The Governor-Generals' Blog archive

Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the launch of the Superdiversity Centre's #myidentity campaign in Auckland.

On the final day of the Northland visit, Dame Patsy and Sir David met students and staff at the recently established QRC Tai Tokerau College in Paihia.

Conservation and heritage were the focuses of the second day of the regional visit to Northland. Dame Patsy and Sir David went by ferry to Urupukapuka Island, a picturesque jewel in the Bay of Islands.

Kaitaia was the focus of the first day of the visit of Dame Patsy and Sir David to Northland, and they were very impressed with the warmth of the welcome they received at all six engagements.  

This evening Dame Patsy and Sir David joined thousands of people on the waterfront to see the  spectacular launch to the 2018 New Zealand Festival: Kupe - a Waka Odyssey, which featured waka, approximately 1000 children performing kapa ha

On this 7th anniversary of the devastating Christchurch earthquake, our thoughts are with the people of Christchurch, particularly those who have experienced personal loss.

Scouts NZ marked Founders Day and 110 years of scouting in this country with a special celebration at Government House this evening.

Today was an opportunity to support Dame Patsy's strategic focuses of creativity, innovation, leadership and diversity with a forum at Government House.

Last night, Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the launch of the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation at the Supreme Court.

On 13 February Dame Patsy received a call from HE Mr Orhan Tavli, Governor of Canakkale, Mr Ismail Kasdemir, President of the Gallipoli Historical Park Directorate, and HE Mr Ahmet Ergin, the Turkish Ambassador.

On Saturday night, Dame Patsy and Sir David held a reception at Government House for Gold Award recipients of the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards.

Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a magnificent performance of Eglantyne, written and performed by Anne Chamberlain.

The annual Waitangi Day Bledisloe Reception was held at Government House Auckland this year. Dame Patsy and Sir David were joined by 750 guests, including the Prime Minister and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

The Bledisloe Garden Reception 2018 takes place at Government House in Auckland on Waitangi Day.

Don't forget to bring your invitation (it's going to be sunny) and wear a hat and apply sunscreen.

In 1858, a ceremony was held at Maiki Hill to celebrate a new flagstaff, erected by Northern Maori as a gesture of goodwill and reconciliation, 12 years after the war between British forces and allied Northern tribes.

This morning Dame Patsy and Sir David visited the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington to see an impressive exhibition of portraits by Frances Hodgkins (1869-1947), one of New Zealand's  foremost artists.

Congratulations to all the outstanding New Zealanders acknowledged with New Year's Honours. We look forward to hosting them and their families at investiture ceremonies at Government House Wellington and Government House Auckland in May.

This afternoon, Israeli Ambassador Dr Itzhak Gerberg and wife Shifra called on Dame Patsy and Sir David to present a commemorative album of photos taken during the recent visit to Israel for the Beersheba commemorations.

On Monday, Dame Patsy and Sir David welcomed the Queen's Baton to Queenstown at the Airport, on its final leg of a journey around Commonwealth countries and territories before the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

On the final day of her visit, 8 December, Dame Patsy addressed a Women in Leadership Forum, paid a courtesy call on the Sultan of Perak, and lunched with Malaysian alumni of New Zealand universities.

On 7 December, Dame Patsy visited Cheras Cemetery, where she paid her respects at the graves of New Zealand service personnel. In the afternoon, she visited KYS School, met the Governor of Melaka and toured the historic district of Melaka.

On 6 December, day one of Dame Patsy's State Visit to Malaysia she attended a Welcoming Ceremony in Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited  the Islamic Arts Museum and Masjed Jamek m

Dame Patsy and Sir David visited Te Papa on Tuesday 12 December for a sneak peek at their revamped gallery space Toi Art, which is due to open in March next year.

Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a reception for the donors, volunteers and partner organisations of Kaibosh, Wellington's food-rescue service, which redistributes 20 tonnes of food a month to people in need.

As Dame Patsy is on a State Visit to Malaysia, Cabinet Secretary Michael Webster hosted a reception for the Prince's Trust, welcoming Dame Martina Milburn, Group Chief Executive of the Trust.

On Saturday, Dame Patsy travelled to Amberley in Canterbury to open a Chinese Reflection Garden established in memory of Rewi Alley, a New Zealander who spent most of his life in China, promoting training and education as a way to lift people out of pov

Last Friday, Dame Patsy presented another 3 outstanding Auckland students with scholarships from the Sir George Elliot Trust.

On Monday 20 November, Sir David hosted the launch of the New Zealand Film Heritage Trust at Government House.

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted one of the finale events for the WakaNZ: Navigating a Post-Treaty Settlement Future 2017 Workshop.

In Christchurch, Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the opening of the Christchurch City Mission's Women's Night Shelter and also visited the Christchurch Art Gallery to see the Len Lye Exhibition.