Editing Silvia Cartwright

{{Short description|Governor-General of New Zealand from 2001 to 2006}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix = [[The Honourable]]
|name             = Dame Silvia Cartwright
|image            = Governor-General Silvia Cartwright.jpg
|honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=NZL|size=100%|ONZa|PCNZMa|DBE|QSO|DStJ}}
|order            = 18th
|office           = Governor-General of New Zealand
|monarch          = [[Elizabeth II]]
|primeminister    = [[Helen Clark]]
|term_start       = 4 April 2001
|term_end         = 4 August 2006
|predecessor      = [[Michael Hardie Boys|Sir Michael Hardie Boys]]
|successor        = [[Anand Satyanand|Sir Anand Satyanand]]
|order2           = 3rd [[District Court of New Zealand|Chief District Court judge]]
|term_start2      = 1989
|term_end2        = 1993
|predecessor2     = [[Peter Trapski]]
|successor2       = [[Ron Young (jurist)|Ron Young]]
|birth_name       = Silvia Rose Poulter
|birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1943|11|7|df=y}}
|birth_place      = [[Dunedin]], New Zealand
|death_date       = 
|death_place      = 
|spouse           = {{marriage|[[Peter Cartwright (lawyer)|Peter Cartwright]]|1969|2019|end=d.}}
|alma_mater       = [[University of Otago]]
}}
'''Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright''' {{postnominals|country=NZL|ONZa|PCNZMa|DBE|QSO|DStJ}} (née '''Poulter'''; born 7 November 1943) is a New Zealand jurist who served as the 18th [[governor-general of New Zealand]], from 2001 to 2006. She was the second woman to hold the office, after [[Catherine Tizard|Dame Catherine Tizard]].

==Early life==
Cartwright is a former student at [[Otago Girls' High School]], and is a graduate of the [[University of Otago]], where she gained her [[Bachelor of Laws]] degree in 1967.

==Public life==

===Legal career===
In 1989, Cartwright became the first female Chief District Court Judge, and in 1993 she was the first woman to be appointed to the [[New Zealand High Court|High Court]].<ref name=govbio>{{cite press release |url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/node/8301 |title=PM welcomes Governor-General-designate |publisher=New Zealand Government |date=24 August 2000 |accessdate=7 August 2010}}</ref>

Cartwright presided over a 1988 inquiry into issues related to cervical cancer and its treatment at Auckland's National Women's Hospital, known as the [[Cartwright Inquiry]]. Cartwright has previously served on the [[Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women]],<ref name=govbio/> and played a major role in the drafting of the [[Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/ior51/004/1997/en/ |title=The Optional Protocol to the Women's Convention: Enabling Women to Claim their Rights at the International Level |publisher=Amnesty International |year=1997 |accessdate=7 August 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Silvia Cartwright |title=Rights and Remedies: The Drafting of an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women |journal=Otago Law Review |volume=9 |pages=239 |year=1998}}</ref>

In 2007, in recognition for Cartwright's work as a lawyer, the Auckland Women Lawyers' Association established a lecture known as the Dame Silvia Cartwright Lecture Series.<ref>{{cite web|author=Auckland District Law Society – Law News|url=http://www.adls.org.nz/profession/lawnews/2007/issueno24/ln2401.asp|title=Dame Silvia – making a difference to our world|date=6 July 2007|accessdate=11 July 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222138/http://www.adls.org.nz/profession/lawnews/2007/issueno24/ln2401.asp |archivedate=27 September 2007}}</ref>

===Governor-General of New Zealand===
Cartwright's term as [[Governor-General of New Zealand]] was from 4 April 2001 to 4 August 2006. She was succeeded by [[Anand Satyanand]] at midday on 23 August 2006. During the intervening period, Chief Justice [[Sian Elias|Dame Sian Elias]] was the [[Administrator of the Government]] (acting governor-general).{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

