The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake made the building that housed Defence and the Ministry of Defence uninhabitable. Today Dame Patsy and Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence, formally opened a new Defence House by unveiling the signage. Dame Patsy also cut a ribbon at the front entrance.
The building, which is behind Parliament buildings, has been gutted, earthquake-strengthened to 100 per cent of New Building Standard, increased in size by nearly 9000m2, refurbished and provided with a new facade.
In her speech, Dame Patsy recalled the times in the 19th century when Governors took on the operational responsibilities of a Commander-in-Chief.
The opening concluded with the ceremonial cutting of a cake by Dame Patsy and Chief of Defence, Air Marshall Kevin Short.
Dame Patsy hosted the final investiture ceremony of 2019 in the ballroom of Dunedin's famed Larnach Castle.
19 New Zealanders were recognised for their services to documentary filmmaking, natural history, conservation, sexual and reproductive health,wildlife conservation, tourism and recreation, the State, sport, youth,seniors, local government, journalism,women, the community,education, cycling, the Pacific community, the environment, broadcasting, theatre and Antarctic science.
Dame Patsy hosted the final investiture ceremony of 2019 in the ballroom of Dunedin's famed Larnach Castle.
19 New Zealanders were recognised for their services to documentary filmmaking, natural history, conservation, sexual and reproductive health,wildlife conservation, tourism and recreation, the State, sport, youth,seniors, local government, journalism,women, the community,education, cycling, the Pacific community, the environment, broadcasting, theatre and Antarctic science.
That's not actually what Dame Patsy said but the black and white SPCA puppy who was given her forever name this morning at Government House seemed quite happy as the SPCA launched its Giving Hearts legacy programme in Wellington.
The programme allows people to remember the SPCA in their wills and also offers help with looking after and rehoming pets when their owners pass on. Participants in the programme also get to name SPCA animals, a lovely way of remembering a treasured pet.
So Dame Patsy's Coco now has two namesakes - one in Auckland and one in Wellington.
To date, nearly 900 New Zealanders have been Churchill Fellows, travelling overseas to further their knowledge in an incredibly diverse range of fields. The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established in the 1960s, with fellowships awarded to people whose research will have practical outcomes, and result in a report on their findings on their return to New Zealand. From this year onwards, Churchill Fellows will be able to write CF after their names.
Phil Squire, representing the 25 Fellows at today's ceremony, spoke about his research trip to Germany and the UK to look at urban sustainability measures that might be implemented in New Zealand.
Dame Patsy received a farewell call from the Ambassador of Switzerland, HE David Vogelsanger at Government House in Wellington this morning. New Zealand was the final posting for the Ambassador who will retire from diplomatic life in six days.
Services to governance, the community, women, library information management and the arts, television and theatre, sport, woodchopping, youth, philanthropy, and the Tokelauan community.
Dame Kerry Prendergast was recognised for her many leadership roles in local government, the arts, and various organisations at a national and local level.
This afternoon's honour recipients received insignia for services to Cook Islands business and tourism, people with intellectual disabilities, design, the New Zealand Kennel Club, education, rugby, gliding, Maori and Maori arts, horticulture and the arts.
Congratulations to the 16 New Zealanders recognised at Government House this morning for their services to local, government, the community, conservation, people with rare health disorders, the blind community, music education, wildlife conservation, the wool industry and sustainability, the arts, sport, Māori, mental health support, badminton, and pipe bands.
Science, youth health, wildlife conservation and opthalmology were just some of the areas this morning's 16 honours recipients have made an impact on.
Dame Sue Bagshaw was recognised for her 30 year career in the youth health sector, while Professor Charlie Eason's CNZM was for science leadership and expertise in predator control.
Congratulations to everybody recognised for their service at this afternoon's investiture ceremony at Government House in Wellington.
Sir Paul Adams received the insignia of a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy and the community while others were recognised for their contributions to local government; rehabilitative programmes; mental health and addiction services; Māori art, the Catholic Church; softball; children and State; theology; Māori and education; music; theatre; Scouting; athletics; family support and health and the community.
Members of the Defence Force, Police, Fire and Emergency and the Coastguard received insignia for the Queen's Birthday Honours at a ceremony at Government House this morning. In addition, services to criminal psychology and victim support were acknowledged.
