The Governor-Generals' Blog archive

Recipients of the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand Silver Medal were honoured at Government House Wellington this afternoon. These awards are given to those who demonstrate extraordinary acts of bravery when other lives are in danger.

Today Dame Patsy attended a service at the Royal New Zealand Police College to mark New Zealand, Australian and South Pacific Rembrance Day.

Our final ceremony in this month's round of investiture ceremonies in Auckland saw recognition for services to the music industry, engineering, mathematics education, people with disabilities, art education, youth, and services to Niuean art and the com

This morning six New Zealanders received their insignia for honours received this year. Services to health, the community, governance, people with disabilities, music education, surf life-saving and conservation were acknowledged.

This afternoon seven Honour recipients were recognised for their contributions to education, services to health, the arts, hospitality, philanthropy, and their communities.

This morning's investiture ceremony acknowledged services to medicine and health, Maori and Pasifika, education, fashion, seniors, our communities and historical research and heritage preservation.

This morning's investiture acknowledged contributions to financial literacy, education, local government, wildlife conservation, publishing and literature, and recipients included author Dr Tessa Duder CNZM; financial literacy expert Mary Holm, ONZM; an

Six recipients this afternoon were honoured at Government House Auckland for their contributions to arts, culture and their communities.

Services to education, poetry and refugees were some of the fields recognised this morning at Government House Auckland. Recipients included a leading Māori educator and a former New Zealand Poet Laureate.

This afternoon Government House Auckland welcomed recipients being recognised for services in hockey, police, education and the community.

This morning's investiture ceremonies at Government House Auckland featured a new format in light of the current rules around the size of gatherings and social distancing.

Some of the most popular items in Government House Wellington are the needlepoint chairs surrounding the dining table in the Norrie room.

The Governor-General's role in the election process included the signing of a proclomation dissolving Parliament and yesterday, the signing of the writ and associated documents, directing Alicia Wright, the Chief Electoral Officer to hold a general elec

The Waitangi Day Garden Reception has become something of a highlight in the Government House calendar. Unfortunately event planning in the Covid-19 era requires us to do things differently, so there will be no public ballot for next year's event.

An act of remembrance was on the 15th of August by the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, to mark the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Tours of Government House have been suspended due to Level 2 restrictions.

Heather and Owen look forward to seeing you when we return to Level 1.

Congratulations to the six honours recipients who received their insignia at an investiture ceremony in Queenstown this afternoon.

Sporting excellence was one of the themes for today's investiture ceremony held in Christchurch.

Dame Patsy and Sir David received a warm welcome at the Canterbury Refugee Resettlement and Resource Centre in Christchurch this morning.

Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted representatives from government agencies that are engaged in the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yesterday Dame Patsy hosted an afternoon tea for Eric Barlow, who has retired as a duty policeman at Government House Auckland after 28 and a half years of service.

Dame Patsy spoke at the Commissioning ceremony for the HMNZS Aotearoa at the Devonport Naval Base in Auckland yesterday.

The final investiture ceremony for this Auckland round saw six notable New Zealanders recognised for their contributions across a range of spheres.

There was a real focus on positive work within communities at the penultimate investiture ceremony at Government House Auckland to celebrate New Year honours recipients.

Today we recognised some of our netball coaching greats at Government House Auckland, with current Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua, DNZM, and former Silver Fern Margaret Forsyth, ONZM receiving their honours.

Professor Sir Bob Elliott, of Auckland, KNZM for services to medical research

Professor Sir Bob Elliott was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999 for his services to medical research.

This morning Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted members of the Good Deed Group, whose members are all immigrants from Iraq.

Radio and television icon Karyn Hay, ONZM was among the recipients during the investiture at Government House Auckland on the 24th of July. Hay was recognised for her contribution to broadcasting and the music industry.

Another great Kiwi Olympian was recognised this afternoon during the investiture ceremony at Government House Auckland, with Lauren Boyle recieving an MNZM for services to swimming. 

This morning's investiture ceremony in Auckland saw recipients recognised for their contributions victim advocacy, athletics, the deafblind community among others.