NZ women and their bicycles

A DigitalNZ Story by Jolisa Gracewood

Ladies of Aotearoa, enjoying the freedom and delight of two wheels since ages ago.

women, girls, ladies, bikes, bicycles, cycling

Image: Unidentified woman outside a wooden house, with a decorated bicycle with flowers, and a painted studio backdrop, probably Christchurch district

Unidentified woman outside a wooden house, with a decorated bicycle with flowers, and a painted studio backdrop, probably Christchurch district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Outdoors portrait of man holding a bicycle and a young girl with large hat is on a front handlebars wicker child carrier, probably Christchurch region

Outdoors portrait of man holding a bicycle and a young girl with large hat is on a front handlebars wicker child carrier, probably Christchurch region

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Safety bicycles

Safety bicycles

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Woman with decorated bicycle

Woman with decorated bicycle

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two ladies with bicycles

Two ladies with bicycles

Wairarapa Archive

Image: Woman cyclist in knickerbockers

Woman cyclist in knickerbockers

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Newspaper

Bicycling for Women. (Feilding Star, 24 December 1896)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: [Nurse Bessie McKay, with bicycle, Auckland Private Hospital]

[Nurse Bessie McKay, with bicycle, Auckland Private Hospital]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Hannah Hippolite and her bike

Hannah Hippolite and her bike

Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Image: [Nurse Bessie McKay, on bicycle, with Mr Hodson, Auckland Private Hospital]

[Nurse Bessie McKay, on bicycle, with Mr Hodson, Auckland Private Hospital]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Two members of the Curtis family on bicycles

Two members of the Curtis family on bicycles

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Outdoors portrait in front of false backdrop, an unidentified young woman with straw hat, black neck ribbon and a women's style bicycle, probably Christchurch region

Outdoors portrait in front of false backdrop, an unidentified young woman with straw hat, black neck ribbon and a women's style bicycle, probably C...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Outdoors portrait of unidentified young woman in a woollen jacket with shoulder pads and matching skirt, pearl necklace and straw hat, standing with a woman's bicycle in front of false backdrop, probably Christchurch region

Outdoors portrait of unidentified young woman in a woollen jacket with shoulder pads and matching skirt, pearl necklace and straw hat, standing wit...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Outdoors portrait with false backdrop, an unidentified woman in dark double breasted jacket with large white buttons and flowers, tie and straw hat, standing holding women's bicycle, probably Christchurch region

Outdoors portrait with false backdrop, an unidentified woman in dark double breasted jacket with large white buttons and flowers, tie and straw hat...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Some of the ladies who took part in the Auckland AA and CC opening run to Ellerslie

Some of the ladies who took part in the Auckland AA and CC opening run to Ellerslie

Auckland Libraries

Image: The first arrivals at Ellerslie

The first arrivals at Ellerslie

Auckland Libraries

Image: Flo and Adele Avery with the first two bicycles in New Plymouth

Flo and Adele Avery with the first two bicycles in New Plymouth

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The Atalanta Ladies' Cycling Club

The Atalanta Ladies' Cycling Club

Christchurch City Libraries

Image: The bicycle decorating competition, Te Awamutu Flower Show

The bicycle decorating competition, Te Awamutu Flower Show

Auckland Libraries

Image: The prize decorated bicycle

The prize decorated bicycle

Auckland Libraries

Image: A group of girl competitors in the decorated bicycle competition

A group of girl competitors in the decorated bicycle competition

Auckland Libraries

Image: Batchelor, Harling and Nock

Batchelor, Harling and Nock

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Unidentified women on a bicycle made for two

Unidentified women on a bicycle made for two

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Langridge, girl, Takaka

Langridge, girl, Takaka

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: Edith Marion Collier and E M Davis

Edith Marion Collier and E M Davis

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two girls on bicycles

Two girls on bicycles

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Looking along the north road, Clevedon, showing a woman resting....

Looking along the north road, Clevedon, showing a woman resting....

