Onehunga has a proud legacy of women’s firsts in leadership, from the country’s first woman mayor to national political and educational milestones. This tradition of breaking barriers continues today.

Onehunga has long been a place of significance in New Zealand’s story, not just for its history but for the way it has repeatedly been a place of firsts for women.

Many people know that Kate Sheppard led the fight for women’s suffrage in New Zealand, but fewer realise that before women even had the right to vote, Elizabeth Yates was elected Mayor of Onehunga in 1893, becoming the first female mayor in New Zealand. Her appointment was a bold and unprecedented moment in political life and it happened right here in Onehunga.

Decades later, another milestone came with Sue Wood, who was Head Girl of Onehunga High School and later returned as a teacher. A teenage national swimming champion and proud alumna, Wood was a feminist and social liberal in her early 30s when she was elected President of the National Party in 1982. She became both the first woman and the youngest person to hold the role, despite opposition from the more conservative old guard. Her leadership helped modernise the party and opened the door for greater gender diversity in New Zealand politics. Her story is another example of Onehunga’s enduring legacy of producing principled and courageous women leaders.

Today, Onehunga High School continues this tradition. In 2023, Shameen Hayat was appointed as Principal, becoming the first woman of Pakistani descent to lead a secondary school in Aotearoa New Zealand. Raised in the United Kingdom by parents who both migrated from Pakistan, her journey reflects the changing face of leadership in New Zealand education. Her appointment represents the strength of our school’s diversity and our commitment to inclusion and equity.

Their achievements highlight Onehunga’s long-standing tradition of strong female leadership and a community that continues to support progress and possibility.