The Role of the Governor-General

The Role of the Governor-General

The Governor-General is the representative of the Sovereign in New Zealand and is appointed by the Queen in her capacity as Sovereign of New Zealand, on the advice of the Government of New Zealand.  The Letters Patent 1983 provide for the office of the Governor-General.  The usual term of appointment is five years.

The Governor-Generals' role has three overlapping parts:

Constitutional

The Governor-General has a role in many of the formal procedures associated with government and administration.  Many of the Governor-Generals' important powers and functions are exercised under the Constitution Act 1986 and the Letters Patent 1983.  These include:

• summoning, proroguing, and dissolving Parliament;
• assenting to Bills passed by the House of Representatives;
• appointing Ministers of the Crown, on the advice of the Prime Minister;
• presiding over meetings of the Executive Council;
• exercising the prerogative of mercy.

The Governor-General also appoints judges, some senior officials of state and members of various statutory boards, and exercises a wide range of other powers under a number of different statutes.

By convention, the Governor-General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.

Ceremonial

The Governor-General takes a leading role in public ceremonies, including opening new sessions of Parliament, holding honours investitures and attending other important commemorations and public events.  The Governor-General also welcomes visiting Heads of State, receives the credentials of foreign diplomats, and, as requested by the government, represents New Zealand and promotes its interests on visits to other countries.

Community

The Governor-General undertakes an extensive community programme, travelling throughout the country meeting New Zealanders in their communities and holding a wide range of functions at Government House Wellington and Government House Auckland.  The Governor-General is seen as providing non-partisan leadership in the community, is frequently called on to give speeches and is the patron of many charitable, service, sporting and cultural organisations.

Arrangements for the change of Governor-General

The Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright will complete her term of office on 4 August 2006 and, as is customary, will be accorded a state farewell at about that time.

As is also customary, Judge Satyanand will travel to the United Kingdom to have an audience with the Queen prior to his swearing-in as Governor-General.  The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Parliament Buildings in Wellington at a date to be determined after the completion of Dame Silvias' term.

During the short period between the completion of Dame Silvias' term and the swearing-in of Judge Satyanand, the Chief Justice will act as the Administrator of the Government.

Governors-General of New Zealand

Judge Anand Satyanand will become the thirty-fifth representative of the Sovereign since 1840.  Early in New Zealands' European history, New Zealand had a series of colonial governors.  The first modern day Governor-General was appointed in 1917.  Governors-General and their terms of office are as follows:

• Earl of Liverpool          1917-1920
• Viscount Jellicoe        1920-1924
• General Sir Charles Fergusson        1924-1930
• Viscount Bledisloe          1930-1935
• Viscount Galway        1935-1941
• Marshall of the RAF, Sir Cyril Louis Norton Newall   1941-1946
• Lt. General, the Lord Freyberg        1946-1952
• Lt. General, the Lord Norrie        1952-1957
• Viscount Cobham          1957-1962
• Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson        1962-1967
• Sir Arthur Porritt        1967-1972
• Sir Denis Blundell          1972-1977
• Rt Hon Sir Keith Holyoake        1977-1980
• Hon Sir David Beattie        1980-1985
• Most Reverend Sir Paul Reeves      1985-1990
• Dame Catherine Tizard        1990-1996
• Rt Hon Sir Michael Hardie Boys      1996-2001
• Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright        2001 - 2006