Auckland Libraries

Image: Group on bicycles

Group on bicycles

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified girl with bicycle outside a house, probably Christchurch district

Unidentified girl with bicycle outside a house, probably Christchurch district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified Cyclists on Heights Road, Christmas Day, 1913

Unidentified Cyclists on Heights Road, Christmas Day, 1913

Kete Horowhenua

Image: [Anahera Patara]

[Anahera Patara]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Woman and boy with bicycle

Woman and boy with bicycle

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Woman cyclist

Woman cyclist

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Female competitor in a cycle race, being assisted by a starter

Female competitor in a cycle race, being assisted by a starter

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Cock, Miss Maud

Cock, Miss Maud

Nelson Provincial Museum

Image: The First Lady Cyclist At The Kainga

The First Lady Cyclist At The Kainga

Auckland Libraries

Image: Women cyclists

Women cyclists

Auckland Libraries

Image: Griffiths family, including four on bicycles, probably Wanganui district

Griffiths family, including four on bicycles, probably Wanganui district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Woman Salvation Army officer

Woman Salvation Army officer

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Unidentified women with bicycles, probably in the Taranaki Region

Unidentified women with bicycles, probably in the Taranaki Region

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Bikes for district nurses

Bikes for district nurses

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: [Girls on bicycles]

[Girls on bicycles]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Evening Post" Photo. Girls who last Saturday launched the new Women's Saturday Afternoon Cycle Club by a picnic trip on wheels from Wellington to Eastbourne and back. This photograph ivas taken at Petone on the way out. (Evening Post, 23 December 1939)

Evening Post" Photo. Girls who last Saturday launched the new Women's Saturday Afternoon Cycle Club by a picnic trip on wheels from Wellington to E...

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Paddy Johnson with pennyfarthing bicycle

Paddy Johnson with pennyfarthing bicycle

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Newspaper

BICYCLE THEFT (Evening Post, 23 July 1942)

National Library of New Zealand

Image: Four people on one bicycle in Courtenay Place, Wellington

Four people on one bicycle in Courtenay Place, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Two Unidentified Women Cyclists

Two Unidentified Women Cyclists

Kete Horowhenua

Image: 'Off to Brownies on the bike', Papatoetoe, 1948.

'Off to Brownies on the bike', Papatoetoe, 1948.

Auckland Libraries

Image: Cyclists at Woolpack and Textiles

Cyclists at Woolpack and Textiles

Kete Horowhenua

Image: Pupils of Palmerston North Intermediate Normal with their bicycles

Pupils of Palmerston North Intermediate Normal with their bicycles

Palmerston North City Library

Image: Mrs Lock, postwoman

Mrs Lock, postwoman

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: A student riding a stationary bike at Kimi Ora School for children with special needs, Thorndon, Wellington

A student riding a stationary bike at Kimi Ora School for children with special needs, Thorndon, Wellington

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Family gathering, 1959

Family gathering, 1959

Auckland Libraries

Image: Janet Gosse in the women's road cycling time trials

Janet Gosse in the women's road cycling time trials

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Dinah, March 1953

Dinah, March 1953

Auckland Libraries

Image: Women cyclists, Bobbie Bolland, Mary Gosse, Joy Williamson, Bev Hefford, Janet Gosse

Women cyclists, Bobbie Bolland, Mary Gosse, Joy Williamson, Bev Hefford, Janet Gosse

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sheryll Banks

Sheryll Banks

Puke Ariki

Image: Children playing with bicycle, possibly at Huntly

Children playing with bicycle, possibly at Huntly

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Untitled [man on bike with woman on his shoulders]

Untitled [man on bike with woman on his shoulders]

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Dick Armstrong, second-hand dealer, and Dylan, Jervois Road

Dick Armstrong, second-hand dealer, and Dylan, Jervois Road

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Girls with Sprint bicycle

Girls with Sprint bicycle

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Child on a tricycle, possibly in the Avalon area of Lower Hutt

Child on a tricycle, possibly in the Avalon area of Lower Hutt

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Healing

Healing

MOTAT

Image: BMX race, Papakura, 1986.

BMX race, Papakura, 1986.

Auckland Libraries

Image: Kyleen Russell, 7, wins a bike in a New Zealand Life Insurance Hutt Valley colouring competition.

Kyleen Russell, 7, wins a bike in a New Zealand Life Insurance Hutt Valley colouring competition.

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: English Learning and Social Group; Maureen Wilson with second-hand bikes for migrant families.

English Learning and Social Group; Maureen Wilson with second-hand bikes for migrant families.

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Viti Olds, planning to repeat a cycle ride to Petone on her 79th birthday.

Viti Olds, planning to repeat a cycle ride to Petone on her 79th birthday.

Upper Hutt City Library

Image: Andrea

Andrea

eqnz.chch.2010

Image: K gets her bike back

K gets her bike back

Aotearoa People's Network Kaharoa