Fashion designer Dame Denise L'Estrange-Corbet, journalist Nicola Legat and arts practitioner Wetini Mitai-Ngatai were amongst those who received the insignia of their orders at an investiture ceremony at Government House in Auckland this afternoon.
Rugby legend Sir Bryan Williams and politician David Cunliffe were amongst those receiving their insignia at an investiture at Government House in Auckland this morning.
Full coverage of this morning's investiture ceremony
The recipients are:
Sir Bryan Williams, of Auckland, KNZM, for services to rugby
The Honourable David Cunliffe, of Auckland, QSO, for services as a Member of Parliament
Mrs Jeremy Drummond, of Auckland, ONZM, for services to early childhood education
Ms Helen Pollock, of Auckland, ONZM, for services to art, particularly sculpture
Mr Barry Atkinson, of Gisborne, MNZM, for services to philanthropy and the community
Mr Calven Bonney, of Auckland, MNZM, for services to the trucking industry and motorsport
Mrs Valeti Finau, of Auckland, MNZM (Hon) for services to education and the Pacific community
Mr Aidan Bennett,of Auckland, QSM, for services to the community
Ms Myra Larcombe, of Opua, QSM, for services to swimming
Mentors and mentees of the Boys and Girls Institute (BGI) took to the stage tonight at Government House to convey what the Challenge for Change programme has meant for them. Their presentations included some pretty slick videos, paintings, re-enactments and singing, and the mentors' comments showed that the experience was just as fulfilling for them as it was for their young charges. Proud parents and families, along with teachers and school principals were there to see the graduates receive a certificate and T-shirt from Justice Sir William Young, acting as Administrator during Dame Patsy's travel to Turkey.
BGI has been working with young people in Wellington since 1883. The Challenge for Change programme brings volunteers and young people together on a personal development programme that is designed to develop confidence and self-esteem.
We were blessed with clear skies and warm breezes for the National Commemorative Service at Pukeahu this morning, where thousands of people gathered to pay their respects to all those New Zealanders who have served their country in times of war, and to pay homage to all those who lost their lives.
The Honourable Justice Sir William Young is acting as Administrator for the Government while Dame Patsy is representing New Zealand at the Gallipoli commemorations. Sir William delivered the Anzac Address.
David and I are delighted to congratulate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the happy occasion of the birth of their third child.
The addition of a new family member is a time of celebration and I am sure all New Zealanders extend their best wishes to the Duke and Duchess.
We also acknowledge Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who as older brother and older sister will have a very special role to play in the life of the new Prince.
ICCA, a worldwide NGO dedicated to promoting and developing arbitration and international dispute resolution held its biannual conference in Sydney this week. The conference delegates then came to New Zealand to be hosted by AMINZ (Arbitrators' and Mediators' Institute of New Zealand) in Queenstown. Dame Patsy and Sir David accompanied over 100 international delegates to a dinner in Gibbston last night and Dame Patsy addressed them at the beginning of their conference programme this morning.
Dame Patsy and Sir David were delighted to be able to support the New Zealand team during their first few days of competition at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Highlights included being present for Sophie Pascoe's barnstorming Gold Medal swim. Away from the competition, Dame Patsy and Sir David were also delighted to catch up with HRH The Prince of Wales.
Dame Patsy and Sir David were on hand for the opening of the new Quinn's Post Trench Expereince at the Great War Exhibition in Wellington. Dame Patsy did the honours in declaring the exhibit open before she and Sir David took in some of the exhibit.
An immersive experience, the Experience was put together by Sir Peter Jackson and his team, who have recreated the terror, turmoil, shelling and smells of Quinn's Post in 1915.
Last night Dame Patsy presented the New Zealand Search and Rescue Awards in Wellington. Every year, thousands of New Zealanders, mostly volunteers, take part in search and rescue operations on land and on our seas and waterways. These awards recognise that service and dedication. Congratulations to all last night's recipients and thanks to Mark Coote for photos of the winners.
Yesterday was Wahine Day, and 50 years since the Wahine foundered on Barrett's Reef during one of the worst storms to ever hit the Wellington region. it was a day of sadness and remembrance, but also a day to put a spotlight on how our emergency response and preparedness has improved in the aftermath.
Dame Patsy officially opened a display by 20 emergency responder organisations in Shed 6 on the Wellington waterfront, where she was able to learn more from the experts about their work and the emergency response initiatives put in place in the aftermath of the Wahine's sinking, including civil defence plans, maritime safety systems, and the Life Flight helicopter service, which was established by plumber Peter Button. Mr Button realised a helicopter could have rescued people from the sea, and learned to fly so that he could establish the rescue helicopter service.
Dame Patsy was privileged to meet some of the people engaged in rescue efforts 50 years ago, and hear their accounts of the challenges they faced and the impact that the experience has had on their lives.
Dame Patsy then spoke at a commemorative ceremony: New Zealand remembers, along with the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, and the Mayor of Wellington, His Worship Justin Lester. The ceremony concluded with an Orpheus Choir performance of a medley of popular songs sung by survivors on Wahine's lifeboats 50 years ago.
Personnel from 9 of the 10 Royal New Zealand Navy ships were on parade in Auckland this morning for the annual Fleet Divisions. Dame Patsy was on hand, as Commander-in-Chief, to address the assembled parade.
Today Dame Patsy received a vist from Commonwealth Secretary-General, Baroness Scotland. The pair talked about the importance of the relationship between New Zealand and the Commonwealth, climate change, empowering women and girls and support for small states.
Later, Dame Patsy headed to the Australian High Commission for the Women in Leadership speaker series. Dame Patsy and former Governor-General of Australia, Dame Quentin Bryce shared the stage to discuss life as the Governor-General, how to make a difference and women in leadership.
