RAW is honoured to have Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand as patron of RAW.
Much of Dame Cindy’s career has been in the tertiary education sector, where she became a distinguished researcher and held leadership roles at Massey University,Victoria University Wellington/Te Herenga Waka and the University of Auckland. Her public sector roles have included Children’s Commissioner (the first woman andfirst Māori to be appointed to the role) membership of the Ministerial Cross-SectorForum for the Ministry of Education, and Chair of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group. Dame Cindy has had extensive experience in the public health sector, including a role as General Manager Funding and Services Planning and Māori Health for the Auckland District Health Board.
Prior to taking up her role as Governor-General, Dame Cindy was Chief Executive ofthe Royal Society Te Apārangi. Dame Cindy is the first Māori woman to be appointed as Governor-General.