her entertaining, in Gisborne when her husband served as mayor, and in Wellington when he held military office.

Herewaka’s signature has been found on the 1893 women’s suffrage petition. She signed at Kaiti Hill near Gisborne.

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