Dame Rosemary Horton DNZM, QSM, QSO
Patron
Before passing away in May 2023 at Auckland City Hospital, Dame Rosemary Horton DNZM QSO QSM was a philanthropist and mentor for New Zealand charities.
Her passion and focus, for over 40 years, had been women and children.
She was the Founding Chair of the following: Friends of Aotea Trust, The Aotea Centre Performing Arts Trust, Friends of Starship and Trustee of the Starship Foundation. She was previously the Chair of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, as well as the Chair or Trustee of numerous other charitable organisations.
In 2011 she became a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to philanthropy. She was also named EY ASB Social Entrepreneur 2013. Other awards include the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, the Mayors Living Legend Award in Auckland, Distinguished Citizen of Auckland Award, The Catherine Variety Sheridon Award from the children’s charity Variety, and the Henry A Rosso Award for Ethical Fundraising.
As well as being a Patron of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ, she was also the Patron Starship Foundation, Patron Rautakauri Music Therapy Trust, Patron World Child Cancer, Patron Yellow Belle for NZ Women’s Refuge, Patron of Abbeyfield NZ, Trustee of the Athlae Lyon Starship Research Trust, Ambassador Macular Degeneration, and Ambassador for The University of Auckland’s Centre of Brain Research.