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1344 days ago

1933: 'A red-letter day for women'

Jake Kenny Reporter from Community News

Hey neighbours,

Did you know...

“Although New Zealand is believed to have been the first country in the world to give women the right to sit in Parliament, it is one of the few which have consistently refused to elect a woman to its national assembly,” The Press wrote on September 14, 1933.

“Legislation permitting women to stand for Parliament was introduced in 1919 by the then Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, and subsequently passed.”

Lyttelton MP Elizabeth McCombs​ had just shattered that glass ceiling after a by-election, becoming New Zealand’s first woman MP.

She had previously run as the Labour candidate in Kaiapoi and Christchurch North and became the Lyttelton candidate in a by-election after the death of her husband, James, who had held the seat since 1913.

The Press noted that “Mrs McCombs’s majority is larger than any Mr McCombs secured during his whole 20 years in Parliament”.

The Press reported from a packed Returned Soldiers’ Association Hall in Lyttelton.

“‘This is the proudest moment of my life,’ said Mrs McCombs, ‘but yet one of the saddest. You all know that my husband wished more than anything else on earth that I should sit in Parliament, and we had both hoped we should sit there together. I cannot help feeling a tinge of bitterness that it was not to be.’

McCombs died before the 1935 election, and was succeeded by her son, Sir Terence McCombs, who held the Lyttelton seat until 1951.

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More messages from your neighbours
13 minutes ago

Tutu

The Team from Humans of Christchurch Ōtautahi

“I’m from Tamaki Makaurau. I have a good job with Riverside market. I am security, and we need this area nice and clean. We don't want dirty things everywhere, like rubbish.

I like Christchurch because there's lots of entertainment, lots of people, all loving, give me aroha, tautoko mai. Kia kaha, be strong.”

I've been a hustler for 18 years now. I'm a lover, I'm a hustler. I'm in here to entertain Christchurch, all around Christchurch. I'm a busker and I'm an entertainer.”

- Tutu

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4 days ago

Poll: Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

An Auckland court has ruled a woman doesn’t have to contribute towards the cost of fixing a driveway she shares with 10 neighbours.

When thinking about fences, driveways or tree felling, for example, do you think all neighbours should have to pay if the improvements directly benefit them?

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Should all neighbours have to contribute to improvements?
  • 82.5% Yes
    82.5% Complete
  • 14.8% No
    14.8% Complete
  • 2.8% Other - I'll share below
    2.8% Complete
1627 votes
8 hours ago

Riddle Alert! Who’s Up for Some Brain-Busting Fun?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

4-letter word, always done tomorrow,
We’re out of tea, the ultimate sorrow!
Without the eye, you owe me some money,
No sugar no nectar no sweetness no honey,
4-letter word, if by chance you choose,
You can never win, you can only lose!
What is the 4-letter word?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

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