For the final New Year 2024 investiture ceremony at Government House Wellington, eleven recipients received their insignia for outstanding contributions both here and abroad. Among them was master weaver Matekino Lawless, who has been weaving for over 60 years. Her works have been showcased both nationally and internationally, and she is a founding member of an advisory group for senior raranga artists. Dr Megan Balks received the New Zealand Antarctic Medal, for services to Antarctic soil science. Dr Balks is one of Aotearoa’s leading soil scientists, and has completed 19 expeditions to study human environmental impact on the Antarctic permafrost. Her research has led to the establishment of Antarctic soil climate monitoring stations, which monitor the effect of climate change in polar areas.
Children’s author David Hill was among the recipients for this afternoon’s investiture ceremony at Government House Wellington. Mr Hill has published over 50 books including See Ya, Simon and Right Where It Hurts, and is also a columnist, playwright, and mentor to emerging writers. Mrs Raana Tuuta received a QSM for her services to Māori and the community. Among her many roles on the Chatham Islands, Mrs Tuuta is the kuia and Kai Karanga for the community, chaired the Island’s Federated Farmers Association, is a board member for the Department of Conservation Chatham Islands Committee and taught kapa haka at Te One Primary School.
Beautiful harmonies featured in the waiata at this morning's investiture ceremony at Government House, where the Royal Honours recipients included renowned architect Pip Cheshire, CNZM; Professor Rangi Matamua, ONZM, who has promoted wider appreciation of Māori language, culture, and astronomy; and singer, composer and Māori music champion Tama Waipara.
Dame Cindy welcomed nine recipients to Government House Wellington for their investiture ceremony this afternoon, including horticulturalist Murray McPhail, who founded LeaderBrand in 1975. The fresh produce company has now grown to become one of the largest employers in Tairāwhiti. Also among those recognised was Associate Professor Tristram Ingham, who received an ONZM for his advocacy for the disability community. His contributions include helping to establish Whaikaha – Ministry of Disabled people, and being a representative on the Independent Monitoring Mechanism (IMM) to the United Nations.
This morning, Dame Cindy presented insignia to eleven recipients of Royal Honours, including football administrator Dr Johanna Wood, CNZM, who led the bidding for the hosting rights of the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023, and was the first female President of the New Zealand Football Executive Committee; former MP, Labour Party President and human-rights advocate, The Honourable Maryan Street, MNZM; Major-General Evan Williams, ONZM, former Force Commander for the Multinational Force and Observers in Sinai; and Lieutenant Commander Louis Mundon-Hooper, who played a key role in the development and delivery of HMNZS AOTEAROA for the Royal New Zealand Navy. Our warmest congratulations to all the recipients.
This morning, at Government House, Dame Cindy presented insignia to ten recipients of Royal Honours. Ross Wilson, CNZM, has held influential leadership roles in the union movement, and the fields of workplace safety and accident compensation. Paul Gibson, QSO has been recognised for his advocacy for and contributions to disability rights. Rose Henderson, ONZM has played leading roles in Aotearoa and internationally in social work and health administration, and cardiothoracic surgeon Richard Brunton, ONZM has made a significant contribution as a surgeon, educator, and adviser to government agencies.
For this afternoon’s investiture ceremony at Government House Wellington, 10 recipients were recognised for their services to Aotearoa New Zealand. Dr Will Edwards was received an ONZM for his contributions to Māori Health, including his time as Director of Tui Ora – a Kaupapa Māori social health and wellbeing provider based in Taranaki – and his role in the Māori Health Committee of the Health Research Council of New Zealand. Also among those recognised was Mary-Jane Rivers, who helped found the first Women’s Refuge in the North Island, and was the first CEO of the Citizens Advice Bureau.
This morning, eleven Royal Honours recipients and their guests were welcomed to the first of nine investiture ceremonies to be held this month at Government House Wellington. Recipients included Yolanda Soryl, CNZM, who was acknowledged for her work in developing phonics education, Professor Frank Bloomfield, ONZM, whose research has advanced knowledge of fetal development and infant nutrition, and Dr Graeme Elliott, ONZM, who was recognised for his research into New Zealand's endangered birds and the threats to their survival. Our warmest congratulations to all the recipients.
