“Dame Margaret has made a significant contribution to New Zealand through her public service and is widely recognised for her wisdom, courage, and impartiality,” says University Chancellor Neil Paviour-Smith.
“The University community is delighted to be honouring one of this country’s most accomplished public servants,” says Mr Paviour-Smith.
Dame Margaret, who initially trained as a nurse, quickly rose through the ranks of the health sector. She worked as a mental health nurse, and was appointed matron of Sunnyside Hospital in Christchurch in the early 1970s, before undertaking senior roles at district health boards and subsequently being appointed to lead the nursing division at the Department of Health in 1978.
This early management experience stood her in good stead to lead a series of government ministries and departments during the following two decades, including as commissioner and deputy chairperson of the State Services Commission, secretary of the Ministry of Transport and director-general of the Department of Social Welfare. Her leadership was crucial at a time of major reform in the public sector.
After more than twenty years in public sector executive leadership roles, Dame Margaret retired in 2001, but continued to serve in governance roles for organisations including the New Zealand Fire Service Commission, the Waitangi Tribunal, Environment Canterbury, and the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology.
Dame Margaret has also been appointed to conduct high-profile inquiries into matters of significant public concern, including the legal aid system and police misconduct. Most recently, she conducted an independent review of sexual harassment allegations at law firm Russell McVeagh which led to a broader public discussion of workplace culture in the legal profession.
Dame Margaret has received many honours and awards in recognition of her service, including the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993, and the Blake Medal in 2011. In 1999, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and, in 2012, she was made an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand.
Her achievements have also been recognised by New Zealand’s academic community, through the awarding of Honorary Doctorates from Lincoln and Massey Universities.
The Victoria University of Wellington Council will confer an Honorary Doctorate on Dame Margaret Bazley at a graduation ceremony on Thursday 12 December.