Prohibition

Once women have the right to vote, from 1893, elections are commonly accompanied by referenda on alcohol prohibition. Although Māori were not allowed to vote in National Licensing Referenda until 1949, prohibition was something that Māori felt very strongly about. Āpirana Ngata enlisted the help of Ani Kahutawhiti to gather signatures and each woman who signed was given a prohibition ribbon – the OG white ribbon campaign for Māori communities. [i]