Dame Helen Winkelmann and Dame Judy McGregor, of Auckland, DNZM for services to human rights and health
Dame Judy McGregor is a lawyer and former professor at Massey University and Auckland University of Technology who has worked with emerging national human rights institutions in Malaysia, Nepal, the Maldives, Jordan, and Palestine on developing human rights communications strategies, and on women’s rights. Dame Judy co-authored research on human rights titled ‘Human Rights in New Zealand: Emerging Faultlines’, identifying five critical issues to be addressed including women’s rights, equal pay, child poverty and the over-imprisonment of Māori. She was the first Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner for the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, holding the position for two terms between 2003 and 2013. As Commissioner her report ‘Caring Counts’, based on undercover work in the aged care industry, had a significant impact and led ultimately to a historic industry-wide settlement. She was appointed as Chair of the Waitematā District Health Board in 2018 and chairs the Health Workforce Advisory Board and the Mental Health and Addictions Assurance Group with the Ministry of Health. She was named the Supreme Winner at the 2016 Women in Governance Awards for lifetime excellence in governance and is patron of the Auckland Women’s Centre. Dame Judy was previously appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004 for her services to journalism.