We're heading into the busiest part of the year and the Governor-General's diary is looking very full. Regrettably we cannot accept any more invitations for June, July, August and September 2019.
On 15 June, Dame Patsy and Sir David attended an investiture ceremony for St John postulants at the Cathedral of St Paul's in Wellington. Dame Patsy is Prior of the Order in New Zealand.
Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a fundraising dinner for the Red Cross to mark World Refugee Day. The food was based on the organisation's "Taste of Cultures' cookbook, which gathered together recipes and stories from former refugees now living in New Zealand. The dinner was cooked by guest chefs Pratheepan Neruraya from Sri Lanka; Veronica Montane from Chile and Hajar Masraeh from Iran, working alongside the Government House chefs.
Every year in New Zealand, one in three girls, one in six boys and one in two disabled people experience some form of sexual abuse. For Maori girls and women, the likelihood of sexual violence is twice as high as the general population. The LBGTQI+ community is even more at risk.
Last night's reception for Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP! Foundation at Government House brought together people who are determined to both help the victims of sexual abuse and bring about the social change required to eliminate this terrible scourge in our communities.
Their commitment, courage and aroha was inspirational and we wish them every success with their mission.
Dame Patsy and Sir David visited Zealandia, an eco-sanctuary in the suburb of Karori in Wellington. Zealandia's 500-year vision is to restore a Wellington valley’s forest and freshwater ecosystems to their pre-human state. So far, Zealandia has reintroduced 18 species of native wildlife back into the area, some of which were previously absent from mainland New Zealand for over 100 years.
Zealandia's success has seen a rise in native birds across Wellington.The 'halo effect' has even seen kaka make their home in the Government House gardens.
Members of the Muslim community celebrated the official opening of Iqra Elementary School's new premises in Auckland today. We were impressed by the children's and staff's use of English, Te Reo Maori and Arabic. Congratulations to all the people who have worked so hard to bring their vision of the school to reality, and we wish Principal Fatima Zaheed and her staff all the very best in the years ahead.
Sir David stood in for Dame Patsy at the launch of not for profit organisation Spend My Super at Government House in Auckland this evening.
The brainchild of former social worker Liz Grieve, Spend My Super encourages New Zealanders to donate all or part of their superannuation to support great New Zealand charities including Pillars, which helps children affected by having a parent in prison; Child Poverty Action group and KidsCan.
Dame Patsy represented New Zealand at the commemorations for the 75th anniversary of D-Day at Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. As well as attending the official ceremony, she had the opportunity to meet with leaders of 15 other nations as well as Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
Later, she attended a special lunch for D-Day veterans.
Otago University, our oldest university, is celebrating 150 years this year. It took just 29 years from the arrival of the first Scots settlers till the University was opened in 1869. It now has over 20,000 students and as Dame Patsy said, is the beating heart of Dunedin.
Today Dame Patsy attended a special convocation ceremony, where Honorary Doctor of Law degrees were conferred on Emeritus Professor Atholl Anderson, Dr Viopapa Annandale-Atherton, Sir Bill English and Brigid Inder.
A spectacular fireworks display in the early evening was followed by a celebration dinner in the Town Hall.
Te Runanga o Otakou Marae is situated in a spectacular setting near the mouth of Otago Harbour. It was there that two Ngai Tahu chiefs signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi in June 1840. Next to the wharenui there is a church built in 1940 to mark the centenary of the Treaty signing.
During today's visit to the marae, Kaumatua Edward Ellison and Dame Patsy both spoke about the connections forged between Ngai Tahu and the Crown that persist to this day.
We were privileged to be entertained with a series of waiata performed in impeccable style by students from Kings High School and Queens High School.
Protection of the natural world and innovative research was a strong theme in today's visits to the Otago Museum and the Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head. The impact of global heating on Antarctica, and subsequent sea rise was the subject of an extremely informative film screened at the Museum's planetarium, and it was a delight to be able to see multi-coloured tropical butterflies in the rainforest.