There was some very exciting cricket in the weekend, including the New Zealand/UK match. Dame Patsy and Sir David attended a Willows Club dinner on Saturday night in Christchurch and a match the following day, where her team of aspiring Black Caps, the Governor-General's Youth XI, took on an invitation side that included first-class players of yesteryear.
It was a very satisfactory result for the Governor-General's Youth XI
Governor General’s Youth XI: 166 (Max Chu 37, Mitchell Hay 36, Andrew Nuttall 4 for 24, Ewen Chatfield 4 for 26)
Willows Invitation XI: 118 (James Marshall 40, Ricard Turpie 3 for 13, Jack Mockford 2 for 12)
Dame Patsy and Sir David officially welcomed the President of the Republic of Indonesia HE Joko Widodo and Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo at Government House in Wellington.
The NZDF Maori cultural party provided the powhiri and a one hundred person Guard of Honour. After talks in the Liverpool Room, Dame Patsy hosted a lunch for the President in the Norrie Dining Room.
We commemorated Race Relations Day a few days early at Government House Auckland today. Our MC was 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year, Rez Gardi, and our theme was in support of the Human Right's Commission campaign: "Give Nothing to Racism".
This evening, Dame Patsy and Sir David are hosting Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand at a dinner at Government House to celebrate LBC's 40th year of operation. LBC plays a vital role in assisting the 21,000 New Zealanders living with a blood cancer, providing support,education, and advocacy, as well as funding vital research that will help identify causes and possible treatments. We wish them all the very best with their future work.
Last night Dame Patsy, as patron of the New Zealand Red Cross, presented Florence Nightingale Medals to three New Zealand nurses. The highest award in nursing, the medals are presented to Red Cross and Red Crescent nurses and others, who have shown exceptional courage and devotion to victims of armed conflict or natural disaster. Gail Corbett, Guru Dev Singh, and Barbara Turnbull are three of only thirty New Zealanders to receive the medal since it was instituted in 1912. Between them, the three have undertaken numerous Red Cross postings to places like Iraq, Gaza, Liberia and Afghanistan, with their work encompassing everything from managing hospitals to dealing with Ebola outbreaks.
Swiss Ambassador HE David Vogelsanger, a former Red Cross delegate himself, was also in attendance.
This evening Dame Patsy and Sir David attended a Commonwealth Day 2018 National Observance service at the Cathedral of St Paul in Wellington.
Dame Patsy read a message from Her Majesty the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Hon Andrew Little read a message from the Prime Minister, and the service included readings from the Hindu, Islamic, Sikh, and Baha'i faiths.
Dame Patsy joined a panel discussion on leadership at the Auckland Town Hall for Auckland Council's International Women's Day celebration. The discussion covered a broad range of topics related to women in the workforce including paths to leadership and barriers to women's participation.
This evening, Dame Patsy and Sir David attended an International Women's Day cocktail event at The Sugar Club in Auckland, supporting the Otara Blue Light programme Turning the Tide.
The programme is aimed at young Maori and Pasifika women from Otara whose lives may be heading in the wrong direction. Guests at the evening were asked to donate time to the cause, instead of money, with donations ranging from work experience to career coaching.
The stars of the show were programme graduates Krystal Wineti and Caitlynne-marie Bishop Katting, who won hearts with their confidence and poise while being interviewed by MC Carol Hirschfield.
What a great way to start International Women's Day, by joining hundreds of guests at Zonta/UN Women NZ's breakfast at Parliament. Dame Patsy spoke about the responsibility of everyone to use their influence to keep alive the momentum for change and Helen Clark spoke about the low representation of women in positions of power internationally and the need to working on breaking the barriers that still exist for women.
Suffrage 125 was launched at Government House today in front of a crowd of women leaders, influencers and and public figures from all generations. Dame Patsy, Minister for Women Hon Julie Anne Genter and 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year Rez Gardi spoke and Lizzie Marvelly sang the National Anthem.
Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the re-opening of Wellington's City Gallery on Friday 2 March.
The Gallery had been closed since late last year as it underwent some alterations, including the installation of a new, more welcoming entranceway.
The first exhibition in the Gallery is "This Is New Zealand", a look at how New Zealand has been represented in our art and the truth (or otherwise) of those representations. Included in the exhibition are some of New Zealand's Venice Biennale artworks, including Michael Parakowhai's beloved piano sculpture He Korero Purakau mo Te Awanui o Te Motu: story of a New Zealand river
This afternoon Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the launch of a new book Wanted: The Search for the Modernist Murals of E Mervyn Taylor at the City Gallery in Wellington. Dame Patsy has followed the progress of this project with interest since its inception, and was delighted to see the fully restored Te Ika-a-Maui, which has been a labour of love for the book's editor, Bronwyn Holloway-Smith.
Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the launch of the Superdiversity Centre's #myidentity campaign in Auckland.
The campaign celebrates and promotes the diversity of New Zealand's population and encourages people to upload videos of themselves describing the elements of their identity that are important to them.
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. The students obtain qualifications in hospitality, spending a proportion of their time in internships. The goal is to provide training opportunities, particularly for local people, and to meet the needs of the rapidly growing tourism sector in the Far North.
In the afternoon, Dame Patsy and Sir David spent time at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, including the magnificent Whare Runanga, the Treaty House, and the Museum, where the displays and taonga provide a vivid introduction to the story of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Finally, a reception in the Treaty Grounds provided an opportunity to meet local residents and thank the people who hosted Dame Patsy and Sir David, and helped to make their time in the Far North so memorable.
