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Story: Women’s movement

Women being served in a men-only bar

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Women being served in a men-only bar

Women activists order food in a men-only bar at Wellington's New City Hotel, in 1970. Inside the bar, it was clear that 'men only' meant 'no women patrons' – women bar staff were acceptable. In this case, the women were allowed to have lunch. Whether all pub liberations were accepted so easily is not known – the presence of a newspaper photographer may have prevented regulars who objected from speaking up.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1970/3762/16

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Megan Cook, Women’s movement – The women’s liberation movement, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/27910/women-being-served-in-a-men-only-bar (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by Megan Cook, published 7 April 2011.