Kate Sheppard Memorial Award

The Kate Sheppard Memorial Award Trust was set up to establish an annual award to provide an opportunity for a woman to develop her potential by undertaking further education, study, research or training in areas which are of value in the community of New Zealand. 

The Trust was established by a group of Christchurch women, who were also responsible for the commissioning of the Kate Sheppard National Memorial which commemorates the 1993 centennial of women’s suffrage in New Zealand.

This award (amount set either annually or biennially depending on funds by the Kate Sheppard Memorial Award Trust Advisory Committee) is available to women holding NZ Citizenship or Permanent Residency who are undertaking a special project or post graduate study of value to the wider NZ community.  It is very rare for this award to be awarded for anyone studying for an undergraduate degree so consider very carefully whether you wish to apply if you are not either studying for a post graduate degree or are undertaking a special project that would be of interest to New Zealand.

The amount of the award for 2025 will be $3000 with applications opening on the 1st January 2025 and closing on the 30th June 2025.  Any applications received after that date will not be considered for the award.  

To get a copy of the Application forms please either e-mail (katesheppardtrust@gmail.com) or send a stamped self-addressed envelope to:

        Kate Sheppard Memorial Award Trust

        PO Box 29-516

        Riccarton

        Christchurch

Copies of all application forms are photocopied to all the members of the Advisory Trust so either send a copy of your application to the above email or post them to the address above (if you are able to send 8 copies it would be appreciated).  If posting a single copy, DO NOT STAPLE, PAST OR BIND it as it will need to be copied.  If copying can't occur then, unfortunately, your application will not be able to proceed.  Thank you.

To read more about Kate Sheppard and her fight for the vote for NZ Women then the NZ Edge web page is one of the better sites.

 The Committee

The Committee of the Kate Sheppard Memorial Award consists of representatives from the following organisations:

Christchurch City Council

National Council of Women

NZ Council of Trade Unions

Rural Women of New Zealand

YWCA

Perpetual Trustees

Contact Information:

        Karena Brown

        Chairperson

        katesheppardtrust@gmail.com

Friends of Kate Sheppard Memorial Trust      

Altrusa International - Christchurch Association of Anglican Women

Dame Adrienne Stewart Dame Alison Roxburgh

Dame Jenny Shipley Dr Karen Bailey

Joyce Wallace Judith Sutherland

Karen Middlemiss - in memory of Lois Middlemiss Liz Baxendine

Mayor Lianne Dalzeil Meadow Mushrooms

National Council of Women, Christchurch Branch Ruth Dyson

Soroptimists Christchurch Theresa Gattung

Zonta Club of Christchurch Canterbury