Artwork and Artefacts

Government House Wellington has an extensive collection of art and artefacts.  The artwork varies from historic paintings from 16th Century through to works by contemporary New Zealand artists. 

One of the many significant artworks is the remarkable Norrie Collection of paintings of British monarchs and other royalty featured in the State Dining Room and donated by Sir Willoughby (later Lord) Norrie to the House at the end of his term as Governor-General.  Another historic piece of art is Nathaniel Dance's 1776 painting of Captain Charles Clerke, the only known portrait of this friend of Captain James Cook. 

Government House also displays works by distinguished New Zealand artists, either from its own collection or on loan from the permanent collections of the Rutherford Art Trust and the Parliamentary Collection.   Those paintings include works by Peter Siddell, Peter McIntyre and Michael Smither to name but a few.

And it is not just art that is on display.  Other treasures include the mere or greenstone club, Te Raupatu, presented to the Crown by the Tainui iwi at the signing of its Deed of Settlement in 1995, as well as a host of Māori artefacts on loan from former Governor-General, Sir Paul Reeves.