Catherine Tizard
Encyclopedia
Dame Catherine Anne Tizard,
(née Maclean; born 4 April 1931) was Mayor of Auckland City
and the 16th Governor-General of New Zealand
, the first woman to hold either office.
, near Matamata
, in the Waikato
region. Neil was a factory worker at the local Waharoa diary factory. She attended Matamata College
, and she gained a University Bursary in her final year, 1948. In 1949 Catherine enrolled at Auckland University College
in Zoology.
, 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." They married in 1951, and Bob unsuccessfully ran for the seat of Remuera
later that year at the general election
and again at the 1954 general election
. He was finally successful at the 1957 election
, winning in Tamaki
, but was defeated three years later by Robert Muldoon
. The couple moved to Avondale and started a family, with Catherine having four children in six years starting at the age of 21 with Anna, followed by Linda, Judith
and Nigel. They moved in 1957 to Glendowie, in the Tamaki electorate.
Bob ran for and won the Pakuranga
seat at the general election in 1963
. Catherine then returned to University to complete her degree in Zoology, and later began teaching at Auckland university.
in 1971 and was re-elected in 1974, 1977 and 1980. She was also elected to the Auckland Regional Authority
in 1980, at the same time as running for Mayor of Auckland against incumbent Sir Dove-Myer Robinson
and councillor Colin Kay
. This three-way split gave the election to Kay by a margin of 2,000 votes. She opposed the 1981 Springbok tour
, and an attempt to ban Hare Krishna
from performing chants on Queen Street.
In the short-lived government of Prime Minister Norman Kirk
, Bob was appointed first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and later under Prime Minister Bill Rowling
Minister of Finance and Minister of Defence. This put considerable strain on the family as Bob was often away overseas. Catherine and family moved to Wellington, and she commuted to Auckland for council business.
From 1976 to 1985, Tizard starred 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.
again at the 1983 local elections. She successfully defeated incumbent Colin Kay
. She was the first female to serve as Mayor of Auckland, In 1984 Catherine was made a Dame. Later in 1984 there was a major riot in Queen Street
.
During her 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. In 1990 Auckland hosted the Commonwealth Games
, an event Dame Catherine had worked to secure for Auckland.
and Labour Party President Margaret Wilson
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 was the third female Governor-General in the Commonwealth
(after Dame Minita Gordon
of Belize
in 1981, and Jeanne Sauvé
in Canada in 1984).
During her tenure in office, Dame Catherine ended the practice of bowing to the Governor-General, declaring, "No New Zealander should have to bow to another". She also ended the practice of members of staff ceasing to clean whenever she entered the room.
While Governor-General, a particular piece of legislation did not appeal to Dame Catherine at all. She asked the question of her responsible official and asked the question of herself and finally said (apparently). "All right, I will sign my assent, but I will do it in black ink!” A special bottle was obtained and used for the purpose!"
in June 1993, Dame Catherine caused outrage by making an unscripted suggestion in a lecture on the role of the Governor-General that under MMP, the Governor-General would have to use their reserve powers more often, which would create instability.
Ironically, the New Zealand general election, 1993
– the last under First Past the Post – 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 who to appoint as Prime Minister. However, National won one more seat and was returned to power when Labour's Sir Peter Tapsell
agreed to become Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
.
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.
In 2004, Dame Catherine 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'."
In December 2004, Dame Catherine 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."
In 2007, Dame Catherine supported former Mayor of Auckland
, Dick Hubbard
's campaign for re-election as mayor at the local body elections. On 9 October 2007 she was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Regiment
, a largely ceremonial role.
Changes to the rules in 2006 granted her the use of the title The Honourable
for life, as a consequence of having been Governor-General.
In 2010 Dame Catherine published her memoirs, entitled Cat Amongst the Pigeons, a reference to her personal arms (see description below).
|-
(née Maclean; born 4 April 1931) was Mayor of Auckland City
Mayor of Auckland City
The Mayor of Auckland City was the directly elected head of the Auckland City Council, the municipal government of Auckland City, New Zealand. The office existed from 1871 to 2010, when Auckland City Council was abolished and replaced with the Auckland Council....
and the 16th Governor-General of New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
, the first woman to hold either office.
Early life
Catherine Anne Maclean was born to Scottish immigrants, Neil and Helen Maclean, and grew up in WaharoaWaharoa
Waharoa is a rural community in New Zealand.Waharoa is the railway junction of the Kinleith Branch railway with the East Coast Main Trunk Railway.State Highway 27 runs through the town.-Schools:...
