Dame Pearl Barbara Goodman (née Robinson, 5 October 1932 – 21 June 2013) was an

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

, New Zealand politician.

Early life and family

Born in Auckland on 5 October 1932, Goodman was educated at St Cuthbert's College. She married Harold Goodman in 1954, and the couple went on to have three children.

Political career

Goodman was mayoress of Auckland City during the mayoralty of her uncle Sir

Dove-Myer Robinson Sir Dove-Myer Robinson (15 June 1901 – 14 August 1989) was Mayor of Auckland City from 1959 to 1965 and from 1968 to 1980, the longest tenure of any holder of the office. He was a colourful character and became affectionately known across New ...

, as well as an Auckland city councillor for 12 years. Her husband, Harold, was an Auckland City Councillor and he served as deputy mayor of Auckland City in the late 1970s. In 1973, she opened a therapeutic pool at Kingseat Hospital. In the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours, Goodman was appointed a

Companion of the Queen's Service Order The Queen's Service Order, established by royal warrant of Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, is used to recognise "valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the pu ...

for community service. Her husband died on 16 August 1988 and she succeeded him onto the council in a by-election, representing the Citizens and Ratepayers group. She championed causes including homosexual law reform, abortion rights, the volunteer movement and campaigned for the Odyssey House Trust for drug rehabilitation. She served as Odyssey House (Auckland)'s Chairperson, overseeing a range of specialist programmes for adolescents, parents, and other adults experiencing serious difficulties with substance abuse, gambling, and other associated problems. She was patron of Volunteering Auckland for many years. In 2006, she opposed the New Zealand government's plan to build a $500 million rugby stadium on Quay Street in Auckland's waterfront area. In the

1989 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1989 were appointments by most of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and honorary ones to citizens of other countries ...

, Goodman was appointed a

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

, for services to the community.

Family

Goodman was the niece of former Auckland City mayor Sir Dove-Myer Robinson, in whose honour she spearheaded a memorial sculpture in

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. In Nov ...

, which was built in 2002. The sculpture celebrates the contribution "Robbie" made to the city. Following Goodman's DBE in 1989, her cousin

Lesley Max Dame Lesley Max (née Shieff; born 20 September 1945) is a New Zealand children's advocate. Early life and family Max was born Lesley Shieff in Auckland on 20 September 1945. She was educated at Takapuna Grammar School, and then studied at the ...

was made a Dame Commander of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to children in the

2010 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 2010 were announced on 31 December 2009 in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Barbados, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Saint Lucia, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Christopher and NevisSaint Christ ...

. It is understood to be the first time two Jewish cousins were both made dames.

Death

Goodman died in Auckland on 21 June 2013, aged 80, having suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goodman, Barbara 1932 births 2013 deaths New Zealand Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire Jewish New Zealand politicians Companions of the Queen's Service Order New Zealand justices of the peace Auckland City Councillors New Zealand political hostesses People from Auckland People educated at St Cuthbert's College, Auckland