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Catherine Tizard

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The Honourable
Dame Catherine Tizard
ONZ GCMG GCVO DBE QSO DStJ
16th Governor-General of New Zealand
In office
13 December 1990 – 21 March 1996
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJim Bolger
Preceded bySir Paul Reeves
Succeeded bySir Michael Hardie Boys
35th Mayor of Auckland City
In office
26 October 1983 – 28 September 1990
DeputyJohn Strevens (1983–86)
Harold Goodman (1986–88)
Phil Warren (1988–90)
Preceded byColin Kay
Succeeded byLes Mills
Personal details
Born
Catherine Anne Maclean

(1931-04-04)4 April 1931
Auckland, New Zealand
Died31 October 2021(2021-10-31) (aged 90)
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyLabour
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1951; div. 1980)​
Children4; including Judith
Alma materUniversity of Auckland

Dame Catherine Anne Tizard ONZ GCMG GCVO DBE QSO DStJ (née Maclean; 4 April 1931 – 31 October 2021) was a New Zealand politician who served as mayor of Auckland City from 1983 to 1990, and the 16th governor-general of New Zealand from 1990 to 1996. She was the first woman to hold either office.

Personal life and early career

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Catherine Anne Maclean was born in Auckland on 4 April 1931 to Scottish immigrants Neil and Helen Maclean, and grew up in Waharoa, near Matamata, Waikato.[1] Her father worked at the local dairy factory.[2] She attended Matamata College, gaining a University Bursary in her final year, 1948. In 1949 Catherine enrolled at Auckland University College, studying zoology.[3]

While at university, she met Bob Tizard, then president of the Auckland University Students Association. On their second date, Bob told Catherine he was "going into politics. And I'm going to marry you."[4] They married in 1951 and had four children; their daughter Judith is also a politician.[5][6]

Between 1972 and 1975 Tizard's husband was a Cabinet Minister in the Third Labour Government, serving first as Minister of Health and later as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.[7] The family moved to Wellington, and Tizard commuted to Auckland for council business.[8]

Tizard served on the committee of her local Playcentre and later became its president. She was also elected to the Board of Governors of the Eastern Suburbs Secondary Schools.[5] In 1961 Tizard returned to university to complete her degree.[9][5] She then taught and worked at the university from 1962 to 1983,[5] during which time she co-authored at least two papers with Patricia Bergquist on sponges,[10][11] and provided technical assistance as preparator for a third.[12]

From 1976 to 1985 Tizard appeared on the popular TVNZ chat show Beauty and the Beast, along with Selwyn Toogood and Shona McFarlane. She later attributed her success in politics to this show.[13]

Political career

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Auckland City Council

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Tizard was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1971 and was re-elected in 1974, 1977, and 1980.[14] She was also elected to the Auckland Regional Authority in 1980, simultaneously running for mayor of Auckland against the incumbent, Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, and councillor Colin Kay. This three-way split gave the election to Kay by a margin of 1,681 votes.[15] Tizard opposed the 1981 Springbok tour, and an attempt to ban Hare Krishna from performing chants on Queen Street.[16]

Mayor of Auckland City

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Tizard decided to run for mayor of Auckland City again at the 1983 local elections, and won, defeating the incumbent Colin Kay.[17] She was the first woman to serve as mayor of Auckland.[18]

During Tizard's term as mayor, the Aotea Centre next to Aotea Square was developed. She was also the patron of the 99th Police recruit wing in 1985 in which all 75 recruits after graduation were sent to Auckland to serve. She was re-elected in 1986, and once again in 1989 following a major amalgamation of local authorities.[19] In 1990 Auckland hosted the Commonwealth Games, an event Tizard had worked to secure for Auckland.[20]

Governor-General

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Tizard delivering a speech at an official function, 1992

In 1989 Tizard was appointed by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, as the nation's first female governor-general on the advice of Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer. She took office on 13 December 1990, causing a by-election for the mayoralty of Auckland.[19] She accepted on the proviso that the Queen be informed before her Royal tour in February 1990, and that the leader of the opposition be informed.[21]