The years of research into the life-cycles of albatrosses and predator control have certainly paid off at Taiaroa Head. Other threatened species of seabirds have also found a haven there, including shags, gulls, spoonbills, penguins and herons. Seals, sea-lions and elephant seals have also flourished in the wildlife sanctuary.
Dame Patsy and Sir David visited Christchurch on Wednesday.
First stop was Blinc Innovation's 'Sustainable Protein: Healthy People & Planet' event at Tai Tapu near Christchurch. Dame Patsy spoke of how New Zealand's innovative mindset and reputation for quality food products ideally places us to lead change
Dame Patsy spoke at and presented the prizes at the New Zealand School's Debating Championships Grand Final at Parliament today.
Wellington Black and Auckland Blue were the finalists and the moot was "That this house will only allow female lawmakers to vote on women's health issues."
It was a close debate and Wellington Black were judged the winners by 3-2.
Congratulations to everyone who competed over the weekend.
Dame Pasty and Sir David hosted a reception for the Jane Goodall Institute at Government House. Guest of Honour Dr Jane Goodall's speech had the guests full attention and later she presented the inaugural Jane Goodall Trailblazer Awards to Chloe Swarbrick and Maha Fier.
Congratulations to the recipients who received their insignia at Government House in Auckland today. Recipients included Jennifer Ward-Lealand for services to theatre, film and television; our Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh for services to poetry, literature and the Pacific community and Vic Tamati for services to the prevention of family violence
Today there were two investiture ceremonies at Government House Auckland. The first was for The Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann, the Chief Justice of New Zealand. Dame Helen will be Administrator for the Government when Dame Patsy is unable to perform her duties as Governor-General.
This afternoon's ceremony for ten honour recipients recognised outstanding contributions in community service, the wine industry, orchestral performance, support for people with multiple sclerosis, journalism, religious history, governance, the Pacific Community, women, and the Niuean community.
Yesterday, Dame Patsy and Sir David attended two of Auckland Grammar's 27 events to mark the school's first 150 years. At a special assembly, Dame Patsy noted the long-standing association with the office of Governor and Governor-General, beginning with Sir George Grey's 1850 endowment to establish a grammar school. Their Excellencies then attended a cocktail function in an enormous marquee on the grounds, along with decades of Auckland Grammar Old Boys.
Today it seemed like all the students at St Cuthbert's turned out to welcome Dame Patsy when she arrived at the school. The younger students waved flags that they had made to symbolise love and diversity, the senior girls performed a haka, and then Dame Patsy addressed a scholar's assembly, where high achieving senior students received awards.
Congratulations to all today's recipients for their work in human rights, design and business, rugby and rugby league, the LGBTIQ+ community, fashion, Cook Islands art and culture, athletics, and education.
Two more investiture ceremonies were held at Government House today.
The morning saw the arts, sport and science mix together with Dame Gaylene Preston, Dan Carter, Lydia Ko, Barbara Kendall and Glen Ashby receiving their insignia.
The afternoon saw people honoured for services to Plunket, the State, governance, football, aviation, seniors, Maori health and development, children with genetic immune deficiency disorders, Asian communities and youth.
Two knighthoods were conferred at today's ceremonies at Government House Auckland. Sir Stephen Tindall's knighthood was elevated to a GNZM and Sir Rob McLeod received his KNZM for services to business and Maori. Carmel Fisher, of Fisher Funds Management received a CNZM and Barbara Chapman, former CE of ASB, received her CNZM for services to business. Rob Tapert, producer of 'Hercules' and 'Xena Warrior Princess' received his ONZM for services to the film and television industries.
Congratulations to the 17 New Zealanders recognised at Government House today for their contributions to Maori carving and bone art, business,environmental resource management, conservation, basketball, science education, tourism and heritage preservation, highland dancing, television and theatre, education, seabird conservation, their communities, sport, the Girls Brigade, outdoor education, ethnic communities and dentistry.
