Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society

Last updated

The Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society was a benevolent society based in Onehunga, New Zealand. Initially established in 1863 to care for refugees of the Waikato War it was the oldest surviving women's organisation by the time of its disestablishment in 2017.

Contents

History

Matilda Furley, one of the founding members Photos 107028 extralarge.jpg
Matilda Furley, one of the founding members

Following a period of heightened tensions between the New Zealand government and Kingite Māori, many women and children evacuated European settlements south of Auckland. Many of these refugees wound up in Onehunga, where they were housed in substandard conditions in barracks. A meeting was held to discuss relief efforts and from that the Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society was formed in August 1863. [1] [2]

After the return of the refugees to their homes after the end of the Invasion of the Waikato in 1864 the society continued to exist. It focused mostly on the needs of destitute women and children. The society fundraised through concerts, soirées, and appeals to the public. [2] Originally meetings were held in the Anglican schoolhouse [3] and later at St Peter's Anglican Church. [2]

During the 19th century the society provided blankets, clothes, food, and money for small loans and rents to those in need, as well as providing widows with black dresses. The 20th century was similar with milk, fuel, groceries, and clothes being the most common items provided. [2]

The society struggled to meet demand during the Great Depression until the introduction of social security saw a steep reduction in their services. The society continued to shrink until after the economic reforms of the 1980s, where the society began to increase the amount of people they provided to. In 1992 most of those receiving support from the society were referred by other social welfare agencies, including the Department of Social Development. [2]

In 2007 the organisation was officially registered as a charity and was mostly providing food parcels. [2] In 2013 it was still making use of a grant bequested in 1917. [3] In 2017 it was deregistered for failing to file returns. By 2017 it was the oldest extant women's organisation in New Zealand. [2]

Notable members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onehunga</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Onehunga is a suburb of Auckland in New Zealand and the location of the Port of Onehunga, the city's small port on the Manukau Harbour. It is eight kilometres south of the city centre, close to the volcanic cone of Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Māngere</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Māngere is a major suburb in South Auckland, New Zealand, located on mainly flat land on the northeastern shore of the Manukau Harbour, to the northwest of Manukau City Centre and 15 kilometres south of the Auckland city centre. It is the location of Auckland Airport, which lies close to the harbour's edge to the south of the suburb.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Māngere Bridge (suburb)</span> Suburb of Auckland in New Zealand

Māngere Bridge is a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, under the local governance of the Auckland Council. Surrounded by the Manukau Harbour, the area is the most north-western suburb of South Auckland, and is connected to Onehunga in central Auckland by three bridges that cross the Māngere Inlet. Many features of the Auckland volcanic field are found in and around Māngere Bridge, including Māngere Mountain, a 106-metre-high (348 ft) feature in the centre of the suburb, and Māngere Lagoon, a volcanic tidal lagoon opposite Puketutu Island in the harbour. The suburb is also home to Ambury Regional Park, a working farm and nature sanctuary run by Auckland Council, that connects to the Kiwi Esplanade and Watercare Coastal walkways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Favona</span> Suburb in Auckland, New Zealand

Favona is a mostly industry-dominated suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, and is part of the Māngere area. The suburb is in the Manukau ward, one of the thirteen administrative divisions of Auckland city, and is under governance of the Auckland Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Māngere Mountain</span> Volcanic cone in Auckland, New Zealand

Māngere Mountain, also known by the names Te Pane-o-Mataaho and Te Ara Pueru, is a volcanic cone in Māngere, Auckland. Located within Māngere Domain, it is one of the largest volcanic cones in the Auckland volcanic field, with a peak 106 metres (348 ft) above sea level. It was the site of a major pā and many of the pā's earthworks are still visible. It has extensive panoramic views of Auckland from its location in the southeastern portion of the city's urban area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onehunga Branch</span> Branch line between Penrose and Onehunga in Auckland

The Onehunga Branch railway line is a section of the Onehunga Line in Auckland, New Zealand. It was constructed by the Auckland Provincial Government and opened from Penrose to Onehunga on 24 December 1873, and extended to Onehunga Wharf on 28 November 1878. It is 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) in length and is single-track only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women's suffrage in New Zealand</span>

Women's suffrage was an important political issue in the late-nineteenth-century New Zealand. In early colonial New Zealand, as in European societies, women were excluded from any involvement in politics. Public opinion began to change in the latter half of the nineteenth century and after years of effort by women's suffrage campaigners, led by Kate Sheppard, New Zealand became the first nation in the world in which all women had the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Theodore Haultain</span> New Zealand politician and botanist (1817–1902)

Theodore Minet Haultain was a 19th-century New Zealand politician and Minister of Colonial Defence (1865–69). He came to New Zealand as a soldier and farmed in south Auckland.

The Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps was formed in 1846, following the conclusion of the Northern War phase of the New Zealand Wars against Hone Heke. The Governor, George Grey, had requested military forces for the defence of the early settlers in New Zealand, and instead of supplying regular military forces the British parliament approved the creation of the Corps. Auckland, which had a population of 2,800 at the time, virtually doubled in size when the fencibles and their families disembarked.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annie Schnackenberg</span> Prominent member of womens suffrage movement in New Zealand

Annie Jane Schnackenberg was a New Zealand Wesleyan missionary, temperance and welfare worker, and suffragist. She served as president of the Auckland branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand 1887 to 1897, and national president for WCTU NZ from 1892 to 1901 – overseeing the final push for petitioning the government to grant women the right to vote in national elections. She also was a charter member of the National Council of Women of New Zealand.

Sarah Elizabeth Jackson was a New Zealand teacher, industrial school matron and manager, community leader.

Elizabeth George was a hotel owner, businesswoman and community leader in New Zealand. She was the founder and first president of Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society, one of the longest-running institutions of its kind with continuous public service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matilda Furley</span> New Zealand storekeeper, baker, butcher, hotel-keeper and community leader

Matilda Furley, was a New Zealand storekeeper, baker, butcher, hotel-keeper and community leader. She was one of the founders of the Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Ward (suffragist)</span> Prominent member of womens temperance movement in New Zealand

Anne Ward was the first national president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union New Zealand from 1885 to 1887, and a prominent member of the women's suffrage movement in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Tennant</span> New Zealand historian

Margaret Anne Tennant is a New Zealand historian, currently Professor Emeritus at Massey University.

The 1950 King's Birthday Honours in New Zealand, celebrating the official birthday of King George VI, were appointments made by the King on the advice of the New Zealand government to various orders and honours to reward and highlight the good works of New Zealanders. They were announced on 8 June 1950.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selwyn churches</span>

The Selwyn churches were a group of 19th-century Anglican churches and chapels in the Auckland region, New Zealand, named after Bishop Selwyn, who inspired their construction. The majority were built in wood in the neo-gothic style, and many were designed by the architect Frederick Thatcher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Te Puea Memorial Marae</span> Marae in Auckland, New Zealand

Te Puea Memorial Marae is a marae located in Māngere Bridge, Auckland, New Zealand. Opened in 1965, it was the first urban marae in Auckland, built for all Māori instead of a specific iwi, but in particular as a community centre for local urban Māori communities around Onehunga and Māngere, and for the Waikato Tainui iwi. The marae is named for Māori leader and relative of King Mahuta, Te Puea Hērangi, and is known by the proverb te kei o te waka o Tainui, as it is the northernmost marae associated with Waikato Tainui.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauku</span> Place in Auckland Region, New Zealand

Mauku is a settlement located 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Pukekohe in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Bride's Church, Mauku</span> Church in Mauku, New Zealand

St Bride's Church is an historic Anglican church in Mauku, New Zealand. Constructed in 1861 St Bride's was the first church in the Franklin area. It served as an important military outpost during the Invasion of the Waikato. The church was consecrated in 1885 and has a category 1 listing with Heritage New Zealand.

References

  1. 1 2 Mogford, Janice C. "Matilda Furley". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography . Ministry for Culture and Heritage . Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Tennant, Margaret; Else, Anne (2018). "Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society". New Zealand History.
  3. 1 2 Auckland Council’s Heritage Unit (December 2013). Onehunga Heritage Survey Report (PDF) (Report).

Further reading