Former Governors-General


Lieutenant-Governors, Governors and Governors-General of New Zealand

DEPENDENCY

Lieutenant-Governor 
Captain William Hobson, RN
(under Lt.-Col. Sir George Gipps, RE,
Governor of New South Wales 1837 - 1846, and Governor-in-Chief of New Zealand 1839 - 1841)		1840 - 1841

 

CROWN COLONY

Governor 
Captain William Hobson, RN1841 - 1842
Captain Robert Fitzroy, RN1843 - 1845
Captain George Grey1845 - 1847
Governor-in-Chief 
Sir George Grey, KCB1848 - 1853

 

SELF-GOVERNING COLONY

Governor of New Zealand 
Sir George Grey, KCB1853 - 1853
Colonel Thomas Gore Browne, CB1855 - 1861
Sir George Grey, KCB1861 - 1868
Sir George Ferguson Bowen, GCMG1868 - 1873
The Rt Hon Sir James Fergusson, Bt.1873 - 1874
Marquess of Normanby, GCB, GCMG, PC1875 - 1879
Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson, GCMG1879 - 1880
The Hon Sir Arthur Hamilton Gordon, GCMG1880 - 1882
Lt. General Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois, GCMG, CB1883 - 1889
Earl of Onslow, GCMG1889 - 1892
Earl of Glasgow, GCMG1892 - 1897
Earl of Ranfurly, GCMG1897 - 1904
Lord Plunket, GCMG, KCVO1904 - 1910
Lord Islington, KCMG, DSO, PC1910 - 1912
Earl of Liverpool, GCMG, MVO, PC1912 - 1917
Governor-General of New Zealand 
Earl of Liverpool, GCB, GCMG, GBE, MVO, PC1917 - 1920
Viscount Jellicoe, GCB, OM, GCVO1920 - 1924
General Sir Charles Fergusson, Bt., GCMG, KCB, DSO, MVO1924 - 1930
Viscount Bledisloe, GCMG, KBE, PC1930 - 1935
Viscount Galway, GCMG, DSO, OBE, PC1935 - 1941
Marshal of the RAF Sir Cyril Louis Norton Newall,
GCB, OM, GCMG, CBE, AM		1941 - 1946
Lt. General the Lord Freyberg, VC, GCMG, KCB, KBE, DSO1946 - 1952
Lt. General the Lord Norrie, GCMG, GCVO, CB, DSO, MC1952 - 1957
Viscount Cobham, GCMG, TD1957 - 1962
Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson, GCMG, GCVO, DSO, OBE1962 - 1967
Sir Arthur Espie Porritt, Bt., GCMG, GCVO, CBE1967 - 1972
Sir (Edward) Denis Blundell, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QSO1972 - 1977
The Rt Hon Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO1977 - 1980
The Hon Sir David Stuart Beattie, GCMG, GCVO, QSO, QC1980 - 1985
The Rt Rev & The Hon Sir Paul Alfred Reeves,
GCMG, GCVO, QSO		1985 - 1990
The Hon Dame Catherine Anne Tizard, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO1990 - 1996
The Rt Hon Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO1996 - 2001
The Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSO2001 - 2006
The Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO2006 – 2011


All Honours listed are those held on retirement from office.

 

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Features

  • Coronation Diamond Jubilee
    The Governor-General looks back at the Queen's 1953 Coronation
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  • AIDS Candlelight Memorial
    Message from the Governor-General
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  • South Canterbury and North Otago Regional Visit
    20-23 February: An overview
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  • Waitangi Day - 2013
    Governor-General and Lady Janine visit Waitangi and Auckland
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  • New Year Message 2013
    Governor-General issues his 2013 New Year message
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  • New Year Honours 2013
    New Zealanders recognised by The Queen of New Zealand
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  • Birthday cake
    Secrets of Government House birthday cake revealed
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  • Diamond Jubilee visit
    Royal couple to visit Auckland, Wellington, Manawatu and Christchurch
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  • Royal reception
    Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall prepare for trip to downunder
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  • New Zealand's Governor-General
    Government House publishes new booklet
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  • 2012 London Olympic Games
    The Governor-General supports the NZ Olympic Team in London
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  • Diamond Jubilee message
    The Governor-General's Diamond Jubilee message
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  • Open to view - credentials ceremonies
    Watch the video of a credentials ceremony at Government House
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  • Western Bay of Plenty regional visit
    The Governor-General makes his first official visit.
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  • Open Days
    Government House opens its doors to mark the Diamond Jubilee
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  • Christchurch and Canterbury Earthquake Anniversary
    The Governor-General's Programme
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  • Waitangi Celebrations 2012
    The Governor-General's first Waitangi Day Programme
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  • Governor-General's New Year Message
    Sir Jerry Mateparae issues his 1st New Year message - watch the video
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  • State Opening of Parliament
    Governor-General announces the Government's plans
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  • Speaker-elect confirmation ceremony
    Dr Smith confirmed as Speaker of the House
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  • Appointment of the new Government
    The Governor-General appoints the new Government
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  • Queen's Diamond Jubilee Emblem
    New emblem to mark the Diamond Jubilee
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  • Rugby World Cup
    Message from the Queen of New Zealand on the All Blacks' victory
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  • State Swearing-in of Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae
    A Government House short film
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  • Royal NZ Navy 70th Anniversary
    The Governor-General hosted and attended associated events
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  • New Zealand Gallantry Awards
    Government House has today issued a special honours list
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  • One year on from the 4 September 2010 Canterbury earthquake
    Governor-General issues a message
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  • Swearing in ceremony
    Sir Jerry Mateparae to become NZ's 20th Governor-General
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  • Sir Paul Reeves
    New Zealand's first Governor-General of Maori descent dies
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  • Visit by King George Tupou V of Tonga
    The Governor-General hosted a State Welcome for the King of Tonga
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  • Māori King visits Government House
    The King plants a tree to mark the visit
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  • Matariki
    The Governor-General's 2011 Matariki Message
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  • The Royal Wedding
    Sir Anand and Lady Susan attended the Royal Wedding on 29 April
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  • ANZAC Day message
    The Governor-General's message for ANZAC Day commemorations
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  • The National Christchurch Memorial Service
    Details and photos are available here.
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  • Christchurch Earthquake
    Governor-General offers the support of all New Zealanders
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  • Canterbury earthquake
    World leaders send messages of support to New Zealand
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  • Waitangi Day 2011
    Sir Anand Satyanand's last Waitangi Day as Governor-General
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  • New Year Message
    Governor-General issues his message for 2011
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  • Pike River Mine Tragedy
    World leaders send messages of support to New Zealand
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  • Governor-General visits Canterbury
    A visit to support and encourage those affected by the earthquake
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  • New Year Message
    Governor-General issues his message for 2010
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  • Governor-General's 2009 New Year Message
    New Zealanders urged to volunteer
    Find out more