The Governor-Generals' Blog archive

As patron of the Te Papa Foundation, Dame Patsy and Sir David  were the first guest through the doors at Te Papa Tongarewa after being closed for the longest time in its 22 year history.

With the sudden alert level 4 announcement, schools had to react quickly to shift learning from the classroom to an online environment.

While many New Zealanders worked from home where possible during alert level 4 COVID-19 restrictions, some needed to leave their bubble to ensure a small bit of essential normality took place for our households.

Last night's dinner for officials leading New Zealand's response to COVID-19 was an opportunity to test out Government House's hospitality protocols under Level Two.

This evening Dame Patsy hosted government officials who have been trusted leaders of New Zealand's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On this AIDS Candlelight Memorial day, the COVID-19 virus is obliging us to gather in a virtual space  and reflect on the terrible toll of the HIV virus, which has been responsible for over 30 million deaths worldwide since the 1980s.

He toi whakairo, he mana tangata: Where there is artistic excellence, there is human dignity.

Dame Patsy is patron of a wide range of charities and organisations. She has recently sent them letters of support, acknowledging that they are working in testing times and have had to adapt how they work in our communities.

Like other New Zealanders, Dame Patsy and Sir David were unable to attend public commemorations to mark Anzac Day 2020, due to the restrictions imposed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dame Patsy speaks about how proud she is of the country's response to the Covid-19 crisis and urges everyone to keep up the good work

Media advisory on behalf of Dame Patsy Reddy, Governor-General of New Zealand

Like other New Zealanders, we are doing everything we can to support measures that will help contain COVID-19.
My constitutional duties will continue, but all community engagements and events in my programme have been postponed.

All tours of Government House Wellington and Auckland are postponed until at least 14 April, 2020, when the tour programme will be reviewed again.

Dame Patsy spoke at a training session for the Returning Officers and Registrars of Electors taking part in this year's General Elections. 

Best wishes to the volunteers, sponsors and food donors supporting the new Kaibosh branch in Paraparaumu.

On the 9th of March, Dame Patsy delivered Her Majesty The Queen's Commonwealth Message for Commonwealth Day.

Why paint the town red when you can paint it rainbow!

This morning, Dame Patsy and Sir David were delighted to shine a spotlight on some of the good people who open up their homes as foster carers to children who are neglected or abused.

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a dinner for members of the Order of New Zealand at Government House in Wellington.

How can we help society be more cohesive? How can we strengthen personal resilience to deal with rapid change? How can we make good decisions about our adoption of new technologies?

Four of New Zealand's best were inducted into the Massey College of Creative Arts Hall of Fame at a ceremony at Government House this evening.

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a lunch for some of the key figures behind the New Zealand Festival of the Arts, currently taking place in Wellington.

Dame Patsy did the honours at the official opening of the new McKinnon Block at Wellington's Scots College this afternoon.

The Aotearoa Circle is attracting increasing numbers of leaders in the public and private sector who recognise the urgent need to address the wellbeing of our natural resources, while finding ways to pursue sustainable prosperity.

The sun came out to play when our friends from Newtown Kindergarten visited for a picnic in Coronation Grove at Government House, Wellington.

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a reception for State Services Commission Crown Entity Board Chairs at Government House in Wellington this evening.

Today, Dame Patsy and Sir David watched the Governor-General’s XI versus the NZ Māori Schoolboys and Schoolgirls at the Karori Cricket Club in Wellington. This is the second year the Governor-General’s XI has played the NZ Māori Schoolboys.

This evening, Dame Patsy hosted a reception for the Downtown Community Ministry’s 50th Birthday.

Dame Patsy hosted a networking reception for SheEO at Government House in Auckland. SheEO is a women-led inititative that raises investment capital and distributes it to women-led businesses in the form of interest-free loans.