Kate Sheppard National Memorial, Suffrage memorial sculpture in Oxford Terrace, New Zealand.
Kate Sheppard National Memorial is a bronze and stone sculpture beside the Avon River in Christchurch that depicts six life-sized female figures. The composition includes relief panels showing scenes from daily life in the 1890s, documenting what people experienced before women gained voting rights.
Artist Margriet Windhausen created this sculpture in 1993 to mark one hundred years since New Zealand granted women the right to vote. The memorial honors a turning point in the nation's history when women first gained political voice.
The six figures represent women who fought for voting rights in New Zealand, with their names inscribed on stone panels that visitors pass by. People often stop here to reflect on how these women's determination changed the nation's path.
The memorial sits right beside the Avon River and is easy to reach on foot, with clear views from the nearby street. The informational panels are well positioned for reading and offer a good spot to pause in this quiet area.
A sealed time capsule inside the memorial contains newspapers and documents from 1993, preserving how women saw their own era. This hidden capsule is a direct message to future generations, waiting to be discovered after many years.
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