Catherine O’Connell at Government House in Auckland to honour New Zealand Dames
- ON Consulting
- Mar 20
- 1 min read
It was surreal to descend on Government House in Auckland to join the event celebrating Global Women’s Honorary Life members. Hosted by Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand, this was a fine celebration of the extraordinary wāhine being acknowledged as Global Women Life Members and Honorary Life Members in 2025: Dame Theresa Gattung, Dame Ranjna Patel, Hon Margaret Wilson, and Rt Hon Helen Clark.
This ceremony paid tribute to pioneer leaders for all New Zealand women – leaders whose vision, courage, and transformative influence have shaped Aotearoa – and who continue to strengthen the kaupapa and future of Global Women. This year’s inductees join a legacy that includes trailblazers such as the Rt Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright, Dame Jenny Shipley, Mai Chen, Dame Patsy Reddy, and Professor Marilyn Waring.
Together, they represent the powerful collective impact of women whose leadership has shifted the dial for equity and opportunity. This gathering truly brought the Global Women community together to honour and celebrate the profound achievements of the newest Life and Honorary Life Members, and to reflect on their legacies which continue to influence Aotearoa’s leadership landscape.
It was an honour to be present at this significant, uplifting and historic occasion, and soak up the aura of amazing wāhine whose leadership inspires, endures, and strengthens the future of Global Women in general and myself as a Global Women member.