As a tribute to one of our most distinguished scientists, the late Sir Paul Callaghan, the Eureka! Young Science Leaders programme was established to encourage and recognise excellence in science communication. The 12 finalists come together in Wellington to compete for the Sir Paul Callaghan Eureka! Premier Award. This year's winner was Lila Madden.
The finalists also participate in a Eureka! Symposium, this year held at Government House. Guest speakers were Professor James Renwick (climate change), Dr Jo Horrocks (disaster resilience) and Lisa McLaren (Zero Carbon Act). The topic for the following workshop was Resilience, and science broadcaster Veronika Meduna was rapporteur.
Broadcaster Kim Hill and Dr Peter Buchanan also received Paul Harris Awards for their contributions towards science communication.
The 2020 Waitangi Day Garden Reception is being held at Government House in Wellington on Thursday 6 February.
We want as many New Zealanders as possible to have the opportunity to join Their Excellencies in marking this special day, so once again we're making a number of invitations available via a public ballot.
Each successful entrant will receive an invite for themselves and a friend to attend next year's reception, which includes entertainment, food and beverages as well as Dame Patsy's Waitangi Day address.
We've streamlined the ballot form so this year you should find entering easier.
The final investiture ceremony for the week saw nine women and three men receive their insignia from Dame Patsy. Services to Maori and Maori language education, haemotology and obstetrics, midwifery, health, dancing, the arts, and diverse communities were all recognised at the ceremony.
There was a strong Pasifika presence amongst the thirteen recipients at this afternoon's investiture ceremony. Honours were awarded for outstanding sporting achievements; and for dedicated service to communities, youth, education, workers' rights, and music.
12 more recipients were honoured for their services to youth and education, family violence prevention, women, engineering, domestic violence prevention and the State, rugby, victim support, seniors, the community, the Niuean community and sport.
Coaching great Sir Graham Lowe was recognised for his contribution to youth and education and a special moment was provided by taonga puoro practitioner (and former Government House Artist in Residence) Horomona Horo, who welcomed the recipients in with the conch and later accompanied the waiata for recipient Roma Balzer, his mother-in-law.
There was also a stirring haka performed for recipient Hinewirangi Morgan by a group of guests.
Congratulations to New Zealand's newest theatrical knight, Sir Roger Hall and the 12 other New Zealanders who were recognised at Government House in Auckland for their contributions to ballet, health,mental health awareness and suicide prevention, photography, the Pacific and LGBTQI+ communities, literature, athletics, education, the Samoan community and the community.
Congratulations to the 11 New Zealanders, recognised for their contribution to social policy, Māori, psychiatry, the New Zealand Defence Force, women, the State, woodturning, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, art and governance and Māori art at this afternoon's investiture ceremony at Government House. Thank you for the difference you have made in your fields of expertise and your communities.
Contributions to the arts and conservation was a strong theme at this morning's investiture ceremony, along with services to Maori, the community, counselling, palliative care and equestrian sports. Congratulations to Dame Fran Walsh and the twelve further recipients of Queen's Birthday Honours.
Yesterday Dame Patsy visited the Suffrage in Stitches exhibition at Wellington Museum. The exhibition consists of panels depicting a personal response to particular women who signed the suffrage petition in 1893. Hundreds of people responded to the invitation to become involved in the project and used various media on the panels to convey something of the women's lives. It's a fascinating homage to women's suffrage and an addition to the historical record.
This morning we were fortunate to have clear skies for the official welcome for new diplomatic envoys at Government House. HE Mr Sudesh Maniar, High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore, HE Mr Stefan Krawielicki, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany and HE Mr Tomas Ferko, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic were welcomed with a powhiri, before presenting their credentials to Dame Patsy.
Children were front and centre at a reception celebrating 25 years of the Duffy Books in Homes programme. Stemming from an encounter author Alan Duff had with a group of children who didn't own books, Duffy Books in Homes will give out it's 13 millionth book this year - that's more books than are held in the entire New Zealand library system.
Amongst the speakers was one of the first people to receive a Duffy book, Charles Ropitini. A former opera singer who now works for Napier City Council, Charles told guests how the book he received was the first thing that had ever solely belonged to him and spoke movingly of how illiteracy closes down people's opportunities.
