Dame Cindy Kiro

Dame Alcyion Cynthia Kiro (; Simpson; born 1958) is a New Zealand public health academic, administrator, and advocate, who has served as the 22nd governor-general of New Zealand since 21 October 2021. Kiro is the first Māori woman, the third person of Māori descent, and the fourth woman to hold the office.

Before she was announced as governor-general designate, Kiro was Ahorangi chief executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi and was previously the Children's Commissioner, head of school 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.

During her term as governor-general, Kiro responded to the death of Elizabeth II, and had undertaken several overseas visits, including attending the state funeral of Elizabeth II in the United Kingdom.

Early life and education

Kiro was born in Whangārei in April 1957, the eldest child of six. She is of Māori and English descent, affiliating with Ngā Puhi, Ngāti Kahu, and Ngāti Hine iwi. Her father was Norman Simpson, who was originally from the north of England. Her mother's maiden name was Ngawaiunu Kiro and her maternal grandparents were Te Rangihaeata Hemi Kiro and Hukatere Miha Maihi.

She was raised by her mother's parents for part of her early life and took their surname of ''Kiro''. One of her sisters also has the name ''Kiro'', while her other siblings have the name ''Simpson''. She grew up in South Auckland and West Auckland. Her grandparents moved to South Auckland, living at Ōtara and then Māngere. Her parents also moved to Auckland and the family lived at New Lynn and Te Atatū in West Auckland. Kiro attended Rutherford High School in Te Atatū.

She then joined the first cohort of social work students at Massey University in Palmerston North. She completed a Bachelor of Arts in social sciences from the University of Auckland. In 1987 Kiro graduated with a certificate in epidemiology from the European University Institute in Fiesole, Italy.

Career

From 1995 to 2000 Kiro was a senior lecturer in social policy at Massey University in Albany. 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''. She went on to gain a Master of Business Administration (Executive) from the University of Auckland.

Kiro was appointed New Zealand's Children's Commissioner in 2003 and served in this role until 2008. 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. The passing of the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 during her tenure attracted considerable public and media interest. Kiro supported and advocated for the repeal of Section 59 of the Crimes Act, which provided a legal justification for using force against children.

Kiro returned to academia, as an associate professor at Massey University and heading its School of Public Health. In 2013 Kiro took a position as head of Te Kura Māori at the School of Education at Victoria University of Wellington. Kiro went on to serve as the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Māori) at the University of Auckland.

In October 2020 Kiro was appointed chief executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, commencing on 1 March 2021.

Governor-general

Appointment and investiture

On 24 May 2021, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, had agreed to her recommendation to appoint Kiro as the next governor-general of New Zealand from 21 October 2021. The five-year term of the previous governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, ended on 28 September 2021. Kiro is the first Māori woman to be appointed as governor-general.

Kiro was invested as a Dame Grand Cross of the New Zealand Order of Merit and Companion of the Queen's Service Order by Queen Elizabeth II during a private audience via video call on 19 October (18 October British time). She was sworn in as governor-general by the chief justice, Helen Winkelmann, at Parliament on 21 October. The ceremony was smaller than usual because of national COVID-19 restrictions on the size of gatherings.

Duties

2021

Kiro gave her first royal assent as governor-general on 27 October, when she gave assent to the Financial Sector (Climate-related Disclosures and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2021 and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Legislation Act 2021.

2022

Kiro made her first international visit as governor-general in May 2022, when she travelled to Abu Dhabi to represent New Zealand at the official condolence ceremony for Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the late president of the United Arab Emirates. On 1 June 2022, Kiro and her husband, Richard Davies, travelled to the United Kingdom for a week-long tour to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II. They attended the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London on 3 June, the Platinum Party at the Palace on the evening of 4 June, and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, which included New Zealand defence personnel, on 5 June. They also held bilateral meetings with some other Commonwealth governors-general.

On 14 June, Kiro, in the exercise of her constitutional role, swore in a government minister for the first time, when Kieran McAnulty was appointed to the Executive Council.

Kiro and Davies visited Samoa from 4 to 8 September to take part in celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of Samoan independence from New Zealand.

Kiro and Davies travelled to the United Kingdom to attend the state funeral of Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on 19 September 2022, joined by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

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. The same year she was also named the Māori of the Year for Community Contribution by Television New Zealand.

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.

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. As governor-general, Kiro is entitled to be styled "Her Excellency" while in office and "The Right Honourable" for life.

On 21 October 2021, Kiro was appointed a Dame of the Order of Saint John by the Queen and appointed a prior of the same order as the governor-general.

Personal life

Kiro was married to architect, later teacher, Chris Kuchel for 30 years, and had two sons with him. Five years after separating, she met her current husband, GP Richard Davies, and is stepmother to his two sons.

See also

* List of female representatives of heads of state

References

External links

Biography of The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiro, Cindy
1958 births
Living people
People from Whangārei
Massey University alumni
Massey University faculty
New Zealand Māori academics
New Zealand Māori women academics
Victoria University of Wellington faculty
People educated at Rutherford College, Auckland
Companions of the Queen's Service Order
Dames Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
Ngāpuhi people
Ngāti Kahu people
Ngāti Hine people
New Zealand people of English descent
Governors-General of New Zealand
Children's Ombudspersons in New Zealand
Dames of the Order of St John