Last night, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted a State Dinner in honour of the Head of State of Samoa, His Highness Afioga Tuimaleali’ifano Va’aletoa Sualauvi II, and his Good Lady, Masiofo Faamausili Leinafo.
Guests included Samoan New Zealanders who have contributed to New Zealand in a variety of fields.
On this crisp, clear Wellington morning, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted a very special State Ceremony of Welcome for His Highness Afioga Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aleto'a Sualauvi II, the Head of State of Samoa, and His Good Lady, Masiofo Faamausili Leinafo Tuimaleaeli’ifano. The ceremony included a guard of honour executed beautifully by members of the New Zealand Defence Force, as well as wonderful performances by students from Wellington College and Naenae Primary School's Tava’e Samoan Bilingual Unit. For the occasion, Their Excellencies wore tapa cloths gifted to them during their State Visit to Samoa back in 2022.
Our warmest welcome to His Highness and His Good Lady, and we wish them all the very best for their State Visit to Aotearoa New Zealand.
The current round of investiture ceremonies concluded this morning at Government House Auckland. Tōhunga whakairo (master carver) Clive Fugill was among those recognised today by Dame Cindy, for his lifetime of commitment to the craft of carving, and for supporting the next generation of carving talent. Barbara Dreaver received her ONZM for her staunch commitment to the highest-quality investigative journalism, and to telling New Zealand and Pacific stories – while vastly experienced literary editor Harriet Allan received her MNZM for her role in nurturing some of New Zealand's finest writers over the past 35 years.
Our very warmest congratulations once again to all those outstanding recipients acknowledged today and over the past two weeks – and our thanks for your service to Aotearoa New Zealand and your commitment to excellence.
Dame Cindy hosted a further investiture ceremony this afternoon at Government House Auckland, recognising the achievements and service of six outstanding New Zealanders. Recipients today were acknowledged for their contributions across the fields of search and rescue, governance and Māori, food science and nutrition, cricket, sailing administration, and the Indian community. Very warmest congratulations to all of this afternoon's recipients.
Dr Kevin Trenberth was among the seven recipients of Royal New Zealand Honours insignia this morning at Government House Auckland. Dr Trenberth is a world-renowned scientist in the field of climate variability and climate change, who holds several distinguished fellowships, and was a lead author of three Scientific Assessment of Climate Change reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sharing in the Panel’s 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Mrs Letty Brown was also acknowledged for her lifelong service to Māori and early childhood education, particularly through her support of and advocacy for the Kohanga Reo movement. Very warmest congratulations to all of this morning's recipients!
This evening at the Due Drop Events Centre in Auckland, Dame Cindy attended a gala dinner as part of Whaiora o Ngā Iwi Taketake – the inaugural conference hosted by Te Hononga o Tāmaki me Hoturoa. Te Hononga is a hauora Māori health provider based in Tāmaki Makaurau, and its conference, which runs for four days, is a celebration of indigenous peoples and knowledge, and seeks to foster a holistic approach to community and whānau wellbeing. Attendees included Māori health professionals, researchers, policy makers, academics, students, business owners, and community workers focused on indigenous health.
Investiture ceremonies continued this morning at Government House Auckland, with seven further recipients acknowledged for their outstanding achievements and service to Aotearoa New Zealand. Sir Ian Mune received his knighthood for a lifetime of service to New Zealand film, television, and theatre. Many New Zealanders will know Sir Ian for his roles co-writing and performing in the classic New Zealand films ‘Sleeping Dogs’ (1977) and ‘Goodbye Pork Pie’ (1981), as well as directing ‘Came a Hot Friday’ (1984). Other recipients received their insignia for services to journalism, gymnastics, Māori health and social services, dance, heritage preservation, and photography. Our warmest congratulations to all those acknowledged at this morning's very special ceremony.
