Dame Silvia Cartwright: That Woman
Part of VERB Readers and Writers Festival 2026
Dismissed as a feminist disruptor and accused of leading a witch-hunt, Dame Silvia Cartwright’s work heading the 1988 Cervical Cancer Inquiry is now recognised as a turning point in public health accountability, exposing medical malpractice and igniting national controversy.
From being one of only two women studying law at Otago to becoming NZ’s first female High Court Judge and later Governor-General, Cartwright has reshaped our legal landscape and women’s healthcare in Aotearoa. She was also an international trial judge in Cambodia, presiding over trials of Khmer Rouge leaders accused of genocide and crimes against humanity.
In her memoir, That Woman, she threads personal story with national history. Anna Fifield joins her to discuss courage, reform, and the enduring fight for justice.
1pm Saturday 26 September 2026
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