Last night at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy was delighted to officially welcome three new Arts Foundation Icons Whakamana Hiranga to a living circle of 20 of New Zealand’s most significant artists. Dame Robin White, Papali'i Fatu Feu'u, and Dame Jane Campion each received a bronze medallion set with pounamu, and a pin designed by sculptor John Edgar, honouring their immense contributions to the New Zealand arts. In the words of the late Professor Piri Sciascia ONZM: 'He toi whakairo, he mana tangata. Where there is artistic excellence, there is human dignity.'
You can read Dame Cindy's address here, and find more photos from the evening here.