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  • The Governor-General
    • Biography of The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO
    • Biography of Dr Richard Davies
    • Media statements
    • Speeches by The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro
    • The Governor-General's blog
  • Office of the Governor-General
    • Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
      • About the Coronation service
      • The King of New Zealand
      • Get involved
      • Coronation events
    • Roles and functions of the Governor-General
      • Constitutional role
        • New Zealand’s Constitution
        • Credentials ceremonies
        • The Executive Council
        • The Reserve Powers
        • The Royal prerogative of mercy
      • Ceremonial role
        • Investiture ceremonies
        • New Zealand Royal Honours
      • Community role
      • International Role
    • Conditions of Appointment
      • Administrator of the Government
      • The Governor-General Act
      • The Governor-General's Flag
    • History
      • New Zealand's Governor-General - an historical perspective
      • Former Governors-General
    • Invitations, patronage and cards
      • Invitations for the Governor-General
        • Dress code for Government House events
      • Hosting the Governor-General
      • Order of precedence in New Zealand
      • Applying for vice-regal patronage
      • Current Vice-regal patronages
      • Congratulatory messages
    • Contacting the Governor-General
      • Guidance for writing to the Governor-General
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    • Royal Commission Reports
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        • The Ballroom
        • The Council Room
        • The Landing
        • The Norrie State Dining Room
        • The Taupaepae
      • Artwork and artifacts
        • Carved coats of arms
      • Government House centenary
      • Government House conservation
        • Conservation rationale
        • The project in detail
    • Government House Auckland
      • Visiting Government House Auckland
      • The gardens at Government House Auckland
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  1. Home
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  4. Rooms of Government House
  5. Blundell and Porritt Rooms

Blundell and Porritt Rooms

The Blundell Drawing Room
The Blundell Drawing Room

The Blundell Room, and associated Porritt Room, originated in the  ‘withdrawing room’ of times past. 

The rooms are named after the first New Zealand-born and resident Governor-General, Sir Denis Blundell (1972-77) while the smaller room is named after Sir Arthur Porritt (1967-72), the first New Zealand-born Governor-General.

The Blundell Room is used for small receptions, and is where ambassadors present their credentials to the Governor-General.

The room’s art collection includes a folding screen by Peter McIntyre. Commissioned by Lady Freyberg in 1951 (Lord Freyberg was Governor-General from 1946-52), the screen depicts Wellington Harbour by day on one side, and by night on the other.

Above the fireplace is the only known portrait of Captain Charles Clerke RN, one of Captain James Cook’s senior officers, who took over command of the expedition after Cook’s death. It was painted by Sir Nathaniel Dance in 1776 and presented by Governor-General Lord Galway (1935-41).

Gavin Chilcott was commissioned to design a contemporary wall-to-wall carpet for the Blundell and Porritt rooms. The design features a fern rotated and reflected in Blundell, and in wreath form in Porritt, mirroring that on the red carpet runner in the hallway. The carpet was handtufted by Dilana Rugs in Christchurch, using enough wool yarn to stretch from Cape Reinga to Bluff.

The furniture in the rooms includes refurbished and contemporary New Zealand-designed furniture, showcasing the best of New Zealand design. The furniture arrangement can be reconfigured to accommodate the various official functions of the room.

The theme of the Blundell Room is New Zealand’s native bird, the Tui, known for its social, chatty nature. The dark oily blue tones of the Tui’s plummage and the bright yellow of the Kowhai flower that the Tui feasts upon, have guided the selection of drapery and upholstery fabrics.

More images of the Blundell and Porritt Rooms

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  • Government House Wellington
    • Government House tours
    • Rooms of Government House
      • Bledisloe Conservatory
      • Blundell and Porritt Rooms
      • Fitzroy Room
      • Galway and guest suites
      • Liverpool Room
      • Main Hallway
      • Maota Ariki
      • The Ballroom
      • The Council Room
      • The Landing
      • The Norrie State Dining Room
      • The Taupaepae
    • Artwork and artifacts
    • Government House centenary
    • Government House conservation
  • Government House Auckland
  • Other Government Houses
  • Staff at Government House

Book a tour of Government House Wellington

Government House Wellington.

Our Visitor Centre runs free, guided tours for individuals, groups and schools.

Bookings are required.

Find out more about tours

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The Governor-General
  • Biography of The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO
  • Biography of Dr Richard Davies
  • Media statements
  • Speeches by The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro
  • The Governor-General's blog
Office of the Governor-General
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