Do you know any New Zealand heroes? Normally you would think of a New Zealand sports team, a rugby player or a sailor but one of New Zealand’s real heroes is Kate Sheppard – the woman on the ten dollar note. Although she was born in Liverpool England, she immigrated to New Zealand when in her twenties and played a huge part In gaining equal rights for New Zealand. She is my hero because she has all the values I want in a hero like integrity, bravery and she didn’t give up. 

Kate Sheppard is my favourite hero because she helped women get seen and get the vote. She had a really hard life On the tenth March 1910 her only son Douglas passed away. Then Kate’s husband Walter died on 24 July 1915 in their bathtub. On 15 August 1925 age 78 Kate was married to William Sidney Lovell-Smith. After four years of marriage William died. Soon after her only grandchild passed away on 13 July 1930. Four years later 1934 Kate died in her home and was buried in Addington cemetery alongside her mother, brothers and sister.

 Overall Kate Sheppard was a remarkable woman who had a huge impact on women’s lives. She was a really intelligent woman who believed in justice and fairness. NZ became the first country to let women vote and all thanks to Kate Sheppard.