Seven further recipients were welcomed to Government House this afternoon for their investiture ceremony, including Kevin Prime, who received a CNZM for services to Māori, the environment and health. Mr Prime is a member of the Waitangi Tribunal, founding secretary of the Ngāti Hine Health Trust, and is a Commissioner on the Environment Court. Also among those recognised was Dr Shirley Jülich for services to restorative justice and survivors of sexual abuse. Since the 1990s, Dr Jülich has worked in the restorative justice community to help abuse survivors experience a sense of justice. Congratulations to all of this afternoon’s recipients.
This morning, Dame Cindy welcomed seven recipients for their investiture ceremony this morning, including Pacific children’s health advocate, Dame Teuila Percival. Dame Teuila is a founding member of South Seas Healthcare, which has grown to provide healthcare for over 120,000 people in South Auckland. Through South Seas, Dame Teuila has also provided medical expertise across the Pacific, including as being the leading clinician in response to the 2009 tsunami in Samoa. Also among those recognised was Jo-anne Wilkinson, who was awarded a CNZM for services to youth. Since her involvement in developing the Graeme Dingle Foundation’s youth programmes in 1995, more than 300,000 rangatahi have participated. Congratulations to all this morning’s recipients!
As patron of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, this afternoon Dame Cindy welcomed the 2024 graduates of the NZOC Wāhine Toa Leadership programme to Government House Auckland. The programme, which began in 2017, offers female athletes a 13-month learning environment to help them transition from playing sport, to a career in sports leadership. Niniwa Roberts, who played 141 games for the Black Sticks before moving on to participate in the Wāhine Toa programme, spoke to this year’s graduates about how it has shaped her leadership journey. We wish the 2024 graduates all the very best for their futures in sports leadership.
This morning, Dame Helen welcomed eight outstanding New Zealanders for their investiture ceremony, including Sir Scott Macfarlane, who was recognised for transforming the treatment of child cancer in New Zealand. Sir Scott led the development of the National Child Cancer Network, which helped reduce inequity of child cancer treatment across Aotearoa. As a result of this coordinated approach, the child cancer survival rate rose from every second child not surviving 40 years ago, to more than 80% surviving today.
Also among those recognised was Bill Urale, better known as King Kapisi, who was the first hip hop artist to receive the prestigious APRA Silver Scroll songwriting award. He was also recognised for his work in the community, including his advocacy for the Turning the Tide on Suicide campaign and Whare 4 Whānau. Congratulations to all of today’s recipients!
Eight recipients were welcomed to Government House Auckland for their investiture ceremony this afternoon, including Associate Professor Greg Anson, who was awarded an ONZM for his contributions to exercise sciences and human movement neuroscience. Associate Professor Anson has had a life-long career studying the mechanisms and processes by which the brain and body control movement, and is an International Fellow of the American National Academy of Kinesiology.
Also recognised was Mr Tevita Funaki, who is CEO of The Fono Trust – a Pacific community-owned health organisation which began in 1987, and now has over 150 staff offering wrap-around health and social services in Auckland.
On behalf of Dame Cindy, Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann welcomed eight recipients for the first of the 2024 New Year Honours investiture ceremonies in Auckland. FIFA Chief Women’s Football Officer, Dame Sarai Bareman, was recognised for her immense contributions to football both in Aotearoa and worldwide. Dame Sarai overseas the development of the women’s game in 211 countries, and was instrumental in hosting last year’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia. Also recognised was teacher Nua Semuā Silipa, who received an ONZM for services to Pacific education. Where she taught, her prioritisation of Māori and Pasifika academic success helped lift NCEA achievement from 51 to 90%. Congratulations to all this morning’s recipients!
As dawn broke over Te Whanganui-a-Tara this Anzac Day morning, thousands gathered at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to mark New Zealand's national day of commemoration and remembrance. The National Dawn Service included stunning musical performances by the Tawa College Choir and RNZAF Band, readings and karakia, and the laying of wreaths beneath the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
In her address during the service, Dame Cindy paid special tribute to the Second World War veterans in attendance and around New Zealand, and reflected on the enduring meaning of Anzac Day: 'With our collective remembrance, and steadfast belief in our common humanity, we strengthen our hope and resolve to do what we can to foster dialogue and understanding, and to heal divisions in our pursuit of peace.'
