Dame Helene Elizabeth Quilter DNZM, QSO

Quilter, Dame Helene Elizabeth – peacefully at home on 23 July 2026, surrounded by family and friends.

Helene is survived by her loving husband, Geoff, stepson Matt and stepdaughter, Bex and their children, her loving brothers Paul, Pierre and Andre and their families.

TRIBUTES

Annette Dixon

Geoff,
I was saddened to hear that Helene has passed away. Although I didn’t work closely with her, our paths did occasionally cross in the 80s and 90s when I still worked in NZ. Please know that I am thinking of you and your whanau, as you gather to remember her. Sending my sincere condolences. Annette Dixon.

Neil Walter

Helene Quilter will be sorely missed. She was an outstanding public servant, admired and respected by her colleagues. She filled some of the most senior positions in government with diistinction. Her outgoing personality, wide experience and straightforward approach to problems were exceptional.
I send my heartfelt sympathy to Geoff and all your family on your loss. Sadly I am unable to attend the service to celebrate her life and work.
Neil Walter CNZM
Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade 1999 -2002

Kurt and Esther Schmid

To Geoff

Our sincere condolences on the sad loss of Helene.
We wish you all the strength needed for the future.
Remember all the good times you had together with Helene.

We are thinking of you

Kurt, Esther, Robin and Tina.

Owen Gill

Helene was an inspiring woman, and an outstanding friend. I can’t get to Wellington tomorrow, but I will be on the live stream

Owen Gill.

Sarene Keanan

Hello Geoff,
The Carruthers Family will be on the live stream from Perth WA to celebrate the life of Helene.
Love to you & Family from ours.
Sarene.

Patricia Barlow

Helene and I were great friends at Boarding School in Auckland, and she was definitely a fun person to be around, terrible at sports (no co-ordination) but loved the arts and had strong opinions and a quick response on most subjects and was very humorous. The last time I saw Helene, I dropped her off at the top of a long driveway where she was living on Hillsborough Rd in Auckland. Rest in Peace Helene.

Karen Tregaskis

I worked with Helene at Defence, supporting her ambition to transform the Defence Capability System. I remember her saying to me “Karen, this change has got to endure past my time as Secretary…” . To her credit, the system stands firm to this day. Her legacy has made a real, and enduring, difference to Defence. She was one of the best CEs I’ve worked with – and I’ve known many. I am sad she didn’t get to enjoy the long and enjoyable retirement she, and her loved ones, truly deserved.

Josie Swan

To Geoff and all the extended family
Helene was an extraordinary woman and will be missed by many. Incredibly sharp intellect and a great sense of fun.

She was an incredibly supportive boss and provided me with opportunities to stretch my wings in a very supportive environment.

Art at home was directly influenced by Helene’s passion for NZ contemporary artists and her generosity in sharing this knowledge.

RIP Helene – you will be remembered fondly.
Josie

Mike Yardley

I had the privilege of working for Helene – yes now Dame Helene – at the Ministry of Defence. This was a period of significant transformation for Defence, her leadership, insight, and integrity were a constant source of guidance. I deeply respected and admired Helene, not only for her professional capabilities but also for her generosity, humility, and genuine care for people. She was someone I regularly turned to for advice, and someone whose perspective I trusted implicitly. I am grateful to have worked alongside her and will remember her with great respect and affection.

Liz Sinclair

Tēnā koe Geoff,
You and I only met a couple of times, through my husband Mark Byers’ friend Tony Johns. I worked with Helene for 4 years at SSC in the early 2010s. I wanted to express my sincere condolences to you. Helene was extremely kind to me and generous with her time and wisdom when I joined SSC, and I know and saw from her what a profoundly special relationship you two had. I was unable to attend the funeral today, but I know people would have spoken of Helene as the embodiment of the spirit of service – and that really is the highest tribute. She gave much to so many public servants – and through them, and her own work, to all New Zealanders. She will be much missed but she lived life to the full and for the gift that it is, and I know your memories of that will be everlasting. Ka aroha hoki – Liz.

Angele en Gerard Lingg van Helmond

Dear Geoff and brothers and all the family ‘s

We are here in Holland also sad ..
It’s a unbelievable so quick all happened..
We feel so sorry for her you and your families..
It’s so a pity that she couldn’t enjoying more from her pensioner time ..

And also that you both had broken your trip to Holland two years ago … through her operation in England .. We looked so forward in that time you have you both here in Holland ..

I will never forgotten my time by you in Wellington 13 years ago …we knowing eachother more and more like cousins in that week..
And felt so warm and close ❤️🙏🏻.

We burned Wednesday here candles for her and you all and in the church in Ommel .
Helene thank You for all the good things, please say hello with hugs in heaven to your parents and our family 🤍💜❤️🙏🏻 thanks 😘
And with a lots of love to you Geoff
We wish you warm strongnes and all the good things . That memory ‘s will give you trust in lonely and difficult times .

Gerard van Helmond and Angèle Lingg from Holland