Former Governor-General and Mayor of Auckland Dame Cath Tizard has passed away, aged 90.

As Governor-General 1990-1996, Dame Cath made a number of changes that made the role more and more like our actual head of state, including traveling internationally, confirming our actual head of state can’t represent New Zealand overseas, and ending the practice of bowing to the Governor-General by staff.

As former Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer recalled, Dame Cath’s tenure was part of our “growing up.”

Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui a Tāne.