Catherine Tizard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Catherine Tizard
ONZ GCMG GCVO DBE QSO DStJ
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| 16th Governor-General of New Zealand | |
| In office 13 December 1990 – 21 March 1996 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Jim Bolger |
| Preceded by | Sir Paul Reeves |
| Succeeded by | Sir Michael Hardie Boys |
| 35th Mayor of Auckland City | |
| In office 1983–1990 |
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| Deputy | John Strevens (1983–86) Harold Goodman (1986–88) Phil Warren (1988–90) |
| Preceded by | Colin Kay |
| Succeeded by | Les Mills |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Catherine Anne Maclean
4 April 1931 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | 31 October 2021 (aged 90) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4; including Judith |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland |
Dame Catherine Anne Tizard (born Maclean; 4 April 1931 – 31 October 2021) was an important New Zealand politician. She was the mayor of Auckland City from 1983 to 1990. After that, she became the 16th Governor-General of New Zealand from 1990 to 1996. She made history as the first woman to hold both of these high-ranking positions.
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Early Life and Education
Catherine Anne Maclean was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 4 April 1931. Her parents, Neil and Helen Maclean, were immigrants from Scotland. She grew up in a town called Waharoa, near Matamata in the Waikato region.
Catherine went to Matamata College. In her final year, 1948, she earned a University Bursary, which helped her go to university. In 1949, she started studying at Auckland University College.
While at university, Catherine met Bob Tizard. He was the president of the Auckland University Students Association. They got married in 1951 and had four children. Their daughter, Judith, also became a politician later on.
Public Service and Career
Catherine Tizard was very involved in her community. She served on the committee of her local Playcentre and later became its president. She was also elected to the Board of Governors for Eastern Suburbs Secondary Schools.
In 1961, Tizard went back to university to finish her degree. She then worked as a teacher and at the university from 1962 to 1983.
From 1976 to 1985, Tizard appeared on a popular TVNZ chat show called Beauty and the Beast. She believed that being on this show helped her become successful in politics.
Catherine Tizard passed away in Auckland on 31 October 2021, at the age of 90, after a long illness.
Political Career
Auckland City Council
Catherine Tizard began her political journey when she was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1971. She was re-elected several times, serving until 1980.
In 1980, she also joined the Auckland Regional Authority. That same year, she ran for mayor of Auckland but did not win. She was known for opposing the 1981 Springbok tour and a plan to ban Hare Krishna chants on Queen Street.
Mayor of Auckland City
Tizard decided to run for mayor of Auckland City again in the 1983 local elections. This time, she won, becoming the first woman to be the mayor of Auckland.
During her time as mayor, a big project was the development of the Aotea Centre next to Aotea Square. She was re-elected in 1986 and again in 1989. In 1990, Auckland hosted the Commonwealth Games, an event Tizard had worked hard to bring to the city.
Governor-General of New Zealand
In 1989, Queen Elizabeth II, on the advice of Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, appointed Catherine Tizard as New Zealand's first female Governor-General. She officially started her role on 13 December 1990. The Governor-General is the Queen's representative in New Zealand.
Important figures like then-Deputy Prime Minister Helen Clark wanted a woman to be Governor-General. This was because the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand (when women gained the right to vote) was in 1993, during her term.
When she became Governor-General, Tizard made some changes. She stopped the tradition of people bowing to the Governor-General. She said, "No New Zealander should have to bow to another." She also ended the practice of staff stopping their work when she entered a room.
Sir Anand Satyanand, who later became Governor-General, shared a story about Dame Catherine. He said she once wasn't keen on signing a particular law. After thinking about it, she said, "All right, I will sign my assent, but I will do it in black ink!" A special bottle of black ink had to be found for her.
After Her Term
After Dame Catherine Tizard retired from her role, Sir Geoffrey Palmer said she had been a "powerful" public figure. He felt she was part of New Zealand's growth as a nation.
In 2004, Tizard said she supported New Zealand becoming a republic "in principle." This means New Zealand would have its own head of state, not the British monarch. She had even discussed this idea with the Queen, who was open to whatever decision New Zealand made.
In December 2004, Tizard joined a group supporting a vote on changing the New Zealand flag. She believed it was time to consider a new flag that better showed New Zealand's identity.
In 2010, Dame Catherine Tizard published her autobiography, called Cat Amongst the Pigeons. In 2012, she appeared in an online video campaign supporting marriage equality in New Zealand.
Honours and Awards
Dame Catherine Tizard received many honours for her public service.
- In 1985, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
- In 1990, she received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal. She was also made a Dame of Justice of the Order of St John and a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.
- In 1992, the University of Auckland gave her an Honorary Doctor of Law degree.
- In 1993, on the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, she received the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal.
- In 1995, she was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.
- In 1996, she became an Additional Companion of the Queen’s Service Order.
- In 2002, she was appointed an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, which is New Zealand's highest honour.
In 2007, Tizard was given the honorary role of Colonel of the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Regiment. Because she had been Governor-General, she was allowed to use the title The Honourable for the rest of her life.
See also
