New Zealand women activists

Charlotte Dawson (8 April 1966 – 22 February 2014) was a New Zealand–Australian television personality. She was known in New Zealand for her roles as host of Getaway, and in Australia as a host on The Contender Australia and as a judge on Australia's Next Top Model. In 2014, her death by suicide attracted Australian-wide news coverage.

Dame Whina Cooper ONZ DBE (9 December 1895 – 26 March 1994) was a respected kuia (Māori elder), who worked for many years for the rights of her people, and particularly to improve the lot of Māori women. Her wide influence and nationally recognised activity led her to be acknowledged with awards in both the British (Imperial) and New Zealand Royal Honours Systems, and by her own people, who bestowed the title Te Whaea o te Motu ("Mother of the Nation") upon her.

Eliana Rubashkyn (born 25 June 1988) is a Colombian–born formerly stateless New Zealander, known internationally for being the first intersex person assigned male at birth legally recognised as a woman with a U.N. resolution under the international refugee statute. Rubashkyn is a pharmacist, chemist and polyglot; Eliana currently works as a nicotine harm reduction scientist and develops campaigns of support addressed to LGBTI asylum seekers, refugees and intersex persons in New Zealand.

Alice Mary Bush (7 August 1914 – 12 February 1974) was a pioneering New Zealand female physician, pediatrician and activist for family planning services and abortion access.

Jazz Thornton is a New Zealand mental health activist, author, speaker, TikToker and filmmaker. Thornton co-founded suicide prevention organisation, Voices of Hope, with eating disorder activist Genevieve Mora. Thornton has written three books: an autobiography Stop Surviving, Start Fighting, My Journey Starts Here, a guided journal for improving well-being, and Letters to you, a book of letters to provide support, information, encouragement and tips on practical help for anyone suffering low moments. The 2020 New Zealand documentary The Girl on the Bridge deals with her struggles with mental health. In the documentary, Thornton meditated on losing her friend Jess to suicide.

Cora Hilda Blanche Wilding MBE (15 November 1888 – 8 October 1982) was a New Zealand physiotherapist and artist, best remembered for her advocacy of outdoor activities and children’s health camps in the 1930s. She was instrumental in the founding of The Sunlight League in 1930, for which she held fundraising garden parties at "Fownhope", the Wilding family home in St Martins, Christchurch, and also the Youth Hostel Association of New Zealand in 1932. She had trained as a physiotherapist in Dunedin during World War I, and been introduced to youth hostels during her extensive European travels in the 1920s when she painted and studied outdoor activities.

Anna Paterson Stout, Lady Stout (née Logan; 29 September 1858 – 10 May 1931) was a social reformer working for women's rights in New Zealand and Britain.

Margaret Caro (born in Richmond, Nelson, 17 December 1848– died 19 May 1938) was a New Zealand dentist, social reformer, lecturer and writer. In 1881 she was the first woman to be listed on the Dentists' Register of New Zealand.

Aileen Anna Maria Garmson (née Douglas, later Wrack and then Cooke; c. 1863 – 30 May 1951) was a New Zealand trade unionist and political activist. She was born in County Cavan, Ireland in circa 1863.

Rhoda Alice Bloodworth (22 June 1889 – 23 December 1980) was a New Zealand labour activist, community worker and feminist. She was born in Skipton, Yorkshire, England on 22 June 1889.