Honouring Hamilton's first women councillors

Hamilton City Council paid tribute to its first female councillors today when it officially unveiled portraits of the four pioneering women.

Relatives and representatives of Dame Hilda Ross, Dorothy Blomfield, Doris Menzies and Kathleen Braithwaite attended the ceremony. Mayor Julie Hardaker described the women as the city's first four female trail blazers.

"Each one of them had to push through a glass ceiling to take their place in the Council chamber in what, at the time, was a male dominated world," Mayor Hardaker says.  "For each of these women, their contribution to the city extended beyond the Council and into all spheres of the community."

Councillor and long-time Hamilton resident Cr Martin Gallagher says it is important not to forget the enormous contribution the four councillors made to the evolution of the city and community.

"Each, in their own right, has added to the rich fabric of our community and it is so important that they are not forgotten," he says. "It's good for current councillors and staff to be reminded of the wonderful contribution and vision that these four councillors had."

Hamilton's first female councillor was Dame Hilda Ross, who was elected to the Hamilton Borough Council in 1944. She was also the first woman Deputy Mayor. She resigned when she became a Member of Parliament, winning the seat for National in 1945 and becoming the second woman to represent the National Party.


Photo courtesy of Hamilton City Council

Dorothy Blomfield was a councillor from 1947 until 1971, making her Hamilton's longest serving councillor. She didn't contest the election in 1971. Mrs Blomfield is also well known for her close association with the Plunket Society.

Doris Menzies, OBE, was a councillor from 1953 to 1965. She was also Matron of Waikato Hospital from 1934 to 1952 and a board member for 15 years from 1953. She was also elected Chair of the Board in 1967, becoming the first woman to chair a large Hospital Board in New Zealand.

Nora Braithwaite (who was known by her middle name, Kathleen) was Hamilton's Mayoress from 1953-1959. She was elected to the Council three years later and served as Deputy Mayor until she retired in 1974. The family legacy carried on when her son David served as Mayor from 2001-2004.

The portraits of the women will hang in Committee Room 1 in the Council’s Municipal Building.