Ms Cath Andersen, of Auckland, CNZM for services to the music industry
Cath Andersen (Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga) has been Chief Executive of the New Zealand Music Commission (NZMC) since 2000. She has developed numerous programmes and administered funding and support for the music community. She has helmed New Zealand Music Month since 2001. Her work with the Outward Sound programme has significantly enhanced New Zealand’s global music profile. She has led the NZMC through a period of immense transformation in the music industry, including the rise of digital streaming, the Global Financial Crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to safeguard the livelihoods of music professionals. Ms Andersen has advocated for the power of music to effect positive change in society, through initiatives such as Music Mentoring in Schools, and the music support and mental health charity MusicHelps.