All Blacks, Black Ferns and police were the thing today with an All Blacks skills and drills session being held at Government House and a trip to Counties Manukau to find out how police are reducing family harm and youth crime in their district.
Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David addressed the meeting of delegates from 13 member ACAP nations and observors from range nations. New Zealand is considered to be the seabird capital of the world, but also has the most endangered species. ACAP seeks to promote the protection of the great sea-going albatrosses and petrels.
Dame Patsy and Sir David are spending the rest of this week in Auckland. First up, a visit to one of Dame Patsy's patronages, the New Zealand AIDS Foundation.
Later on, Dame Patsy talked about her life and career at a Women In Law forum and reception at Government House.
With less than two weeks until the General Election, this is a good opportunity to outline the constitutional role played by a Governor-General, before and after an election. Dame Patsy's role
The video link below illustrates some of those processes in action.
Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted the Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards at Government House on Friday 8 September, 2017. Congratulations to Neakiry Kivi, winner of the Premier Award and Cassandra Spearin, George Mander and Hana Te Puni who were highly commended.
The Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Awards are a competition where contestants present speeches on a science, technology, engineering or mathematics idea of their choosing and detail how the idea will make New Zealand a better place. Neakiry's winning speech was “Karori Reinventing Solar: the solution is clear”.
Photo taken by James Griffin - Edgeline Photography
This morning we visited a close neighbour of Government House, St Mark's School, to help them celebrate 100 years to the day since the school opened. The school has had a close relationship with Government House over the years. We wish them all the best for the next 100 years.
Yesterday Dame Patsy and Sir David were given a brief tour of the Len Lye Centre at the Govett-Brewster Gallery in New Plymouth. The extraordinary building is a fitting tribute to the remarkable innovation and creative spirit of Len Lye, and a wonderful contemplative space to celebrate his sensational kinetic sculpture. Image gallery
This afternoon Dame Patsy and Sir David visited the renowned gardens at Pukeiti to formally open the Rainforest Centre, where visitors can learn about the history of the gardens and walk along elevated walkways into the rainforest. The gardens have an extensive collection of rhododendrons.
This afternoon, Dame Patsy received the credentials of three Ambassadors: HE Mr Marc Mullie, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium; Mr Mirza Hajric, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and HE Mr Wahidullah Waissi, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Dame Patsy presented Hon Jim Anderton with the insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services as a Member of Parliament at a special ceremony in Christchurch yesterday. A small group of family and friends was on hand to see the presentation of the medal and listen to a few reminiscences from Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel and surprise guest, Helen Clark
Tonight Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the opening of The Corsini Collection: A Window on Renaissance Florence at the Auckland Art Gallery. This stunning exhibition of art from the private collection of the Corsini family features priceless artworks, by Botticelli, Tintoretto and many others, that have never been exhibited outside Italy before. There's also a portrait of the family saint that still has the bullet holes from German soldiers who raided the family villa in 1944.
The last investiture ceremony of 2017 saw 22 New Zealanders recognised for their service to their communities. Among this morning's recipients Peter Hayden, ONZM for services to film and television; Christchurch City Missioner Michael Gorman, QSO, for services to the community and Marama Mullen-Tamiti for services to people with HIV and AIDS.
Congratulations to the 18 New Zealanders who received their insignia at Government House in Wellington this afternoon. Recipients included former Auditor-General Lyn Provost; actor Rachel House and writer/photographer/environmentalist Dave Hansford
It's investiture week in Wellington. Today, Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted two ceremonies to recognise the acheivements of 37 New Zealanders. Recipients included Professor Sir Timoti Karetu, KNZM, for services to the Maori language; A.J Hackett, ONZM for services to adventure tourism; and writer Emily Perkins for services to literature.
Diversity Works encourages and promotes diversity in New Zealand workplaces. On Thursday 24 August Dame Patsy attended the 2017 Diversity Awards dinner, where organisations that are leading the way are acknowledged and celebrated. This year's supreme award winner was Real Journeys. Speech transcript
This morning, Dame Patsy signed the writ giving permission for the General Election to be held on 23 September. The writ is the formal authority to run the election and enables candidate nominations to open tomorrow on 24 August. Chief Electoral officer, Alicia Wright was on hand for the signing. Coco also volunteered for supervisory duties.
On Saturday 19 August, Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a State Luncheon for HE Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and members of her delegation; former Prime Ministers The Rt Hon Jim Bolger and The Rt Hon Helen Clark, and former Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, along with prominent members of the New Zealand Croatian community.
Today Dame Patsy signed the proclamation dissolving the 51st Parliament of New Zealand. The proclamation takes effect tomorrow, when it will be officially read out on the steps of Parliament by the New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary. The reading of the proclamation will take place at 11am and is open to the public
The Governor-General, Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne hosted a State Welcome ceremony and luncheon for the President of the Republic of Croatia,Her Excellency Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Mr Jacov Kitarovic at Government House in Auckland.
Kiwi singer-songwriter Annie Crummer was one of 15 honours recipients who attended investitures in Auckland today. Other recipients included screenwriter and executive producer Rachel Lang, MNZM, who co-created shows like "Outrageous Fortune" and "Go Girls"; and Tony Hall, Chancellor of Lincoln University, who became a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to educaton and sport.
This morning, Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted an investiture ceremony at Government House Auckland and congratulated 12 honours recipients. These included Emeritus Professor Dame Peggy Koopman-Boyden, an authority on gerontology and eminent cardiologist Professor Hamid Ikram.
This afternoon Dame Patsy hosted an investiture ceremony for 12 New Zealand achievers. Amongst this afternoon's recipients - Sir Graeme Dingle, KNZM , for services to youth; Cameron Brown, ONZM, for services to triathlon and Sally Ikinofo, MNZM for services to education and Maori and Pacific communities.
This morning Dame Patsy congratulated 13 honours recipients at Government House in Auckland. Amongst those honoured were former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir John Key who became a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, dancer/choreographer Neil Ieremia, ONZM and photographer Dr Fiona Pardington, MNZM.
This afternoon's investiture recipients included Dame Julie Christie, DNZM, for services to governance and the television industry, Ms Mary Ama, CNZM, for services to the arts and the Pacific community, Mr Jim Gray, ONZM for services to Maori and governance, and Mr Michael Meredith, MNZM for services as a restauranter and to philanthropy.
A camera crew filmed Dame Patsy signing three bills into existence this afternoon. The footage will be used for a video explaining how Parliament works and the steps required to bring a piece of legislation into existence.
Amongst the bills was the Ngāti Pūkenga Claims Settlement Bill. This bill was of great personal interest to Dame Patsy as she had been involved in the settlement process as a Crown negotiator
Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a ceremony for 56 Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Gold Awards this morning. https://gg.govt.nz/image-galleries/duke-edinburgh-hillary-gold-awards-presentation
