Yesterday afternoon, at the beautiful Ōtākou marae, Dame Cindy was officially welcomed into the Otago region for the first time as Governor-General. Situation on the eastern side of the Otago Peninsula, Ōtākou was significantly one of the places where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by iwi chiefs in 1840. During her welcome, Dame Cindy heard about the important role that the marae plays in the wider community, and noted in her speech: 'I fully appreciate and support the vision of Kāi Tahu to foster economic, social, and cultural wellbeing – and to focus on education as a tool to unlock potential and grow the leaders of tomorrow.'
You can see more images from the welcome here, and read Dame Cindy's speech here.
In Christchurch, Dr Davies presented LT CDR Grant Boore, Commanding Officer of the HMNZS Pegasus, with the Signal Flags that once flew from Dr Davies' ship 'Cowrie'. Signal flags help vessels communicate with other ships also sailing internationally – these ones were used when Dr Davies sailed from the UK to the Falkland Islands. After travelling from the other side of the world, they have a new home at the Royal New Zealand Navy's Ōtautahi base. While at HMNZS Pegasus, Dr Davies got to see some items from our Naval history on display, including a portrait of former Governor-General and Admiral of the Fleet, Lord Jellicoe.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies were Lyttelton Harbour been cheering on Amokura and the New Zealand SailGP Team, who were competing in the first-ever New Zealand leg of SailGP. Before the race, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies met with the team and had a tour of the SailGP base, seeing how these wind powered F50 Catamarans are able to reach around 100km. The New Zealand team had an amazing first day of racing, and ultimately came second in the final when Canada crossed the line first.
The New Zealand team's charity partnership is with Live Ocean - an organisation founded by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke which backs science, innovation and outreach to help restore our oceans.
This evening at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy hosted a reception celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Theatre Artists' Charitable Trust. TACT provides financial support to creative artists during the initial stages of play production and rehearsal at Circa Theatre – from actors and directors; to designers, technicians, stage managers, and publicists. Around 120 artists each year receive these invaluable grants. You can find out the various ways you can support Wellington's world-class Circa Theatre here.
You can find more images from the event here, and read Dame Cindy's speech here.
The new High Commissioner for Malaysia, and new Ambassadors for Norway and the Republic of Kosovo presented their credentials to Dame Cindy on a fine Wellington morning today. HE Mrs Mazita Marzuki of Malaysia, HE Ms Anne Riise of Norway, and HE Mrs Jetmira Shala of Kosovo were greeted with a haka pōwhiri and guard of honour from the New Zealand Army, and musical support from the Royal New Zealand Air Force band. We wish the new diplomats all the very best in their roles.
“Whether on climate change and biodiversity loss, youth opportunity and education, global health, or economic co-operation, the Commonwealth can play an indispensable role in the most pressing issues of our time. Ours is an association not just of shared values, but of common purpose and joint action.” This is part of King Charles III’s first Commonwealth Day message as Head of the Commonwealth, which was read by Dame Cindy at a reception at Parliament this evening.
The event also featured an excerpt of Rangitoto College student Sawooly Li’s winning entry in the 2022 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Sawooly beat 26,322 others from across the Commonwealth to claim the top prize.
The 2023 celebrations also mark 10 years since Aotearoa New Zealand and over 50 other nations signed the Commonwealth Charter – a pledge of values and aspirations which unite the Commonwealth.
This afternoon at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy hosted a very special investiture ceremony to present the insignia of the New Zealand Bravery Decoration to Mr Sam Jones and Mr Callum Mill.
Both Mr Jones and Mr Mill were involved in the rescue operations following the eruption on Whakaari/White Island on 9th December 2019, and each exhibited great presence of mind and acts of extraordinary courage in the service of their fellow New Zealanders. ‘He toa taumata rau – bravery has many resting places’.
Dame Cindy chose to celebrate International Women's Day by helping to launch an innovative new health initiative in Porirua – a Hapu Māmā Hub for pregnant women and babies, operated in a partnership between Ngāti Toa and the National Centre for Women's Health Research Aotearoa – Te Tātai Hauora o Hine. Programmes of care will be informed by research findings with the goal of improving health outcomes for Māori and Pasifika women and their babies. After being welcomed at a pōwhiri at Takapūwāhia Marae, Dame Cindy visited the Hub for the blessing of the building, Te Puna Wairua, and a tour of its facilities.
