Georgina Kingi


Dame Georgina Kingi is a New Zealand educator who has been principal of the St Joseph's Māori Girls' College since 1987.
Kingi grew up in Poroporo, near Whakatane. She is a member of the Ngāti Awa and Ngāti Pūkeko. She attended St Joseph's and the University of Auckland. Kingi began teaching at St Joseph's in 1969, initially as a Māori language teacher. She became principal of the school in 1987.
Kingi is a licensed interpreter of the Māori language. She was a founding member and former chairwoman of the Hawke's Bay Māori Language Association.
In 1993, Kingi was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal. She was made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for Public Services in the 2004 New Year Honours. In the 2017 New Year Honours, she was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Māori and education.