Alison McEwan, of Napier’s Langley Twigg Law, tweeted: ‘The Law Society is having their annual Xmas do at Hawke's Bay Club which does not allow female members - so I won't go.’
Local newspaper The Dominion Post reports Ms McEwan was reluctant to comment further because two of her senior partners were ‘stalwarts’ of the club, but she did add: ‘Women had to fight to get the vote. I'm not prepared to let that part of our history go. I'm not prepared to take that for granted.’
Club president Alan Cooper confirmed the club has never had a female member. ‘It's been this way for 150 years,’ he said. ‘Why would a woman want to be a member?’
However, all is not lost, as Mr Cooper pointed out there are ‘areas of the club where you can entertain women.’
Fellow Napier lawyer Nicola Graham also deplored the rules as ‘archaic’, but stopped short of pulling out of the function.
Napier’s mayor, Barbara Arnott, also waded into the debate, but on the side of the club. ‘I personally support the club because I like the fact that the members who pay into it are supporting the fabric of a heritage building in our city,’ she said.