On 16 June 2002, Cartwright made a speech at the Annual General Meeting of [[Save The Children]]'s New Zealand branch, in which she criticised section 59 of the [[Crimes Act 1961]], which allowed parents to use "reasonable force" to discipline their children.<ref name="smacking_speech">{{cite web|title=Speech to Save the Children AGM|url=http://www.gov-gen.govt.nz/utilities/printspeech.asp?ID=21|date=16 June 2002|author=Dame Silvia Cartwright|accessdate=23 July 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928045740/http://www.gov-gen.govt.nz/utilities/printspeech.asp?ID=21 |archivedate = 28 September 2007}}</ref> A number of groups criticised this position, such as the [[Society for the Promotion of Community Standards]]<ref name="SPCS">{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0206/S00102.htm|title=GG's Views on Smacking Kids Attack Family|date=18 June 2002|accessdate=7 August 2010}}</ref> – the [[Monarchist League of New Zealand|Monarchist League]] stated that these comments were "overstepping the mark" for a representative of the Queen,<ref name="mnz_dame_silvia">{{cite web|title=Monarchy New Zealand, November 2002|date=November 2002|url=http://www.geocities.com/cox_nz/|author=Monarchist League of New Zealand|author-link=Monarchist League of New Zealand|accessdate=7 August 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026234758/http://geocities.com/cox_nz/|archivedate=26 October 2009}}</ref> while Green Party MP [[Sue Bradford]] welcomed the comments.<ref name="greens_gg">{{cite web|title=Violence against children shaping up as election issue|url=https://home.greens.org.nz/press-releases/violence-against-children-shaping-election-issue|date=17 June 2002|accessdate=27 May 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518062706/https://home.greens.org.nz/press-releases/violence-against-children-shaping-election-issue|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 12 August 2002, in a speech at the opening of the Specialised Applied Research Centre of the [[Victoria University of Wellington]], Cartwright questioned whether longer sentences would reduce criminal reoffending rates. This was after the Sentencing Act 2002 and the Parole Act 2002 were passed – Acts for which Cartwright granted Royal Assent on 12 July 2002. The Acts introduced mandatory sentences for criminal convictions, and reduced the likelihood of parole.<ref name="sentencing_speech">{{cite web|url=http://www.gov-gen.govt.nz/utilities/printspeech.asp?ID=39|title=Speech at the Opening of the Specialised Applied Research Centre Victoria University Wellington|date=12 August 2002|accessdate=23 July 2007|author=Dame Silvia Cartwright |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070928045749/http://www.gov-gen.govt.nz/utilities/printspeech.asp?ID=39 |archivedate = 28 September 2007}}</ref> [[ACT New Zealand]] MP [[Stephen Franks]] was critical of the remarks, stating "I don't think she was regarded as one of the most weighty judges and she's putting herself into a difficult constitutional position by weighing in this area",<ref name="TVNZ_gg">{{cite web|title=Dame Silvia joins sentencing debate|date=13 August 2002|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/425825/123803|author=Television New Zealand|author-link=Television New Zealand|accessdate=7 August 2010}}</ref> as was the [[Sensible Sentencing Trust]]. However, Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] defended the governor-general, stating "One of the challenges for us is we clearly are no longer a dominion of Britain where the Governor-General is exactly like the Queen".<ref name="clark_herald">{{cite news|title=Clark foresees president role|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2349518|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|agency=NZPA|date=15 August 2002|accessdate=7 August 2010}}</ref>

On [[Waitangi Day]] 2004, following [[New Zealand National Party|National]] leader [[Don Brash]]'s controversial [[Orewa Speech]] on race relations, Cartwright controversially gave a different interpretation of the phrase "He iwi tahi tatou".<ref name="orewa_speech">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=350&objectid=3547692|title=Governor-General expected to give different interpretation of Brash's treaty quote|date=6 February 2004|accessdate=23 July 2007}}</ref>

Following the [[2005 New Zealand general election|2005 general election]], former National deputy leader [[Gerry Brownlee]] stated that Cartwright had not allowed National the chance at forming a government. Brownlee said "I have to publicly say that I have lost respect for the Governor-General and I think it is time we sat down now and started to look at a much more formal constitution for New Zealand". In response, Helen Clark said that the governor-general followed a "very, very proper process".<ref name="nzh_brownlee">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10354305|title=Brownlee outburst backfires|work=The New Zealand Herald|date=9 November 2005|accessdate=23 July 2007}}</ref>

===Cambodian War Crimes Tribunal===
Cartwright was appointed to sit as one of two international judges in the Trial Chamber of the [[Cambodia Tribunal]] by [[Cambodia]]'s Supreme Council of Magistracy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gg.govt.nz/media/news.asp?type=current&ID=164|title=Cartwright appointed Cambodian War Crimes Tribunal trial judge|author=Government House|accessdate=11 July 2007 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927032427/http://www.gg.govt.nz/media/news.asp?type=current&ID=164 |archivedate = 27 September 2007}}</ref> Multiple Defence requests that she stand down from this position have been consistently rejected by both the Trial Chamber and Supreme Court Chambers on their merits.<ref>See amongst others Decision on Motions for Disqualification of Judge Silvia CARTWRIGHT, E137/5, 2 December 2011 (ECCC Trial Chamber) (http://www.eccc.gov.kh/sites/default/files/documents/courtdoc/E137_5_EN.PDF), Decision on IENG Sary’s Appeal Against the Trial Chamber’s Decision on Motions for Disqualification of Judge Silvia CARTWRIGHT, E137/5/1/3, 17 April 2012 (ECCC Supreme Court Chamber) (http://www.eccc.gov.kh/sites/default/files/documents/courtdoc/E137_5_1_3_EN.PDF) and Decision on IENG Sary's Application for Disqualification of Judge Cartwright, E191/2, 4 June 2012 (ECCC Trial Chamber) (http://www.eccc.gov.kh/sites/default/files/documents/courtdoc/E191_2_EN.PDF)</ref>

