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Voting Rights History

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Voting Rights History

Read the history notes, then solve the timeline clues and explain your thinking. Use evidence from the notes in your answers.

How voting rights changed in Aotearoa New Zealand

In the 1800s, voting rules excluded many people. In 1867, Māori men could vote for representatives in four special Māori electorates. In 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing country to extend national suffrage to women. Campaigners, including Kate Sheppard, gathered signatures and argued that women should have a say in decisions affecting their lives. Women could stand for Parliament from the year represented by 1900 + 19; Elizabeth McCombs became the first woman elected to Parliament in 1933. The voting age was lowered from 21 to 20 in 1969, then from 20 to 18 in 1974. Today, most people aged 18 or older who meet enrolment requirements can vote in general elections. The story of voting rights shows that rules can change when people organise and make their voices heard.

Trace the milestones

Use the timeline to compare the dates in the history notes.

1.Which statement best describes the change in 1893?

Women won the right to vote in national elections.
Women were first elected to Parliament.
The voting age was lowered to 18.
Māori men first voted in Māori electorates.

2.According to the notes, what voting opportunity did Māori men gain in 1867?

3.Put these events in chronological order by writing 1–4 beside each: women could stand for Parliament; Māori men could vote in Māori electorates; the voting age became 18; women won the right to vote.

4.Fill in the missing year: women could stand for Parliament from .

5.True or false? Elizabeth McCombs was the first woman elected to Parliament in New Zealand.

TrueFalse

6.The voting age changed from 21 to 20 in 1969, then to 18 in 1974. How many years passed between those two changes?

7.The notes say campaigners gathered signatures and argued for change. Give one reason why gathering signatures might help a campaign.

8.A classmate says, “Women could vote as soon as they could stand for Parliament.” Use two dates from the notes to correct this idea.

9.Choose one milestone from the notes. Explain who gained a right or opportunity, what changed, and why that change could matter to people.

10.The notes explain that voting rules changed over time. What is one question you would ask to investigate whether voting is fair for everyone today?

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Year 10

Voting Rights History

Voting Rights History

How voting rights changed in Aotearoa New Zealand

Trace the milestones

2 printable pages

About This Worksheet

Free in Kuraplan

Print-Ready

AI-Generated

For Teachers & Parents

Need a custom version of this worksheet?

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