Outstanding contributions to areas as diverse as health, documentary film-making, science, history, refugee communities, optometry, conservation, water management, karate, and the arts and broadcasting were recognised at this morning's investiture ceremony.
17 New Zealanders received the insignia this afternoon's investiture ceremony at Government House in Wellington. Amongst the recipients - Sir Kim Workman for services to prisoner welfare and the justice sector; Terry McTavish of Dunedin for services to theatre and education and the late Georgina Salter for her contribution to netball.
The 12 recipients at this morning's investiture ceremony included retired Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Timothy Keating, CNZM, and Fire Service, Police, Defence and Coastguard personnel. Vivien Leachman received the insignia for the late Mr Andrew Leachman, whose maritime skills and navigation were invaluable to scientific research, and access to Antarctic waters.
Our first investiture ceremony for 17 recipients of New Year Honours was held at Government House this morning. They included New Zealand's longest serving mayor, Sir Tim Shadbolt, KNZM; Professor Peter Crampton, CNZM of Dunedin, acknowledged for his contribution to health care; and Maryanne Tipler, ONZM, who is New Zealand's leading author of mathematical textbooks.
Dame Patsy began Anzac Day by giving the Anzac Address at the Dawn Service at Pukeahu National War Memorial. She also laid a wreath alongside HE the Hon Patricia Forsythe, High Commissioner of Australia and He Ahmet Ergin, the Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey.
Dame Patsy and Sir David then attended the National Commemoration at Pukeahu later in the morning, where Dame Patsy and Hon Grant Robertson spoke. The Service included readings by youth representatives from New Zealand, Australia and Turkey. The Air Force Band and the Supertonic Choir provided a moving backdrop during the wreath-laying ceremony.
Today we had perfect autumn weather for the powhiri and military parade associated with our credentials ceremonies. This morning Dame Patsy received the credentials of new Heads of Diplomatic Mission to New Zealand: HE Mr Javier Augusto Prado Miranda, Ambassador of the Republic of Peru; HE Mr Zakaria Ahmad, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam; HE Mr Antonio Pedro da Vinha Rodrigues da Silva, Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic; and HE Major General (Rtd) Lineo Bernard Poopa, High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Lesotho.
This afternoon it was the turn of the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia, HE Ms Betty Pavelich Sirois and Ambassador of the Czech Republic, HE Mr Tomáš Dub.
On Thursday Dame Patsy and Sir David visited Te Papa for the Terrcotta warriors exhibition. They were also lucky enough to visit Te Papa's stacks and see some of the treasures stored there.
Later that day, Dame Patsy gave the Royal Assent to the Arms (Prohibited Firearms, Magazines, and Parts) Amendment Act in the Council Room at Government House.
This afternoon, Dame Patsy hosted a reception for the Child Cancer Foundation, to honour Pat Wilkes with a Life Membership of the Foundation, in recognition of twenty years of selfless service to young cancer patients and their families.
Dame Patsy and Sir David spent a couple of days in the Southern Lakes last week. The focus of their visit was innovation in the arts, tourism and sustainability.
Day One saw the Dame Patsy attending the Festival of Colour. Based in Wanaka,with satellite performances all around the Central Otago area, the Festival takes place every two years, offering a varied programme of arts events.
While in Wanaka, Dame Patsy introduced a performance by Jordy Savall and then dropped in on a rehearsal of “Permission to Speak”, a theatrical work featuring Mount Aspiring College students.
On Monday 1 April, Their Excellencies began the day at The Hills Golf Club with a tour of the sculpture collection. From there they travelled to Shotover Jet for a briefing on tourism and sustainability.
The final day of the visit saw the couple tour Arrowtown’s historic Chinese settlement before receiving a briefing on the wilding pine situation from DOC. The wilding pine theme continued at New Zealand Essential Oils/aoTERRA, where wilding pines are being used to manufacture essential oils. The last event was a trip to Camp Glenorchy to find out more about the eco- retreat’s sustainability focus.
