Last investiture ceremony at Government House Wellington

The last investiture ceremony before Government House Wellington closes for a three-year conservation project will be held at the 98-year-old heritage building tomorrow morning (5 September 2008).

At the ceremony, the Governor-General, Hon Anand Satyanand, will present 35 New Zealanders with the various Insignia, Medals and Decorations awarded in recent Queens' Birthday and New Years' Honours lists.

Heading up the list will be New Zealand opera singer, Dame Malvina Major, who will receive one of New Zealands' highest honours, the Insignia of a Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. 

Government House in Wellington has been the residence of New Zealands' Governor-General, the personal representative of the Head of State, Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand, since 1910.  Alongside the historic buildings in Wellingtons' parliamentary precinct, it is one of New Zealands' most significant heritage buildings and has been accorded a Category 1 heritage status by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

After almost a century of use, the House is in need of considerable conservation work. Following a two-year extensive investigation of the condition of the House and the needs of a modern-day Governor-General, the Cabinet, in the 2008 Budget, approved a conservation project.

During the project, when in Wellington, the Governor-General and Mrs Susan Satyanand will live at Vogel House in Lower Hutt, which will be renamed in the interim as Government House Vogel from the beginning of 2009.  The Governor-General, when not travelling throughout New Zealand, or abroad representing New Zealand, will also live at Government House Auckland.

Some events, such as ceremonies where new Ambassadors present their credentials to the Governor-General, will be held at Government House Vogel.  Other ceremonies, such as for investitures of New Zealand Honours, will be held at other venues in Wellington or elsewhere in New Zealand. Investiture ceremonies and many other events are also regularly held at Government House Auckland since it underwent a significant refurbishment in 2005. 

The Governor-General will also maintain an office at the current Government House site, in one of the houses on the property.  Islington House, named after the first Governor to live in Government House Wellington, will also be the base for the Governor-Generals' staff.

For further enquiries contact: Antony Paltridge on 04-382-0827 or 021 470 583

For more information about the conservation project, visit: www.gg.govt.nz/house