Margaret Ann Bedggood (10 April 1939 – 8 September 2026), known for a time by her married name of Margaret Mulgan, was a New Zealand jurist and an honorary professor at the University of Waikato. She was the chief human rights commissioner for New Zealand from 1989 to 1994. Following this, she spent five years as dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato. Bedggood also taught at the University of Otago and tutored at the University of Oxford. Bedggood retired in 2003, but continued as an honorary professor and supervising students.
Margaret Bedggood | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bedggood in 2019 | |
| 3rd Chief Human Rights Commissioner of New Zealand | |
| In office 1989–1994 | |
| Preceded by | John Wallace |
| Succeeded by | Pamela Jefferies |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Margaret Ann Bedggood 10 April 1939 Takapuna, New Zealand |
| Died | 8 September 2026 (aged 87) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards |
|
| Academic background | |
| Education | |
| Influences | William Temple |
| Academic work | |
| Institutions | |
Background
editAcademic career
editBedggood completed a Master of Arts degree in Latin at the University of Auckland in 1960, a Master of Arts degree at University College London in 1964, and a Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Otago in 1978.[5] During the 1960s, she spent time tutoring classics in London, and observed the disparity of opportunity created by pervasive class discrimination. She credited this experience, and reading William Temple's book Christianity and Social Order, as creating her "desire to be an agent of change".[5] Her move from classics to law at age 32 was motivated by the practicalities of having small children and her work with Amnesty International, of which she had been a member since 1968.[6]
In 1970, Bedggood moved to Dunedin. From 1979 to 1989 she lectured in labour law at the University of Otago, being promoted to senior lecturer in 1986.[7] While at Otago, she met Alexander Szakáts, who she described as "the brilliant pioneer of labour law in New Zealand".[5]
In 1988, Bedggood was invited to apply to be the chief human rights commissioner and held the position from 1989 to 1994. During her tenure, the Human Rights Act 1993 was enacted. Following this, she spent five years as dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Waikato.[6][5]
She was a visiting fellow at Kellogg College, Oxford, and tutored in international human rights law.[8] Bedggood retired in 2003, but retained a position as an honorary professor at the University of Waikato and continued to supervise students.[6]
Bedggood served on the international board of Amnesty International from 1999 to 2005.[5] She was on the Refugee Council of New Zealand, and was a trustee of the Aotearoa New Zealand Peace and Conflicts Studies Centre at the University of Otago.[8]
Personal life and death
editBedggood described herself as a "cradle" Anglican and was a member of the Third Order in the Society of Saint Francis.[5] She died on 8 September 2026, at the age of 87.[9]
Honours and awards
editBedggood was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal in 1993.[10] In the 1993 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order for public services.[11] She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Waikato in 2010.[5] In the 2019 New Year Honours, Bedggood was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to human rights law.[12][13]
Selected works
edit- International human rights law in Aotearoa New Zealand. Margaret Bedggood, Kris Gledhill, Ian McIntosh. Wellington. 2017. ISBN 978-1-988504-29-2. OCLC 1027999836.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) CS1 maint: others (link) - Bedggood, Margaret (January 2010). "Studying the Law in Context: Exploring an International Dimension of New Zealand Law". Waikato Law Review: Taumauri. 18: 53–65 – via Informit.
- Bedggood, Margaret; Gledhill, Kris (2011). Law into action : economic, social and cultural rights in Aotearoa New Zealand. Thomson Reuters. ISBN 978-0-86472-723-7. OCLC 707893993.
References
edit- 1 2 "Margaret Ann Bedggood (formerly Mulgan)" (PDF). University of Waikato. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- 1 2 Traue, J. E., ed. (1978). Who's Who in New Zealand (11th ed.). Wellington: Reed. p. 203. ISBN 0-589-01113-8.
- ↑ "Births". The New Zealand Herald. Vol. 76, no. 23319. 12 April 1939. p. 1. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
- ↑ "Obituary: a classical scholar of politics". Otago Daily Times. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dugdale, Susan (27 April 2017). "Margaret Bedggood – The Legal Luminaries Project". Legal Insight New Zealand. Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 5 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- 1 2 3 "Professor Margaret Bedggood". University of Waikato. Archived from the original on 20 April 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ↑ "5.3 Human rights, immigration and citizenship". New Zealand Official Yearbook 1993. Department of Statistics. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Professor Margaret Bedggood, of Auckland, CNZM for services to human rights". Government House. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ↑ "Margaret Bedggood obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 11 September 2026. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
- ↑ "The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – Register of recipients". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 July 2018. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- ↑ "No. 53334". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 12 June 1993. p. 38.
- ↑ "New Year honours list 2019". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2018. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2018.
- ↑ "New Year's honours for Waikato professor and alumna". University of Waikato. 8 January 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2023.