Media Release - Governor-General visits the Far North

The Governor-General of New Zealand, Hon Anand Satyanand, and Mrs Susan Satyanand, are to visit Northland this week.

The Governor-General and Mrs Satyanand will arrive in Kaitaia on the afternoon of December 5 and begin their formal visit on the following day.

During their stay they will visit a school, a childrens' health camp and meet with industry and local government leaders.  They will also travel to the northern most tip of mainland New Zealand at Cape Reinga.

The Governor-General said he was looking forward to visiting the Far North.

"As a lawyer, judge and ombudsman, I made several visits to Northland and apart from briefly visiting Waitangi in February, this will be my first visit since being appointed as Governor-General in August last year. 

"Northland is the birthplace of New Zealand, where our founding document the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, and the site of our nations' first capital.  Today it has a vibrant multicultural community and has, in recent years, experienced sustained economic growth.  I am looking forward to meeting some of the people who make this region special and learning more of its future plans."

Some of the events they will be attending that may be of media interest include:

Thursday 6 December 2007

9.30am: Visit to Oruaiti School, Mangonui.

12.30pm (approx): Visit Cape Reinga

Friday 7 December 2007

9.30am: Visit Maunu Childrens' Health Camp.  The Governor-General is Patron of New Zealands' Childrens' Health Camps.

1.45pm: Visit to the Kaipara District Council, Dargaville.

Saturday 8 December 2007

10.30am: Tour of Tenix facilities at Whangarei - media seeking to cover this event must contact Paul Thomas from Tenix on 021 549 789 to discuss access to the site.

For more information prior to December 5 contact Antony Paltridge, Public Affairs Officer on 04 382 0827 or after December 5, contact Captain Kate Weinberg, Aide-de-Camp, on 021 795 588.