Richard Seddon

Seddon's government passed the Electoral Act 1893, granting women the right to vote in parliamentary elections. New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to give women the vote, a landmark achievement for gender equality.

Seddon became Premier of New Zealand after the death of John Ballance. He led the Liberal Party and would go on to serve as premier for 13 years, becoming one of New Zealand's longest-serving leaders.

Seddon's government enacted the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, establishing a system for resolving industrial disputes through compulsory arbitration. This law aimed to prevent strikes and lockouts, and became a model for labor relations in other countries.

Seddon's government passed the Old-Age Pensions Act, providing a means-tested pension to New Zealanders over 65. This was a landmark social welfare reform, making New Zealand one of the first countries to introduce a state pension.

Seddon died suddenly while returning from a trip to Australia. His death marked the end of an era in New Zealand politics, as he had dominated the political landscape for over a decade and was known for his populist style.