Then-Deputy Prime Minister Helen Clark and Labour Party President Margaret Wilson[22] pushed for a female governor-general, as the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand would occur during the governor-general's term in 1993. Tizard had been informed of her impending appointment by her former husband Bob Tizard, who was a member of Cabinet at the time. She later commented that this was the only time Bob breached cabinet confidentiality.[19] Tizard ended the practice of bowing to the governor-general, declaring, "No New Zealander should have to bow to another".[1] She also ended the practice of members of staff ceasing to clean whenever she entered the room.[23]

The 19th Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand, described how, when she was governor-general, she was not keen on a particular piece of legislation. After consideration and discussion with her official she finally said: "All right, I will sign my assent, but I will do it in black ink!" He said that a special bottle had to be obtained.[24]

Controversies

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Prior to the second referendum on electoral reform in New Zealand in June 1993 Tizard caused some outrage by making an unscripted suggestion in a lecture on the role of the governor-general that under mixed-member proportional representation the governor-general would have to use their reserve powers more often, which would create instability.[25]

The 1993 New Zealand general election – the last under the "First Past the Post" electoral system – nearly resulted in a hung parliament, with the election night result having the two major parties tied. She asked Sir David Beattie to form a committee, along with three retired appeal court judges, to decide whom to appoint as prime minister.[25] National won one more seat once special votes were counted, and was returned to power when Labour's Sir Peter Tapsell agreed to become Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, thus ensuring National had a one-seat majority.[26]

In an interview with North & South in 1996, Tizard stated that she could not believe "...some of the idiocies of the health system", causing great consternation from the Minister of Health.[27]

Retirement and late career

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Tizard (left) in 2016, with Dame Patsy Reddy, after Reddy's swearing-in as governor-general

Upon Tizard's retirement from office, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who had nominated her, stated: "She has been a powerful, yes a presidential public presence. She has been a part of New Zealand's growing up." In 2004 Tizard stated that she supported a New Zealand republic "in principle" and when she was governor-general, had discussed the issue of republicanism with the Queen: "She is quite sanguine about these things. She has always said it is a decision for New Zealand to make, and 'whatever decision New Zealand makes, of course we would accept it'."[28]

In December 2004 Tizard became a member of the NZ Flag.com Trust, supporting a referendum on whether the New Zealand flag should be changed. She said, "Our present flag served a young post-colonial country well, but the time has come to consider a change which more appropriately recognises our changed identity and confidence in ourselves. Let's find out what the country thinks of the idea of a change."[29] In 2007 Tizard supported former mayor of Auckland, Dick Hubbard's campaign for re-election as mayor at the local body elections.[30]

In 2010 Tizard published her memoirs, entitled Cat Amongst the Pigeons, a reference to her personal arms.[31] In December 2012 Tizard starred in an online video campaign supporting gay marriage, alongside New Zealand singers Anika Moa, Boh Runga, and Hollie Smith, as well as Olympian Danyon Loader.[32]

Death

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Tizard died in Auckland, New Zealand on 31 October 2021, following a long illness. She was 90 years old.[33]

Honours and awards

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In the 1985 New Year Honours, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for public and community service.[34] In 1990 she received a New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal and 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.[35] In 1992, Tizard was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Law by the University of Auckland.[36] In 1993, on the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, Tizard received the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal.[37] In 1995 she was made a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order and in 1996 she was made an Additional Companion of the Queen’s Service Order.[35]

In the 2002 Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee Honours, Tizard was appointed an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand.[38] On 9 October 2007 Tizard was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Regiment, a largely ceremonial role.[39] Changes to the rules of the use of titles in 2006 granted Tizard the use of the style The Honourable for life, as a consequence of having been governor-general.[40]

