1940

1941

Women gained the right to sit in the Legislative Council, the appointed upper house of Parliament.

The Play Centre Movement began.

1942

The Women Jurors Act enabled women aged between 25 and 60 to have their names included on the Jury list if they so desired. This was amended in 1963 to include all women on the list with absolute right to withdraw, and later amended to make Jury conditions and responsibilities the same for men and women aged between 20 and 65.

1944

The Public Service Women's Committee was formed to campaign for equal pay.

Approximately 1,400 war brides left for the United States.

1946

The Universal Family Benefit was introduced with mothers receiving the benefit for each dependent child, irrespective of family income or property. In 1979, it doubled to $6 per week and in 1991 it was abolished.

Mary Dreaver and Mary Anderson became the first women appointed to the Legislative Council. Both served until the Council's abolition in 1950

Image: ATL 20149 © copyright conditions

1947

Labour MP Mabel Howard became New Zealand's First Woman Cabinet Minister. She served as Minister of Health and Minister in Charge of Child Welfare until Labour's defeat in 1949, then as Minister of Social Security in the 1957-60 Labour government

1948

The Apprentices Act was passed, specifically excluding women. The ban was not lifted until 1972.

1949

Labour's Iriaka Ratana became the first Māori woman MP, succeeding her deceased husband, Matiu, in the Western Māori seat.

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