In Dec 1942, Mabel was selected as Labour's candidate for Christchurch East by-election (the only woman of 9 nominees)

She had been a Christchurch City Councillor (1933-35, 1938-41)

On 6 Feb 1943, Mabel won the Christchurch East by-election, held following death of MP Tim Armstrong

She won by a majority of 1,981. The other 4 candidates were: Democratic Labour, National, and two Independent

On 25 Feb 1943, Mabel gave her first speech to the House of Representatives and received a round of applause

She remarked with a smile, "It's not such a frightening ordeal as I thought it would be."

On 27 Nov 1946, Mabel won the new Sydenham electorate with the highest majority of votes in all electorates

She retained the Sydenham seat until retiring in 1969

On 29 May 1947, Mabel was formally sworn in as Cabinet Minister after winning the Labour Caucus vote on 13 May

She was appointed Minister of Health, Minister in Charge of Mental Hospitals, & Minister in charge of Child Welfare

Between 1949 - 1957, Labour were in opposition & on the backbenches

(Photo: 5 Dec 1949: Mabel seated fourth on right during Labour Cabinet Ministers' meeting before leaving office)

18 April 1894: Mabel Bowden Howard was born to Edwin John Howard (1869-1939) & Harriett Garard (née Goring) (1889-1903)

Mabel was the second of three daughters - Adelaide, Mabel & Elsie - and they lived in Bowden, Adelaide

Mabel's father was born Edwin John Harney in Bristol, England and took name of Edwin (Ted) John Howard in 1891

After joining Royal Navy, he travelled to NZ where he met Harriet who was born in England & brought up in Christchurch

Mabel's parents married on 12 Feb 1889 & lived in Christchurch and in Adelaide where their three daughters were born

Her father worked in mining & metal industries in Sth & West Australia & became an Australian Smelting Company foreman

In 1903, after her mother died in Adelaide, Mabel sailed to Christchurch with her father & sisters aboard the 'Moeraki'

They stayed with their mother's parents whilst their father looked for work

Mabel attended primary school in New Brighton & her father became school committee chairman

Her father eventually bought land & built a house in New Brighton at 71 (later 147) Pages Road

From 1908-1910, Mabel studied at the Christchurch Technical College. Her 1st job was a typist at Labour Dpt's offices.

She had studied commercial subjects, including shorthand, at the Christchurch Technical College which opened in 1907

In 1908, Edwin became the organiser of the Canterbury General Labourers' Union & would preside over meetings

Edwin also began supporting the New Zealand Socialist Party (became Labour Party in 1916) & Mabel would go to rallies

Although just a young teen, she would recite socialist poems from a soapbox in Cathedral Square

When aged 15, Margaret became a member of the Socialist Party whilst studying at the Christchurch Technical College

Other members included James & Elizabeth McCombs (who became NZ's first female MP in 1933)

Edwin became columnist "the Vag" for adults & "Uncle Ted" for children for 'Maoriland Worker' edited by Robert Ross

It was taken over by New Zealand Federation of Labour & Ted became Chairman of Board of Directors from 1913-1915

In 1911, Mabel joined Canterbury General Labourers' Union as office assistant. (Edwin was Union's organiser since 1908)

In 1911 elections, Edwin stood for Christchurch South electorate as the Socialist Party's candidate, coming third

He became the Socialist Party's national president in 1912

In 1917, Edwin was elected as a member of the Christchurch City Council. His terms of office were 1917-1919 & 1923-1925

In 1919, Edwin was elected for Labour to the Christchurch South electorate. Mabel was his unpaid political assistant.

She was said to have refused marriage proposals because of her political support activities for her father

From 1921 to 1926, Edwin (also became known as Ted) became the Labour Party's junior whip

He advocated for universal right to education, wage arbitration & NZ's administration of its Pacific Island territories

Mabel was also a board member of the Christchurch Drainage Board & North Canterbury Hospital Board

Her father was also a board member of various organisations, including chairman of Lyttleton Harbour Board, 1934-1936

1935: Mabel was one of 3 women mentioned as a possible candidate for the Lyttelton seat in the general election

Several women in Labour movement wanted the seat to be won again by a woman & to be retained for Labour by a woman

Labour won 1935 election, Edwin retained Christchurch South. He was disappointed at not being offered Cabinet position.

However, he accepted the position of Chairman of Committees from 1 April 1936 to 20 Sept 1938.

After her father's death in 1939, Mabel explored religion, including Anglican faith, & her own spirituality

She joined the Rosicrucians briefly; then served for many years on the vestry of St Chads parish at Linwood

Following outbreak of WWII, Mabel became the organiser of the Canterbury Women’s War Service Auxiliary

She was also chair of the Christchurch Women’s Active Service Club, & a member of the district rehabilitation committee

Mabel was also a supporter of the St John Ambulance Association

For Feb 1943 by-election in Christchurch East, Mabel selected as Labour candidate, following death of M.P. Tim Armstrong

She also retained the seat at the 1943 general election, becoming the first woman MP to be re-elected

On 25 Nov 1943, Mabel was selected as the national secretary for the New Zealand Federated Labourers' Union

The selection, which was a first for women, was held during the Union's national conference

In 1947, Mabel was appointed Minister of Health & Minister in charge of Child Welfare (NZ's 1st female Cabinet Minister)

In this film clip, she talks about her appointment to Cabinet, which she saw as an honour for all NZ women (59 secs)

10 May 1948: Mabel opening new wing of Waimate Hospital in her Cabinet minister role as Minister of Health

1956: Mabel with 'Davy Crockett' coonskin caps

6 May 1958: Delegates at the Labour Party conference, Wellington Town Hall

Jan 1959: Mabel with singer Johnny Devlin

Mabel dancing at a rock and roll teenage jamboree with the teenage idol Johnny Devlin attracted media attention

(Mabel was also a patron of the Christchurch Teenage Club)

1959: Tour of Crown Lynn factory

29 May 1959: Packing suitcases prior to departure in the 'Rangitoto' for the UK as guest of Parliamentary Association

10 March 1960: Mabel in her new house in Karori, Wellington

Mabel kept open house every Sunday – a forerunner of electorate clinics

In 1963, Mabel was re-elected to Sydenham when Labour was in opposition

In 1966, Mabel was re-elected to Sydenham when Labour was still in opposition

(Photo: Labour MPs at the opening of a new session of Parliament, 26 May 1966)

In 1969, Mabel retired aged 75 after Labour Party introduced mandatory retirement age of 70 for members

She was in declining health, suffering the early stages of dementia as well as pneumonia

Mabel died at Sunnyside Hospital, Christchurch on 23 June 1972 & is buried at Bromley Cemetery near her father

Mabel had been living on her own at home until a court order had her committed to hospital for treatment

Mabel Howard Place in Avonside is named after her