The Governor-Generals' Blog archive

This morning, Dame Patsy and Sir David welcomed HM King Tupou VI of the Kingdom of Tonga and HM Queen Nanasipau'u. Their Majesties are making an official visit to New Zealand.

This afternoon, one week after the killing of 50 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealanders gathered in our towns and cities to observe two minutes' silence.

HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan called on Dame Patsy to offer the condolences of the people of Jordan to New Zealanders in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shootings.

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence is Vice President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which is responsible for caring for the war graves of Commonwealth service personnel from the First and Second World Wars.

The second day of Dame Patsy's visit to Christchurch began with a meeting with the Canterbury Refugee Resettlement and Resource Centre.

Dame Patsy and Sir David travelled to Christchurch to pay their respects following the Christchurch mosque shootings.

Thousands of Wellingtonians attended the Vigil For Christchurch at the Basin Reserve this evening.

This afternoon Dame Patsy and Sir David visited Kilbirnie Mosque.

Dame Patsy has received a telephone call from King Abdullah of Jordan. 

He expressed his deepest sympathy and his strong support for NZ and NZers. He offered whatever assistance we need to deal with the tragedy. 

Message from the Governor of New South Wales and Governor-General Designate of Australia, General The Hon David Hurley.

" Your Excellency,

Baroness Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General shared the following message on the secretariat's website following the Christchurch mosque shootings: 

Our hearts go out to the families and friends of the people who lost their lives in the devastating attack in Christchurch.

HRH The Prince of Wales has sent a message of condolence to the people of New Zealand following the terrorist attacks on the Christchurch mosques.

Her Majesty The Queen has sent a message of condolence to the people of New Zealand following the terrorist attack on the Christchurch mosques.

Message from HM The Queen

Today’s tragic events in Christchurch have shocked all New Zealanders.

Dame Patsy and Sir David visited the Auckland Bioengineering Institute to find out more about the cutting-edge research being undertaken there.

Commonwealth diversity and Commonwealth connections were celebrated in a wonderful gathering in the Beehive Banquet Hall this evening.

Dame Patsy delivered the Commonwealth Message from HM Queen Elizabeth:

At Government House's morning tea on International Women's Day, three women spoke about what the day means to them: Vanessa Stoddart, Global Women Chair; Dr Hiria Hape, Kuia at Government House for many years; and Michelle Huang, who spok

Last Friday Dame Patsy formally opened a stunning new sports complex at Dilworth School's junior campus. The opening took place on Founders Day, when the school remembers the extraordinary generosity of the school's 19th century founders,

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a farewell dinner for the Rt Hon Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice of New Zealand at Government House in Wellington. Dame Sian is retiring after nearly 20 years as head of New Zealand's judiciary. 

Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the inaugural NZ Maori Secondary Schools' XI vs Governor-General's XI cricket match at Karori Park in Wellington.

Dame Patsy and Sir David hung out with people wearing some rather crazy, enormous hats at the opening of Performance Arcade 2019 last Thursday night.

This week Dame Patsy has presented Mentioned in Despatches Awards to veterans of the Vietnam War, to family members, or to friends of deceased recipients.

Dame Patsy officially opened the 2019 Auckland Lantern Festival at The Domain in Auckland last night. The Festival celebrates its 20th year this year and is the largest outside of mainland China.

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted around 2000 people at Government House's Waitangi Day commemorations this afternoon.

Dame Patsy and Sir David began Waitangi Day 2019 at Onuku Marae near Akaroa. It was Dame Patsy's first Waitangi Day in the South Island and while the weather was unexpectedly chilly, the welcome from Ngai Tahu was warm.

The annual Beat Retreat ceremony at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds this evening commemorated longstanding naval connections with Waitangi.

Diplomats accredited to New Zealand are currently in Northland on a tour related to the history of nationhood in New Zealand, dating from the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in 1840. Today Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a lunch for them and t

Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David were guests at a reception on HMNZS Wellington where they met people from Northland, naval personnel and guests from around New Zealand.

One of Northland's favourite sons, Sir Hec Busby, received his knighthood from Dame Patsy today in front of a huge crowd of well-wishers at the Treaty Grounds in Waitangi.

This afternoon Dame Patsy received the credentials of the Ambassador of the Lebanese Republic, HE Mr Milad Raad; the Ambassador of Iceland, HE Mrs Kristin Arnadottir; and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, HE Mr Paul Gulleik Larsen.

This morning, Dame Patsy received the credentials of the High Commissioner of the Cook Islands, HE Mrs Elizabeth Foster Wright-Koteka; the High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia, HE Mr Frank Francis Bwalya; the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Ar