The Governor-Generals' Blog archive

With the current COVID-19 travel restrictions affecting many of our incoming High Commissioners and Ambassadors, some inventive thinking needed to happen to ensure they could still present their credentials while stationed overseas.

Life Flight Trust has been a patron of New Zealand Governor’s-General since the time of Sir Paul Reeves.

Yesterday Dame Patsy visited Flight Plastics in Wellington to see how clear plastic, collected from around New Zealand, is cleaned, broken down, turned into sheeting and then made into packaging for food products.

Bill Gosden was recognised for his contribution to the film industry at a small investiture ceremony at Government House in Wellington this afternoon.

This morning Dame Patsy opened the Fenwick Forum, an event organised by The Aotearoa Circle focussing on ensuring COVID-19 economic recovery opportunities benefit natural capital.

Dame Patsy's visit to Auckland City Mission found the organisation in good heart, after being on the front lines helping Aucklanders in desperate need navigate the Covid-19 crisis.

Dame Patsy and Sir David visited the Auckland Festival Trust this afternoon. Like many events, the Auckland Arts Festival 2020 was affected by the March lock down, with the final few performances of the festival cancelled.

Dame Patsy and Sir David met the team behind the team when they visited the offices of the New Zealand Olympic Committee in Auckland today.

Dame Patsy and Sir David are in Auckland for most of this week.

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?