Arts Access Aotearoa Putanga Toi ki Aotearoa is honoured to have Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand as its Patron. She accepted the role in March 2025.

Her Excellency is of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu and British descent. Accepting the invitation to be Arts Access Aotearoa’s Patron, she said:

“I am delighted to be Patron of Arts Access Aotearoa – an organisation that understands the arts’ power as a means of forging connections, of expressing a sense of community, and providing access to the transformative creative life that lies within us all.”

Arts Access Aotearoa’s vision is that “All people in Aotearoa can access and participate in the arts.”

Victoria Crockford, Chair of Arts Access Aotearoa’s Board of Trustees, says:

“It is a privilege to have the patronage of Her Excellency in the work of Arts Access Aotearoa to advocate for the arts to be accessible to all, and her recognition of the critical role of creativity in transforming lives.”

Richard Benge, Executive Director, Arts Access Aotearoa, says:

“As Arts Access Aotearoa works to raise the profile of all the organisations and individual champions of accessible and inclusive arts, we deeply appreciate the support of her Excellency, providing her support of our vision and work.”

For more information about Arts Access Aotearoa's Patron, Kaumātua and board of trustees