This morning in Auckland, Dame Cindy spoke at the Service of Commemoration marking 30 years since the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In just 100 days, an estimated one million Rwandans, nearly all Tutsi, were killed. The service was attended by Hon Andrew Bayly, His Excellency Mr Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye, Rwandan High Commissioner to New Zealand, Mr Colin Keating, Former Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations, as well as many members of the Rwandan community in New Zealand.
In her speech, Dame Cindy spoke of the unthinkable events of the Genocide, and the importance of learning the lessons of our past: 'At this moment in our history, where we see so much of the suffering and despair of innocent people in the world around us, we do well to remember this lesson. We must compel ourselves not to turn away from the suffering of others, but to do all we can to encourage understanding, reconciliation, and peace – and to deal with one another with generosity and compassion.'
On Friday, Dame Cindy and Doctor Davies spent time with the 40 female senior secondary students attending this year's School-to-Seas Camp at Devonport Naval Base. Hundreds of girls apply for the week-long camp, which promotes STEM careers in marine industries as well as the RNZN, and culminates in team construction of underwater remote-operated-vehicles. Dame Cindy and Dr Davies were on hand to see the test runs in the pool and try out the controls themselves. They also visited a very realistic bridge simulator, where training is provided on navigating and steering a ship. The visit concluded with a quick trip back across the harbour in a Navy RHIB.
To read Dame Cindy's speech, click this link School to Seas.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies were joined by Gen Hon David Hurley Mrs Linda Hurley for a very special day on Rotoroa Island yesterday, where they released Cove the 17-day-old Coromandel Brown Kiwi. Rotoroa Island Trust works with Save the Kiwi on this bird sanctuary in the Hauraki Gulf, creating a kiwi creche for around 50 young chicks to grow up safely away from introduced predators. When the chicks reach around 1kg, they are moved to their permanent homes around Aotearoa. Ngāti Tai Ki Tāmaki and Ngāti Paoa held a pōwhiri to welcome Cove to the island.
Last night Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted a reception for the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley and Mrs Linda Hurley. Guests represented a range of sectors, including defence, government, business, tourism, sport, and the arts. Dame Cindy and General Hurley exchanged gifts of a taiaha and a vase by renowned Australian glass artist, Keith Rowe.
This morning, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies accompanied His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), the Governor-General of Australia, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley to Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.
Their Excellencies paid their respects together at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and General and Mrs Hurley lay a wreath on behalf of Australians in the beautiful Hall of Memories. They also took the opportunity to spend time at the Australian Memorial in Pukeahu, which commemorates the long and close relationship between the peoples of Australia and New Zealand.
Last night at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted a State Dinner for His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), the Governor-General of Australia, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley.
During her address to the assembled guests, Dame Cindy emphasised the strength and warmth of the relationship between our two countries: 'The Ceremony of Welcome afforded to you today affirms and celebrates the special connection between our Governors-General – as well as the very special relationship that exists between Australia and New Zealand.'
This afternoon, with the autumn sun shining down on Government House Wellington's North Lawn, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted a State Welcome Ceremony for His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), the Governor-General of Australia, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley. This very special event is customary for all Australian Governors-General during their term of office – and the first time that Government House has hosted an official State Welcome since before the Covid-19 pandemic. We wish Their Excellencies a wonderful visit to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Yesterday at the Wellington Cambodian Buddhist Temple in Island Bay, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies took part in a very special celebration of the Cambodian New Year. Their Excellencies enjoyed the wonderful array of food prepared by members of the community, and received a blessing from the Senior Venerable Suthep Surapong MNZM, who has played a significant role in supporting New Zealand's Cambodian community since arriving in Aotearoa nearly 40 years ago.
Children from Newtown School were our guests of honour at this morning's launch of a children's book "The Wolf and the Hocus Pocus", the latest publication in the "Feel Brave" series of books written by Avril McDonald. The series focusses on helping children deal with their feelings and concerns, and is supported by Save the Children, Women's Refuge, and the New Zealand Life Education Trust. The children were joined by Harold the Giraffe while they had their morning tea, and Dame Cindy presented them each with a crown pin as a memento of their visit to Government House.
