Anne Stenhouse

Many years ago I undertook the somewhat laborious task of going through every council minute book since 1882 noting the names of elected mayors and councillors. [i] In the one-hundred and forty-years since the town’s first election, residents of Tauranga have had the opportunity to fill 764 council positions. [ii] It may come as no surprise to learn that women have held only 48 of those positions - this equates to just 6 percent. Indeed, it took forty-four elections before the first woman sat at the council table.

Anne T. Stenhouse, Tauranga's first woman councillor (1944-1950), with Sir Donald Cameron at City Council Conference, c1940s
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library, Photo 04-159

Mrs Anne T. Stenhouse has the distinction of being the first woman to serve on the Tauranga Borough Council and it is amazing to me that her name is not better known. Born in Invercargill in 1891 to Irish parents, Teresa and John Lopdell, Anne (christened Annie Teresa) went on to become a sole charge teacher in the Otago region until her marriage to James S.J. Stenhouse in 1923. As the wife of a doctor her accepted role was to support her husband’s career and raise their four children. However, Anne’s desire to serve her community is evident as she was elected President of the South Otago Plunket Society and was Commissioner of Girl Guides in that district. [iii]

Photo 07-249 Tauranga District Federation of Women's Institutes. Back left to right: Mrs Pemberton, Mrs Cooper, Mrs NcNaughton, Mrs Stenhouse, Mrs Christie, D. Miller. Front: Betty Francis, Mrs Lloyd, Mrs Paterson (Dominion President), Miss Fielder, Mrs Denniston. Original from Miss E. J. McNaughton. Circa 1940s

After six years in Katikati, and a stay in Tahiti, the Stenhouse family arrived in Tauranga in 1938. Mrs Stenhouse quickly established herself within several local organisations including the Tauranga branch of the Federation of Women’s Institutes to which she was elected President. [iv] During the Second World War she helped to set up a District Committee of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary and was its first ‘Chairman.’ [v]

Postcard view of the Town Hall, corner of Wharf and Willow Streets, Tauranga. The location of the Tauranga Borough Council Offices. Image courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, 0250/09

In September 1943 her view on the role women could play in politics was expressed at a thanksgiving service celebrating women’s franchise held in the Town Hall [vi]:

“Mrs Stenhouse spoke on “The Future.” This was, she said, to be thought of in relation to the tremendous problems arising in regard to the new world order to be established after the war. Women had to take their share in all this implied and their contribution would have to be a worthy one. A rousing call to face the calls that would be made and an idealistic appeal to all women for the vision necessary in planning for the future of generations unborn.” [vii]

A year later, her election to the Tauranga Borough Council provoked little comment. [viii] At the first council meeting held after the election the Bay of Plenty Times reported that new councillors were welcomed by Mayor Wilkinson and ‘particular reference to Cr. Stenhouse to whom went the honour of being the first woman to have ever sat on council.’ [ix] Anne Stenhouse went on to serve for two terms.

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[i] On 15 March 1882 the first Borough Council elections were held in Tauranga. Tauranga City Council holds minute books from 1882 onwards. These are available to the public by contacting the Council.

[ii] This includes additional positions created by resignations and deaths. The number of council positions has also fluctuated over time.

[iii] Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14516, 10 November 1947, Page 3

[iv] Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 13021, 27 April 1940, Page 6

[v] Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13255, 4 February 1941, Page 1

[vi] On 19 September 1893 the governor, Lord Glasgow, signed a new Electoral Act into law giving New Zealand women the right to vote. In September 1943 celebrations were held around the country to mark the occasion.

[vii] Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13264, 30 September 1943, Page 7. It is also important to note that Anne was Vice-President of the Tauranga Branch of the National Party at the time of her election.

[viii] She received 1280 votes making her ‘second on the list of successful candidates’.

[ix] Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13474, 10 June 1944, Page 2