Art and artefacts

Government House has an extensive collection of art and artefacts. Government House also displays works by distinguished New Zealand artists on loan from the permanent collections of the Rutherford Art Trust and the Parliamentary Collection.

Māori taonga

One of the many treasures in the Hall is Te Raupatu, a pounamu mere or greenstone club (below), that was presented to the Crown at the signing of the Deed of Settlement with Waikato in 1995. It symbolises the resolution of 131 years of negotiation over the confiscation of 1.2 million acres of Waikato land in the land wars of 1863-64. The Māori taonga (treasure) above is on loan from Sir Paul Reeves (Governor-General 1985-1990).

In Gallery:

Caricature

The Cobham Billiard Room features caricatures of Governors and Governors-General. Pictured here is a copy of a caricature of Dame Silvia Cartwright. She is shown here as a judge which was her occupation before she became Governor-General. The caricature, by Murray Webb, was commissioned by the Otago District Law Society and the original hangs in the Society’s offices in Dunedin

In Gallery:

Leather chair

In 1952, New Zealand was readying itself for the visit of King George VI. In anticipation of his arrival, Government House commissioned these leather-covered chairs for the Council Room. Unfortunately, The King had to cancel the visit due to ill health and died shortly after, aged 56.

In Gallery:

Candelabrum

The candlelight of an ornate Dutch brass candelabrum in the State Dining Room illuminates two more treasures from the Norrie collection: King Charles I, who was beheaded in 1649, and his wife, Queen Henrietta Maria. The picture of King Charles I is from the School of Sir Anthony van Dyck while the portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria is by Albert Kraaft.

In Gallery:

Norrie collection

The State Dining Room is home to the remarkable and very valuable portrait collection given to the House by Lord Norrie, at the end of his term as Governor-General, in 1957. In presenting the paintings to Prime Minister Holland, Sir Willoughby (later Lord) Norrie said he was presenting the collection to thank New Zealand for the five happiest years of his life. Shown here is The Children of Charles I, from the School of Sir Anthony van Dyck.

In Gallery:

Galleon

Government House features many presents from visiting Heads of State. Pictured here is a silver model of a 16th century Spanish man o’war galleon which is a present from King Juan Carlos I of Spain. The galleon takes pride of place above the fireplace in the State Dining Room.

In Gallery:

Siddell painting

This view of Wellington is by one of New Zealand's best known contemporary painters, Peter Siddell. The painting was commissioned and presented to Government House by Dame Catherine Tizard (1990–1996) and occupies a prominent place in the Hall.

In Gallery:

Captain Clerke painting

This picture is one of Government House’s most important paintings, a portrait of Captain Charles Clerke, RN. It was painted by Sir Nathaniel Dance, and presented by Lord Galway in 1941 at the end of his term as Governor-General. It is the only known portrait of this close friend of Captain James Cook. The portrait hangs above the fireplace in the Drawing Room.

In Gallery:

Screen

This screen, by New Zealand artist Peter McIntyre, depicts Wellington harbour by day on one side and by night on the other.  It was commissioned by Lady Freyberg, wife of Governor-General Lord Freyberg (1946-52) in 1951.

 

In Gallery:

Gary Nash vase

The sunlight sneaks through the top of this glass vase by Gary Nash to throw a lightspot onto the front of the vase.

In Gallery:

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Diamond Jubilee

Her MajestyQueen Elizabeth II became New Zealand's Queen on 6 February 1952. To mark her Diamond Jubilee, a special section of the Governor-General's website has been created.
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