The stars of the night were the students from St Anne's School who sang the Duffy song and did some kapa haka.
This morning Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted Gandhi Nivas staff, counsellors, researchers and Police liaison at Government House Auckland.
Gandhi Nivas offers early intervention programmes to prevent the escalation of family violence, working on the principle that it is better to have a fence at the top of the cliff rather than at the bottom. Gandhi Nivas operates three houses in the Auckland region, where men are offered accommodation and counselling 24/7, while their families back in the family home are also offered support.
Massey researchers have been following the programme closely and the results are very promising. It is hoped that the model can be applied in other regions in New Zealand.
Last night Dame Patsy hosted Foundation North's inaugural Tohu Autaia - Community Stars- at Government House Auckland. Foundation North has established the awards as a way of celebrating a billion dollars returned to communities in Auckland and Northland.
The recipients, who all work for not-for-profits, have received funding from Foundation North for initiatives that have had a positive impact in their communities, socially, educationally, culturally, in sporting activities and in the environment.
This morning Dame Patsy was the first member of the SPCA's new Giving Hearts legacy programme to have the privilege of naming a rescue animal - in this case, a foxy-chihuahua cross - which she named Coco after her own dog.
The SPCA receives approximately a third of its income from bequests - and Giving Hearts donors will ensure that their vital work to assist 40,000 animals annually can continue.
SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen noted that education programmes for children, now in over half our primary and intermediate schools, are aimed at developing a new generation of New Zealanders who understand their responsibilities to look after animals in their care.
Today we welcomed year 13 students from secondary schools in the Auckland region who had spent the rest of the day as guests of On Being Bold, a network of high-achieving women.
On Being Bold's goal is to empower women to develop their potential, particularly in the workplace. We wish all the young women we met today all the very best with their next bold steps into adulthood, further study and the world of work.
The Malvina Major Foundation assists emerging talent in New Zealand through an emerging artists programme, in partnership with NZ Opera; a Young Artist or Fellowship programme, which offers more experienced singers a principal role in a New Zealand Opera production; prize money in the Lexus Song Quest; and the Arts Excellence Awards, which support overseas study for young performing artists.
Yesterday's concert at Government House showcased the virtuoso talent of two emerging singers, Michaela Cadwgan and Lj Crichton, along with established stars Wade Kernot and Emma Pearson, all accompanied by Bruce Greenfield, who has been performing at Government House since Lord Cobham was Governor-General (1957-62).
The centenary of Colin McCahon's birth is being marked by a series of events around New Zealand. Government House's reception last night was held 100 years to the day of his birth, and we were privileged to have three of his works on display.
In addition, three of our eminent artists, Dame Robin White, Shane Cotton, and Eve Armstrong spoke with great eloquence about the impact of McCahon's work as a painter, teacher, curator and writer on their own art practice.
Some of their own work was also temporarily on display, and a Shane Cotton painting, Whakapiri atu te whenua has been loaned by Te Papa for longer-term display in Government House's ballroom.
On 1 August, 1987, te Reo Maori became an official language of New Zealand. Today, 32 years later, Dame Patsy officially launched Te Wiki o te Reo Maori 2019 at the Wharewaka on Wellington's waterfront. Dame Patsy joined Pere Wihongi as Ambassadors for Maori Language Week this year, and fellow Ambassador, Guyon Espiner joined by video. Dame Tariana Turia and Hon Nanaia Mahuta, Minister of Maori Development helped Dame Patsy cut the celebration cake.
Preparations are now underway for another fantastic Te Wiki o te Reo Maori, from the 9th to the 15th of September. Kia kaha te reo Maori!
It was Rotorua's chance to shine with a stunning welcome at Te Papaiouru Marae. A particular highlight was the magnificent performances of the Rotorua Girls' and Boys' High School kapa haka group.
A tour of the carving and weaving schools at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute at Te Puia was next up, offering a fascinating look at wood and bone carving, brass casting and flax weaving.
The final event of Day Three was a community reception, again at Te Puia, with everyone relishing the opportunity to chat to Dame Patsy and Sir David as well as others from their community.
