If you wind back the clock 125 years today, history was being made and women in New Zealand won the right to vote.

New Zealand became world leaders as Kate Sheppard and the suffragettes sent a tidal wave around the world, creating equal rights for women.

In 1999 Labour won the general election and for the next nine years, Helen Clark was Prime Minister.

She told Kate Hawkesby that New Zealand has always been a leader in women's rights but there is room for improvement.

" I think internationally people think NZ is doing pretty well, we are right up there although we still have a little way to go."

LISTEN ABOVE AS HELEN CLARK SPEAKS TO KATE HAWKESBY