Vivienne Boyd

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Dame Vivienne Myra Boyd (née Lowe) was a New Zealand community leader born on 11 April 1926 in Lower Hutt. Her parents were Winifred and Hugh Lowe. She studied at Hutt Valley High School and Victoria University College, earning a Master of Science with third‑class honours in 1948. In 1948 she married Robert Macdonald Boyd, and they had four children.

Vivienne Boyd held many public roles. She was president of the National Council of Women (1978–1982), a member and later chair of the Consumer Council (1975–1988), and chair of the Abortion Supervisory Committee (1979–1980). In the Baptist Church, she led at many levels: president of the Baptist Women’s League (1966–1968), convenor of the Public Questions Committee (1967–1972, 1977–1979), a member of the Baptist Union Council (1970–1985), and president of the Baptist Union (1984–1985) — the first woman to hold the last two roles.

Awards and honours include the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal (1977), Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1983, and Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1986 for public and community services.

Dame Vivienne Boyd died on 13 July 2011 in Lower Hutt and was buried in the Taita Old Cemetery. Her husband had passed away in 2004.