New Year Honours: Former children's commissioner Prof Cindy Kiro made dame companion
Tuesday, 29 December 2020
Former Children’s Commissioner Professor Cindy Kiro says being recognised for services to child wellbeing and education shows the importance of the work she has done.
She was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2021 New Year Honours, for her work improving outcomes for marginalised children.
Kiro, who was born in Whangārei, Northland, and raised by her grandparents, who were manual labourers, said she was motivated by the enormous potential of children and young people.
“When I see a young child, they're so full of a curiosity and an openness to the world, which is just so wonderful. I want them to experience the opportunities that the world can offer and I don’t want them held back just because of their socio-economic status, who their parents are, what gender or ethnicity they are.”
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Kiro is best known for her work as the Children’s Commissioner from 2003 to 2009, where she instigated several inquiries into child deaths from abuse and neglect, and established the Taskforce for Action on Family Violence.
She also chaired the Welfare Expert Advisory Group from 2018 to 2019, recommending changes to the welfare system to make it fairer for all New Zealanders.
Kiro is now the University of Auckland’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) and a professor in the faculty of education and social Work, a role important to her because of the difference tertiary education can make to transform lives.
She said one of her greatest achievements was learning a life lesson about leadership.
“It’s not always possible to do the right thing and be popular; sometimes you have to do the right thing even when it’s unpopular … The career that I’ve had has been about always doing work that is consistent with my values.”
From March, Kiro will be chief executive of the Royal Society Te Apārangi, which supports New Zealanders to explore, discover and share knowledge.
She was among a handful of recipients singled out by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her contribution and achievements.
“Cindy Kiro has made a huge contribution in ensuring the wellbeing of our country’s children,” Ardern said.
Now back living in Whangārei, Kiro is one of a handful of Northland residents to be recognised in the New Year Honours.
The Rt Reverend Te Kītohi Wiremu Pikaahu was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Anglican church and to Māori.
The Paihia-based Bishop to Te Tai Tokerau was the youngest Anglican to be consecrated as a bishop in 2002, aged just 37, and since then has advocated for the wellbeing of Māori and indigenous communities.
Kaitāia’s Katie Murray has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and the community.
Murray has run the family-focused service Waitomo Papakainga Development Trust for 30 years, and has initiated many partnerships in Kaitāia, including one between police and iwi to reduce family violence.
Former New Zealand Basketball League chairman and Russell resident Burton Shipley has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to basketball, after volunteering for the sport since the 1990s.
Queen’s service medals have also been given to John Bowmar and Jim Powdrill for services to Fire and Emergency: To Bowmar for his volunteer work at Kaiwaka since 1977 and to Powdrill for his volunteer work at Kaikohe since 1963.