, near Matamata
Matamata
Matamata is a rural Waikato town in New Zealand with a population of around 12,000 . It is located near the base of the Kaimai Ranges, and is a thriving farming area known for Thoroughbred horse breeding and training pursuits...
, in the Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
region. Neil was a factory worker at the local Waharoa diary factory. She attended Matamata College
Matamata College
Matamata College is a decile 6 school with an attendance of approximately 950 widely multicultural students. It has a large number of academic and sporting achievements. Matamata College is located in the small rural community of Matamata in the Waikato in New Zealand. Matamata College offers a...
, and she gained a University Bursary in her final year, 1948. In 1949 Catherine enrolled at Auckland University College
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
in Zoology.
Family
While at university, Catherine met Bob TizardRobert Tizard
The Right Honourable Robert James "Bob" Tizard, CNZM is a former Labour politician from New Zealand, former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand, Minister of Finance and Minister of Health and Minister of Defence.- Early life and family :...
, 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." They married in 1951, and Bob unsuccessfully ran for the seat of Remuera
Remuera (New Zealand electorate)
Remuera is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, in the city of Auckland.-Population Centres:The electorate is urban, and comprises a number of Auckland suburbs. The area is high-income, and has been represented by a succession of National MPs....
later that year at the general election
New Zealand general election, 1951
The 1951 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 30th term. It saw the governing National Party remain in office, increasing its lead over the opposition Labour Party.-Background:...
and again at the 1954 general election
New Zealand general election, 1954
The 1954 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 31st term. It saw the governing National Party remain in office, but with a slightly reduced majority...
. He was finally successful at the 1957 election
New Zealand general election, 1957
The 1957 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 32nd term. It saw the governing National Party narrowly defeated by the Labour Party...
, winning in Tamaki
Tamaki (New Zealand electorate)
Tāmaki is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The electorate is named after the Tamaki River that runs immediately east of the seat...
, but was defeated three years later by Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
. The couple moved to Avondale and started a family, with Catherine having four children in six years starting at the age of 21 with Anna, followed by Linda, Judith
Judith Tizard
Judith Tizard is a former New Zealand politician. She was a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:Judith Ngaire Tizard was born in Auckland in 1956...
and Nigel. They moved in 1957 to Glendowie, in the Tamaki electorate.
Bob ran for and won the Pakuranga
Pakuranga (New Zealand electorate)
rightPakuranga is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate.It is currently held by Maurice Williamson MP, a member of the National Party.-Population centres:Pakuranga is one of sixty-three general electorates used in New Zealand general elections...
seat at the general election in 1963
New Zealand general election, 1963
The 1963 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 34th term. The results were almost identical to those for the previous election, and the governing National Party remained in office....
. Catherine then returned to University to complete her degree in Zoology, and later began teaching at Auckland university.
Auckland City Council
Catherine was elected to the Auckland City CouncilAuckland City
Auckland City was the city and local authority covering the Auckland isthmus and most of the islands of the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand. On 1 November 2010 it was amalgamated into the wider Auckland Region under the authority of the new Auckland Council...
in 1971 and was re-elected in 1974, 1977 and 1980. She was also elected to the Auckland Regional Authority
Auckland Regional Council
The Auckland Regional Council was the regional council of the Auckland Region. Its predecessor the Auckland Regional Authority was formed in 1963 and became the ARC in 1989...
in 1980, at the same time as running for Mayor of Auckland against incumbent Sir Dove-Myer Robinson
Dove-Myer Robinson
Sir Dove-Myer Robinson was Mayor of Auckland City from 1959 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1980, the longest tenure of any holder of the office....
and councillor Colin Kay
Colin Kay
Colin Kay CBE was a New Zealand sportsman and politician. He was the 34th Mayor of Auckland City, elected for one term serving from 1980 to 1983, and chairman of the Auckland Regional Council from 1986 to 1992...
. This three-way split gave the election to Kay by a margin of 2,000 votes. She opposed the 1981 Springbok tour
1981 Springbok Tour
The 1981 South African rugby union tour of New Zealand was a controversial tour of New Zealand by the South Africa national rugby union team, known as "the Springboks"...
, and an attempt to ban Hare Krishna
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness , known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava religious organization. It was founded in 1966 in New York City by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada...
from performing chants on Queen Street.
In the short-lived government of Prime Minister Norman Kirk
Norman Kirk
Norman Eric Kirk was the 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He led the Parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1974. He was the fourth Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, but the first to be born in New Zealand...
