On Tuesday, 19 October 2021, The Queen virtually received Governor-General Designate of New Zealand, Dame Cindy Kiro. The Queen was at Windsor Castle for the call while Dame Cindy was at Government House in Wellington; she will be sworn in on Thursday, 21 October.
Dame Cindy will be the 22nd Governor-General of New Zealand and the fourth woman to hold the role.
During the virtual investiture, The Queen invested her with the Insignia of a Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, as well as a Companion of The Queen’s Service Order of New Zealand.
The Queen remarked after saying good evening, “Oh, of course, it’s good morning, isn’t it, to you?’ She also noted that Thursday will be a “big day.”
Dame Cindy was already appointed as a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for the New Year Honours this year to recognise her work and service in child well-being and education.
She has had a celebrated professional and academic career. In addition to serving as the first woman and first Māori individual to be appointed as Children’s Commissioner, she held several different academic and leadership roles at Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington, and the University of Auckland. She was also instrumental in establishing and developing the Taskforce for Action on Family Violence.
Dame Cindy has recently been serving as the Chief Executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. The non-profit organisation works to provide both funding and political policy advice in several different fields.
Dame Cindy is the first indigenous woman to hold the role of Governor-General in New Zealand. In July of 2021, The Queen appointed Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, Mary Simon. With both countries examining their complex histories, including the relationship between colonisers and indigenous peoples, these are historic appointments.
