Dame Catherine Tizard ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO, DStJ, author of the memoir Cat Amongst the Pigeons, is a most distinguished New Zealander and one of New Zealand’s best-loved Governors General. She was the first woman mayor of Auckland and the first woman Governor General. As mayor, she led the bid to build the Aotea Centre. She is the matriarch of a political dynasty; the former wife of Labour MP Bob Tizard, and mother of former Labour MP Judith Tizard. She graduated in zoology at the University of Auckland, and later taught there. Between 1976 and 1985 she appeared on the popular TV chat show Beauty and the Beast with Selwyn Toogood and many notable New Zealand women. Terms as a city and regional councillor for Auckland culminated in seven years as Mayor of Auckland — the first woman to be mayor of a major city in New Zealand. She remains active in community and cultural life, and has been involved with the Historic Places Trust, Sky City Charitable Trust, the Auckland Institute and Museum, Americas Cup Village, the Auckland Theatre Trust, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Foundation, the Kiri te Kanawa Trust and many more community and charitable organisations.