, Bob was appointed first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and later under Prime Minister Bill Rowling
Bill Rowling
Sir Wallace Edward Rowling, KCMG , often known as Bill Rowling, was the 30th Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was in office for just over a year, having been appointed Prime Minister following the death of the highly popular Norman Kirk...
Minister of Finance and Minister of Defence. This put considerable strain on the family as Bob was often away overseas. Catherine and family moved to Wellington, and she commuted to Auckland for council business.
From 1976 to 1985, Tizard starred on the popular TVNZ chat show Beauty and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast (talk show)
Beauty and the Beast is an Australian panel television show that has appeared in numerous versions since the early days of Australian television. The first version began in 1963 on the Seven Network with host Eric Baume as the "Beast". Baume was later replaced by presenters including John Laws,...
, along with Selwyn Toogood
Selwyn Toogood
Selwyn Featherston Toogood QSO was a New Zealand radio and television personality. He was born in Wellington and lived there until 1952 when he moved to Heretaunga in the Hutt Valley...
and Shona McFarlane
Shona McFarlane
Shona Graham McFarlane CBE was a New Zealand artist, journalist and broadcaster.McFarlane was born in Gore and educated at Otago Girls' High School, and studied teaching at Dunedin Teachers' College...
. She later attributed her success in politics to this show.
Mayor of Auckland City
Catherine decided to run for Mayor of Auckland CityMayor of Auckland City
The Mayor of Auckland City was the directly elected head of the Auckland City Council, the municipal government of Auckland City, New Zealand. The office existed from 1871 to 2010, when Auckland City Council was abolished and replaced with the Auckland Council....
again at the 1983 local elections. She successfully defeated incumbent Colin Kay
Colin Kay
Colin Kay CBE was a New Zealand sportsman and politician. He was the 34th Mayor of Auckland City, elected for one term serving from 1980 to 1983, and chairman of the Auckland Regional Council from 1986 to 1992...
. She was the first female to serve as Mayor of Auckland, In 1984 Catherine was made a Dame. Later in 1984 there was a major riot in Queen Street
Queen Street, Auckland
Queen Street is the major commercial thoroughfare in the Auckland CBD, Auckland, New Zealand's main population centre. It starts at Queens Wharf on the Auckland waterfront, adjacent to the Britomart Transport Centre and the Downtown Ferry Terminal, and runs uphill for almost three kilometres in a...
.
During her term as Mayor, the Aotea Centre
Aotea Centre
The Aotea Centre is a performing arts and events centre / theatre in the Auckland CBD, Auckland City, New Zealand. Located at the western edge of Aotea Square, off Queen Street, the centre provides cultural venue space in the heart of the city and is managed by 'The Edge'...
next to Aotea Square
Aotea Square
Aotea Square is a large paved public area in the CBD, of Auckland, New Zealand. Officially opened in 1979 by Sir Dove-Myer Robinson next to Queen Street, it is used for open-air concerts and gatherings, and markets and political rallies....
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. In 1990 Auckland hosted the Commonwealth Games
1990 Commonwealth Games
The 1990 Commonwealth Games were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January-3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: athletics, aquatics, badminton, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, judo,...
, an event Dame Catherine had worked to secure for Auckland.
Governor-General
In 1989, Dame Catherine was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as the first female Governor-General of New Zealand on the advice of Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and took office on 13 December 1990, causing a by-election for the Mayoralty of Auckland. 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. Then Deputy Prime Minister Helen ClarkHelen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
and Labour Party President Margaret Wilson
Margaret Wilson
Dame Margaret Wilson DCNZM is a New Zealand academic and former politician. She was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives during the Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand. She is a member of the Labour Party.-Early life:...
pushed for a female Governor-General, as the 100th anniversary of Women's suffrage in New Zealand
Women's suffrage in New Zealand
Women's suffrage in New Zealand was an important political issue in the late 19th century. Of countries presently independent, New Zealand was the first to give women the vote in modern times....
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
New Zealand Cabinet
The Cabinet of New Zealand functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system...
at the time. She was the third female Governor-General in the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
(after Dame Minita Gordon
Elmira Minita Gordon
Dame Elmira Minita Gordon, GCMG, GCVO was Governor-General of Belize from its independence in 1981 to 1993. She was the first woman in a Commonwealth Realm to assume the position of Governor General. As Governor General she also held the title of Patron to the Scout Association of Belize and the...
of Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
in 1981, and Jeanne Sauvé
Jeanne Sauvé
Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé was a Canadian journalist, politician, and stateswoman who served as Governor General of Canada, the 23rd since Canadian Confederation....
in Canada in 1984).
