Cindy Kiro

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dame Cindy Kiro

GNZM QSO
Cindy Kiro DNZM (cropped).jpg
Kiro in 2021
Governor-General designate of New Zealand
Assuming office
21 October 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJacinda Ardern
SucceedingDame Patsy Reddy
Personal details
Born
Cynthia Alcyion Kiro

1958 (age 62–63)[1]
Whangārei, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Auckland
Massey University
European University Institute
Scientific career
FieldsPublic health
ThesisKimihia Hauora Māori = Māori Health Policy and Practice (2001)
Academic advisors

Dame Cynthia Alcyion Kiro GNZM QSO (born 1958) is a New Zealand public health academic and administrator, who will become the 22nd Governor-General of New Zealand in October 2021.

Before she was announced as governor-general designate, Kiro was the Ahorangi Chief Executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi and was previously the Children's Commissioner, head of the School of Public Health at Massey University, head of Te Kura Māori at Victoria University of Wellington and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Māori) of the University of Auckland.

Early life and education[]

Kiro was born in Whangārei in 1958, the eldest child of six.[2] She is of Māori and English descent, affiliating with Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahu, and Ngāti Hine iwi.[3][4]

Kiro was brought up in South Auckland and went to secondary school at Rutherford High School.[5] She then attended Massey University but completed her Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from University of Auckland.[6]

In 1987 she graduated with a Certificate in Epidemiology from European University Institute in Fiesole, Italy.[7]

Career[]

From 1995 until 2000 Kiro was employed at Massey University as a senior lecturer in Social Policy.[8] Kiro was awarded her PhD in Social Policy from Massey University in 2001 for a thesis entitled Kimihia Hauora Māori = Māori Health Policy and Practice.[9] She went on to gain a Master of Business Administration (Executive) from the University of Auckland.[10]

She was appointed New Zealand's Children's Commissioner in 2003 and served in this role until 2008.[8][11] While in this role she established the Taskforce for Action on Family Violence that included many government department chief executives, and people from areas such as the police, Family Courts, and Māori and Pacific Island representatives.[12] The passing of the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 during her tenure attracted considerable public and media interest.[13] Kiro supported and advocated for the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act, which provided a legal justification for using force against children.[14]

She returned to academia, working as an associate professor at Massey University and heading that institution's School of Public Health.[15][16] In 2013 Kiro took a position as head of Te Kura Māori at the School of Education at Victoria University of Wellington.[17] Kiro went on to serve as the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Māori) at the University of Auckland.[18]

In October 2020 it was announced that Kiro was to be appointed Chief Executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, commencing on 1 March 2021.[18]

Governor-General designate[]

Nomination[]

On 24 May 2021, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that Queen Elizabeth II had agreed to her recommendation to appoint Kiro as the next Governor-General of New Zealand from 21 October 2021. The incumbent Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy's five-year term is due to end on 28 September 2021.[10] Kiro will become the first Māori woman to be governor-general.[19]

Honours and awards[]

In 2012, Kiro received the Public Health Champion award from the Public Health Association of New Zealand, and a US Fulbright Travel Award.[20][21] The same year she was also named the Māori of the Year for Community Contribution by Television New Zealand.[20]

In the 2021 New Year Honours, Kiro was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to child wellbeing and education.[22][23][24]

On 9 August 2021, Kiro was appointed as an additional Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and as an additional Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in preparation for becoming governor-general.[25]

Family[]

Kiro is married to GP Dr Richard Davies, has four sons and, as at October 2020, two mokopuna (grandchildren).[5][18]

References[]

  1. ^ Small, Zane (24 May 2021). "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces Dame Cindy Kiro as next Governor-General". Newshub.
  2. ^ Hewitson, Michelle (15 August 2003). "A horribly good voice for the kids". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  3. ^ "Associate Professor Cindy Kiro – Massey University". massey.ac.nz. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  4. ^ "Dame Cindy Kiro - from humble beginnings to Governor General". RNZ. 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Evans, Julianne (November 2018). "Nau mai e Cindy" (PDF). Uni News. University of Auckland: 6–7. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  6. ^ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9899-5311
  7. ^ https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9899-5311
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b "Dr Cindy Kiro appointed Commissioner for Children". beehive.govt.nz. 13 August 2003. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  9. ^ Kiro, Cynthia A. (2001). "Kimihia Hauora Māori = Māori Health Policy and Practice" (PDF). Massey University. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Dame Cindy Kiro to be next Governor-General of New Zealand - Ardern". Radio New Zealand. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  11. ^ Romanos, Joseph (6 May 2009). "The Wellingtonian interview: Cindy Kiro". Stuff. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  12. ^ "Professor Cindy Kiro - Chair". Welfare Expert Advisory Group - Kia Piki Ake. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Anti-smacking bill becomes law". NZ Herald. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Public Health Champion 2012 – Cindy Kiro". Public Health Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  15. ^ "Maori graduates' achieve success". Stuff. 29 April 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  16. ^ "Associate Professor Cindy Kiro | Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga". maramatanga.ac.nz. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2014.
  17. ^ "New staff at Te Kura Māori". www.wgtn.ac.nz. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Professor Cynthia Kiro appointed as Ahorangi Chief Executive". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Dame Cindy Kiro: New Zealand's first Māori woman to be Governor-General, on her 'very poor' upbringing and life of service". NZ Herald. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "Prof Dame Cynthia Kiro - The University of Auckland". unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  21. ^ "PHA Awards". www.pha.org.nz. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  22. ^ "New Year honours list 2021". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  23. ^ "New Year Honours: Former children's commissioner Prof Cindy Kiro made dame companion". Stuff. 30 December 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  24. ^ "New Year's Honours 2021 list announced". RNZ. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  25. ^ "Special honours list 9 August 2021". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""