The Woman's Liberation Movement took direct action through public protests and demonstrations, which became a social feature of the Second Wave of Feminism. Women demanded an end to segregation of men and women in social spaces. Women weren't viewed as equal socially to men and if they wanted to go to bars or clubs they could only use special lounge bars were beverages were expensive instead of being in bars. Public bars were exclusively male-only, women were refused service and asked to drink in the lounge bar.
In the early 1970's, women's liberation activists held pub liberations to bring social equality to women and end gender discrimination. Before the 1970’s women were not able to go into bars and had to stay in a calmer lounge area where it was felt women should be. Woman’s liberation captured media attention with a series of “pub liberations”, during which women went into public bars where they were banned and demanded service. Women began storming into bars and demanding to be served. In 1970 a group of men and women walked into the Wellington Motel Bar in protest and demanded to be seated in the ‘men- only’ bar and ordered food. Later in June 1971 members of Auckland Women's Liberation Movement invaded Bistro Bar, management threw punches but eventually a victory was gained.
Pub-liberations focused attention on the inequality of women. Joan Rolt said “This country’s younger women have learnt that their mothers made little impact by their less dramatic protests”.Women continued to fight to desegregate men-only pubs. This was finally achieved by early 1980s. Social customs were changing in New Zealand. The end of bar segregation helped to lead to the end of sex discrimination of between men and women. A result of pub-liberations were the social changes for New Zealand society. Women became viewed as equal to men both politically and socially. It was now acceptable for women to be seen taking part in social activities such as going out to bars.