During her tenure in office, Dame Catherine ended the practice of bowing to the Governor-General, declaring, "No New Zealander should have to bow to another". She also ended the practice of members of staff ceasing to clean whenever she entered the room.
While Governor-General, a particular piece of legislation did not appeal to Dame Catherine at all. She asked the question of her responsible official and asked the question of herself and finally said (apparently). "All right, I will sign my assent, but I will do it in black ink!” A special bottle was obtained and used for the purpose!"
Controversies
Prior to the second referendum on Electoral reform in New ZealandElectoral reform in New Zealand
Electoral reform in New Zealand has, in recent years, become a political issue as major changes have been made to both Parliamentary and local government electoral systems.- Parliamentary Electoral Reform :...
in June 1993, Dame Catherine caused outrage by making an unscripted suggestion in a lecture on the role of the Governor-General that under MMP, the Governor-General would have to use their reserve powers more often, which would create instability.
Ironically, the New Zealand general election, 1993
New Zealand general election, 1993
The 1993 New Zealand general election was held on 6 November 1993 to determine the composition of the 44th New Zealand Parliament. It saw the governing National Party, led by Jim Bolger, win a second term in office, despite a major swing back towards the Labour Party. The new Alliance and New...
– the last under First Past the Post – nearly resulted in a hung parliament
Hung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...
, with the election night result having the two major parties tied. She asked Sir David Beattie
David Beattie
-External links:*...
to form a committee, along with three retired appeal court judges, to decide who to appoint as Prime Minister. However, National won one more seat and was returned to power when Labour's Sir Peter Tapsell
Peter Tapsell (New Zealand)
Sir Peter Wilfred Tapsell, KNZM, MBE, FRCS, FRCSEd was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996...
agreed to become Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body, the New Zealand House of Representatives...
.
In an interview with North & South
North and South (magazine)
North & South is a monthly magazine published in New Zealand. It was founded in 1986, and famously documented the end of the Lange Labour government in 1989. Its name relates to the two main islands of New Zealand, whilst alluding to the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell...
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.
Retirement
On her retirement from office, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who had nominated Dame Catherine for the office, stated, "She has been a powerful, yes a presidential public presence. She has been a part of New Zealand's growing up."In 2004, Dame Catherine stated that she supported a New Zealand republic
Republicanism in New Zealand
Republicanism in New Zealand is a theoretical political concept, the implementation of which would result in changing New Zealand's current constitutional monarchy to that of a 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'."
In December 2004, Dame Catherine Tizard became a member of the NZ Flag.com Trust
NZ Flag.com Trust
The NZ Flag.com Trust was established in 2003 by Wellington businessman Lloyd Morrison with purpose of encouraging New Zealanders to change the Flag of New Zealand, and frequently comments on the New Zealand flag debate....
, supporting a referendum on whether the New Zealand flag
Flag of New Zealand
The flag of New Zealand is a defaced Blue Ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. The stars represent the constellation of Crux, the Southern Cross....
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."
In 2007, Dame Catherine supported former Mayor of Auckland
Mayor of Auckland
The Mayor of Auckland is the directly elected head of the Auckland Council, the local government authority for the Auckland region in New Zealand...
, Dick Hubbard
Dick Hubbard
Richard "Dick" John Hubbard ONZM, DSc is a New Zealand businessman and politician, founder and principal of Hubbards Foods in Auckland, and Mayor of Auckland City from 2004 to 2007. His management of Hubbard Foods gained some prominence for its participation in and promotion of socially...
's campaign for re-election as mayor at the local body elections. On 9 October 2007 she was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Regiment
Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Regiment
The 3rd Battalion, and Northland Regiment is a Territorial Force Battalion of the New Zealand Army, one of three of the 1st Infantry Combat Brigade Group with Headquarters in Arch Hill Auckland Army Centre...
, a largely ceremonial role.
Changes to the rules in 2006 granted her the use of the title The Honourable
The Honourable
The prefix The Honourable or The Honorable is a style used before the names of certain classes of persons. It is considered an honorific styling.-International diplomacy:...
for life, as a consequence of having been Governor-General.
In 2010 Dame Catherine published her memoirs, entitled Cat Amongst the Pigeons, a reference to her personal arms (see description below).
External links
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