Arms

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Coat of arms of Catherine Tizard
Notes
The arms of Dame Catherine Tizard, granted on 9 December 1994 consist of:[41][42]
Crest
Upon a helm with a wreath argent and azure within a circlet upon the rim eight New Zealand ferns (five manifest) argent a Cat a Mountain guardant sable holding in its foreclaws a "Kate Sheppard" Camellia slipped and leaved proper mantled azure doubled argent.
Escutcheon
(shown at left) Barry wavy argent and azure overall a lymphad oars in action the sail sable charged with a representation of the royal crown proper pennons gules between three escallops or.
Supporters
Two New Zealand Wood Pigeons wings elevated addorsed proper that on the dexter supporting with its interior foot a representation of the mace of the House of Representatives of New Zealand and that on the sinister likewise supporting with its interior foot a representation of the mace of the City of Auckland.
Compartment
All on a compartment comprising a grassy mount from which grow New Zealand fern and thistles all proper.
Motto
Floreat Feles Felix (May the happy cat flourish)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b McLean 2006, p. 327.
  2. ^ "Dame Cath Moves Up: 1990". NZ on Screen. Archived from the original on 18 April 2010. Retrieved 27 March 2010.
  3. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 34.
  4. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 35.
  5. ^ a b c d "The Hon Dame Catherine Tizard, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO". gg.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 25 March 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Helen Clark's moving tribute to Dame Catherine Tizard". Newshub. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  7. ^ Wood, G.A. (1996). Ministers and Members in the New Zealand Parliament (2nd ed.). pp. 56–59.
  8. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 102.
  9. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 75.
  10. ^ Bergquist, PR; Tizard, CA (1967). "Australian Intertidal Sponges from the Darwin Area". Micronesica. 3 (2): 175–202. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  11. ^ Bergquist, PR; Morton, JE; Tizard, CA (1973). "Some Demospongiae from the Solomon Islands with descriptive notes on the major sponge habitats". Micronesica. 7 (1–2): 99–121. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  12. ^ Bergquist, P.R. "The Marine Fauna of New Zealand: Porifera, Demospongiae, Part 2 (Axinellida and Halichondrida)" (PDF). New Zealand Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Bulletin. 197: 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  13. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 137.
  14. ^ Bush, Graham (1991). Advance in order: the Auckland City Council from centenary to reorganisation, 1971-1989. Auckland City Council. p. 434. ISBN 0908834039.
  15. ^ "Declaration of Result of Election". The New Zealand Herald. 29 October 1980. p. 9.
  16. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 195.
  17. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 149.
  18. ^ "Our patron – Dame Catherine Tizard". University of Auckland Society. Archived from the original on 14 August 2007. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  19. ^ a b c Tizard 2010, p. 203.
  20. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 193.
  21. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 204.
  22. ^ McLean 2006, p. 324.
  23. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 225.
  24. ^ Anand Satyanand (16 September 2010). "Speech to launch Dame Catherine Tizard's memoirs, Government House Auckland". Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  25. ^ a b McLean 2006, p. 333.
  26. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 273.
  27. ^ McLean 2006, p. 335.
  28. ^ "Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General". The New Zealand Herald. 14 November 2004. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  29. ^ "9 December 2004: NZFlag.com Trust - Dame Catherine Tizard heads new group of NZFlag.com" (Press release). Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2007.
  30. ^ Orsman, Bernard (6 September 2007). "High-profile backing for Hubbard campaign". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
  31. ^ Tizard 2010.
  32. ^ "Marriage equality 'about love'". 3 News NZ. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  33. ^ "Dame Catherine Tizard dies, aged 90, after long illness". Stuff.co.nz. 31 October 2021. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  34. ^ "No. 49970". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1984. p. 1.
  35. ^ a b "The Honourable Dame Catherine Anne Tizard, ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO". The Beehive. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  36. ^ "Auckland War Memorial Museum News Number 50" (PDF). Museum Quarterly. 50. Auckland: Auckland War Memorial Museum. 1 May 1992. ISSN 0111-2252. Wikidata Q115749508.
  37. ^ "The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – register of recipients". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
  38. ^ "Queen's Birthday and Golden Jubilee honours list 2002". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 2002. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  39. ^ "Dame Cath Tizard appointed to honorary Colonel role". NZDF. Archived from the original on 11 December 2007. Retrieved 11 December 2007.
  40. ^ "Changes to rules around use of title" (Press release). New Zealand Government. 17 July 2006. Archived from the original on 6 August 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  41. ^ "New Zealand elements". The Governor-General of New Zealand. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  42. ^ Tizard 2010, p. 233-234.

Further reading

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[edit]
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of Auckland City
1983–1990 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Governor-General of New Zealand
1990–1996 		Succeeded by
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