Catherine Anne Maclean was born in Auckland on 4 April 1931 to Scottish immigrants Neil and Helen Maclean, and grew up in Waharoa, near Matamata, Waikato.[1] Her father worked at the local dairy factory.[2] She attended Matamata College, gaining a University Bursary in her final year, 1948. In 1949 Catherine enrolled at Auckland University College, studying zoology.[3]
While at university, she met Bob Tizard, then president of the Auckland University Students Association. On their second date, Bob told Catherine he was "going into politics. And I'm going to marry you."[4] They married in 1951 and had four children; their daughter Judith is also a politician.[5][6]
Tizard served on the committee of her local Playcentre and later became its president. She was also elected to the Board of Governors of the Eastern Suburbs Secondary Schools.[5] In 1961 Tizard returned to university to complete her degree.[9][5] She then taught and worked at the university from 1962 to 1983,[5] during which time she co-authored at least two papers with Patricia Bergquist on sponges,[10][11] and provided technical assistance as preparator for a third.[12]
During Tizard's term as mayor, the Aotea Centre next to Aotea Square was developed. She was also the patron of the 99th Police recruit wing in 1985 in which all 75 recruits after graduation were sent to Auckland to serve. She was re-elected in 1986, and once again in 1989 following a major amalgamation of local authorities.[19] In 1990 Auckland hosted the Commonwealth Games, an event Tizard had worked to secure for Auckland.[20]
Governor-General
Tizard delivering a speech at an official function, 1992
In 1989 Tizard was appointed by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, as the nation's first female governor-general on the advice of Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer. She took office on 13 December 1990, causing a by-election for the mayoralty of Auckland.[19] She accepted on the proviso that the Queen be informed before her Royal tour in February 1990, and that the leader of the opposition be informed.[21]
Then-Deputy Prime Minister Helen Clark and Labour Party President Margaret Wilson[22] pushed for a female governor-general, as the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand would occur during the governor-general's term in 1993. Tizard had been informed of her impending appointment by her former husband Bob Tizard, who was a member of Cabinet at the time. She later commented that this was the only time Bob breached cabinet confidentiality.[19] Tizard ended the practice of bowing to the governor-general, declaring, "No New Zealander should have to bow to another".[1] She also ended the practice of members of staff ceasing to clean whenever she entered the room.[23]
The 19th Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand, described how, when she was governor-general, she was not keen on a particular piece of legislation. After consideration and discussion with her official she finally said: "All right, I will sign my assent, but I will do it in black ink!" He said that a special bottle had to be obtained.[24]
The 1993 New Zealand general election – the last under the "First Past the Post" electoral system – nearly resulted in a hung parliament, with the election night result having the two major parties tied. She asked Sir David Beattie to form a committee, along with three retired appeal court judges, to decide whom to appoint as prime minister.[25] National won one more seat once special votes were counted, and was returned to power when Labour's Sir Peter Tapsell agreed to become Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives, thus ensuring National had a one-seat majority.[26]
In an interview with North & South in 1996, Tizard stated that she could not believe "...some of the idiocies of the health system", causing great consternation from the Minister of Health.[27]
Retirement and late career
Tizard (left) in 2016, with Dame Patsy Reddy, after Reddy's swearing-in as governor-general
Upon Tizard's retirement from office, Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who had nominated her, stated: "She has been a powerful, yes a presidential public presence. She has been a part of New Zealand's growing up." In 2004 Tizard stated that she supported a New Zealand republic "in principle" and when she was governor-general, had discussed the issue of republicanism with the Queen: "She is quite sanguine about these things. She has always said it is a decision for New Zealand to make, and 'whatever decision New Zealand makes, of course we would accept it'."[28]
In December 2004 Tizard became a member of the NZ Flag.com Trust, supporting a referendum on whether the New Zealand flag should be changed. She said, "Our present flag served a young post-colonial country well, but the time has come to consider a change which more appropriately recognises our changed identity and confidence in ourselves. Let's find out what the country thinks of the idea of a change."[29] In 2007 Tizard supported former mayor of Auckland, Dick Hubbard's campaign for re-election as mayor at the local body elections.[30]
In 2010 Tizard published her memoirs, entitled Cat Amongst the Pigeons, a reference to her personal arms.[31] In December 2012 Tizard starred in an online video campaign supporting gay marriage, alongside New Zealand singers Anika Moa, Boh Runga, and Hollie Smith, as well as Olympian Danyon Loader.[32]
Death
Tizard died in Auckland, New Zealand on 31 October 2021, following a long illness. She was 90 years old.[33]
^Bush, Graham (1991). Advance in order: the Auckland City Council from centenary to reorganisation, 1971-1989. Auckland City Council. p. 434. ISBN0908834039.
