Sky Tower turns violet tonight to mark women's suffrage anniversary

September 18, 2018

Sky Tower marks 20 years of operating on Thursday and it’s watched Auckland grow up around it.

For one week starting tonight, the Sky Tower will be violet to commemorate the 125th anniversary of women's right to vote in New Zealand.

The Auckland landmark will also be adorned with a 13-metre high projection of Suffrage 125 - Whakatū Wāhine logo.

Following a hard fought suffrage movement, both men and women went to the polls on 19 September 1893 - making New Zealand the first nation in the world in which women had the right to vote.

"The colour violet represents dignity and self-respect and the white camellia of the Suffrage 125 logo was worn by people supporting women's right to vote in New Zealand," SkyCity officials said in a statement.

Touted as the Southern Hemisphere's tallest free-standing structure, the Sky Tower often projects different colours onto its spire to commemorate special occasions such as Matariki and Anzac Day, or to express solidarity with other nations in the wake of natural disasters and terrorist attacks.

Tim Wilson joined members of the armed services as they flicked the switch tonight.

Irish pubs are preparing to open early as New Zealand gets into the Irish spirit.

The Auckland skyscraper lit up in red, white and blue in tribute to the French.

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