==Honours and awards==
[[File:Silvia Cartwright 2020 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Cartwright in December 2020]]
In the [[1989 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|1989 Queen's Birthday Honours]], Cartwright was appointed a [[Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire]], for services to women.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=51774 |date=17 June 1989 |page=31 |supp=3}}</ref> Upon her retirement from the High Court, she was granted the use of the style "The Honourable" for life. In 1990, Cartwright received the [[New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Alister |last2=Coddington |first2=Deborah |authorlink1=Alister Taylor |authorlink2=Deborah Coddington |title=Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand |year=1994 |publisher=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa |location=Auckland |isbn=0-908578-34-2 |page=92}}</ref> and in 1993 she was awarded the [[New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-system/types-new-zealand-royal-honours/other-distinctive-new-zealand-honours/suffrage-medal-register |title=The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – register of recipients |date=26 July 2018 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |accessdate=18 September 2018}}</ref> She was made a [[Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit]] in 2001, and she was awarded the [[Queen's Service Order]] at the State luncheon at Parliament to farewell her on 2 August 2006.

In the [[2022 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2022 Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours]], Cartwright was appointed an additional [[Member of the Order of New Zealand]], for services to New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-queens-birthday-and-platinum-jubilee-honours-list-2022/W53HWSV4TI7DGRF66KXQCTHB34/ |title=The Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours List 2022 |date=6 June 2022 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=6 June 2022}}</ref>

Cartwright is an Honorary Member of [http://www.raoulwallenberg.net The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation] and a fellow of the [[Hastings Center]], a bioethics research institution in the United States.{{citation needed|date=December 2010}}

==Styles==
*[[His Honour|Her Honour]] Judge Silvia Rose Cartwright (1987–1989)
*Her Honour Chief Judge Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright {{postnominals|country=NZL|DBE}} (1989–1993)
*[[The Honourable|The Hon.]] Justice Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright {{postnominals|country=NZL|DBE}} (1993–2001)
*The Hon. Justice Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright {{postnominals|country=NZL|PCNZMa|DBE}} (2001)
*[[Her Excellency]] The Hon. Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright {{postnominals|country=NZL|PCNZMa|DBE}}, Governor-General of New Zealand (2001–2006)
*Her Excellency The Hon. Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright {{postnominals|country=NZL|PCNZMa|DBE|QSO}}, Governor-General of New Zealand (2006)
*The Hon. Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright {{postnominals|country=NZL|PCNZMa|DBE|QSO}} (2006–2022)
*The Hon. Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright {{postnominals|country=NZL|ONZa|PCNZMa|DBE|QSO}} (since 2022)

[[File:Silvia Cartwright honours Carved Panel.jpg|right|thumb|A carved panel depicting the [[Order (distinction)|honours]] of Dame Silvia Cartwright, displayed in the main entrance hall of [[Government House, Wellington|Government House]] in [[Wellington]]]]

==Personal life==
In 1969, Cartwright married lawyer [[Peter Cartwright (lawyer)|Peter John Cartwright]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-welcomes-governor-general-designate |title=PM welcomes Governor-General-designate |date=24 August 2000 |publisher=New Zealand Government |accessdate=29 April 2019}}</ref> He died on 17 April 2019.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=peter-john-cartwright&pid=192417957 | title=Peter Cartwright death notice | date=18 April 2019 | work=The New Zealand Herald| accessdate=18 April 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.gg.govt.nz/role/constofnz.htm Notice of extension of term (govt.nz)] ("Prime Minister Helen Clark said The Queen had agreed to extend the Governor-General's term until 4 August 2006.")

{{s-start}}
{{s-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Michael Hardie Boys|Sir Michael Hardie Boys]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Governor-General of New Zealand]]|years=2001–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Anand Satyanand|Sir Anand Satyanand]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors-General of New Zealand}}
{{Order of New Zealand}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cartwright, Silvia}}
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Dunedin]]
[[Category:People educated at Otago Girls' High School]]
[[Category:University of Otago alumni]]
[[Category:New Zealand women judges]]
[[Category:District Court of New Zealand judges]]
[[Category:High Court of New Zealand judges]]
[[Category:Governors-general of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Principal Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:New Zealand Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Companions of the Queen's Service Order]]
[[Category:Dames of Justice of the Order of St John]]
[[Category:Khmer Rouge Tribunal judges]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Hastings Center]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand politicians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993]]
[[Category:New Zealand judges of United Nations courts and tribunals]]
[[Category:New Zealand Women of Influence Award recipients]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Female governors-general]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand women lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand judges]]
[[Category:Lawyers awarded damehoods]]