The phrase 'ladies and gentlemen' is still common in NZ whether introducing a function or putting up signs on restrooms. But where did the phrase come from and what does it mean now, if anything?
The phrase has a long and varied history in New Zealand and can only be understood in historical context - which our regular historian Grant Morris provides for us.
The Plunket Society was named after Victoria Alexandrina, Lady Plunket, wife of the governor of New Zealand. This 1905 portrait of her holding a child encapsulates the ideals of the society, which was formed in 1907. Photo: Te Ara / Public Domain
