Kate Sheppard (New Zealand)

Kate Sheppard was a prominent New Zealand suffragist and social reformer who championed women’s rights in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She played a key role in organizing petitions and advocating for women’s right to vote, which culminated in New Zealand becoming the first country to grant women the vote in 1893. Sheppard’s efforts significantly advanced gender equality and social justice. Her leadership and activism made her a national hero, and she remains a symbol of women’s empowerment and democratic progress in New Zealand.