Introducing Our Patron
We are thrilled to announce that Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand, has accepted our invitation to become Garden to Table's Patron.
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 and first Māori to be appointed to the role) membership of the Ministerial Cross-Sector Forum 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 of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Dame Cindy is the first Māori woman to be appointed as Governor-General.
We are incredibly humbled to have Dame Cindy's support for our work. Her guiding principles of kaitiakitanga, oranga and manaakitanga align closely with our kaupapa and aspirations for our tamariki, our planet, and our future. Dame Cindy’s endorsement speaks to the importance of our programme for children in schools and kura throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Having grown up watching her grandparents run one of Mangere’s first community gardens, Dame Cindy has a deep understanding of the importance of our programme, in disrupting the loss of knowledge and skills in the kitchen and garden.
Dame Cindy is a wonderful role model for our ākonga (students), and we are truly honoured to have her support to empower tamariki throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to grow, harvest, prepare and share great fresh kai. This is an honour that will be felt widely throughout our Garden to Table community.
Ko te manu e kai ana i te miro, nōna te ngahere
Ko te manu e kai ana i te mātauranga, nōna te ao
The bird who feasts on the berries, theirs is the forest. The bird who feasts on the knowledge, theirs is the world