Last night at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy hosted a reception to acknowledge the powerful work of Community Foundations of New Zealand – the national body which supports and unites 17 regionally based Community Foundations throughout Aotearoa. Over the past five years, over $50 million has been invested in New Zealand communities through these Foundations – all thanks to the generous giving of New Zealanders across the country. You can find out more about the work of Community Foundations of New Zealand, including how you can become involved, here.
You can find more images from the event here, and Dame Cindy's speech here.
To mark International Rare Disease Day and the beginning of New Zealand’s first-ever Rare Disorders Month, Dame Cindy welcomed members of Rare Disorders NZ to Government House. As Patron of RDNZ, Dame Cindy also helped launch a new guidebook which will help support parents and caregivers when their child receives a rare disorder diagnosis. Worldwide, over 6000 disorders are classified as rare, and RDNZ advocates for the 300,000 New Zealanders living with one of those disorders.
Last week, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden paid a call to Dame Cindy and Dr Davies at Government House. The Royal visitors were in Aotearoa New Zealand for a three-day official visit.
This morning, Dame Cindy spoke at a training session for Returning Officers taking part in the 2023 General Election. Dame Cindy's address touched on the Governor-General's constitutional responsibilities throughout the election process. You can read the full text here and find more images from the event here.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence joined the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals in marking their centenary last night at Government House Wellington. For the past 100 years, RNZSigs has been responsible for operating and maintaining the communications networks of the New Zealand Army. At the event, Her Royal Highness and the Governor-General both acknowledged the service and sacrifices made by defence personnel and all those involved in the response to Cyclone Gabrielle.
You find more images here, and read Dame Cindy's address here.
Yesterday, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited Pukeahu War Memorial Park in Wellington, where she lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and visited the United Kingdom War Memorial. Earlier in the day, HRH paid a visit to the National Crisis Management Centre and expressed her concern and support for all New Zealanders affected by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence to Government House Wellington yesterday afternoon. HRH and Sir Tim are in New Zealand to mark the centenary of the Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals, of which Princess Anne is Colonel-in-Chief. This marks the first Royal Visit to New Zealand since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II last year.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies this morning attended the Dawn Service at Te Whare Rūnanga on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to mark 183 years since the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Hundreds gathered in reflection and song as dawn broke over the beautiful Bay of Islands.
In the Governor-General's annual Waitangi Day Address, Her Excellency said: 'I have no doubt we are growing in confidence and wisdom as a nation. But this process takes time – and it is something we must continue to work at, on this and every day, for ourselves, for our children, and for all in the future who choose to call New Zealand their home.'
Wishing all New Zealanders, all the very best this Waitangi Day.
You can find more images from the Dawn Service here.
A recurring feature of the Governor-General’s Waitangi programme is the luncheon with members of the Diplomatic Corps. This is part of the visiting Ambassadors and High Commissioners’ tour of Waitangi, where they learn more about Aotearoa New Zealand’s nationhood and our national day. Just before the lunch, Dame Cindy led Government House staff and officials from MFAT in a waiata for the Diplomatic Corps.
This afternoon, Dame Cindy was welcomed onto the Waitangi Treaty Grounds at Te Whare Rūnanga. The pōwhiri also included tributes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Titewhai Harawira – both of whom passed away since last Waitangi Day, and who each made their own distinct and significant contributions to the history and legacy of Waitangi. In her address following the pōwhiri, the Governor-General expressed her hope that 'this can be our year of healing – when fractured families re-unite, when hope replaces fear, and New Zealanders turn their hearts and minds to using their power for good.'
You can find further photos from the pōwhiri here, and Dame Cindy's address here.
Last night Dame Cindy and Dr Davies attended the Iwi Chairs Forum Gala Dinner in the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. The forum meets four times a year to discuss economic, social, and environmental matters, share ideas, and work to enhance the mana of iwi Maori.
On the advice of the Prime Minister, Dame Cindy appointed Aotearoa New Zealand’s newest Ministers and Members of the Executive Council during a special ceremony at Government House this morning - Ginny Andersen, Barbara Edmonds, Duncan Webb, Willow-Jean Prime, Rino Tirikatene and Deborah Russell. Jo Luxton was then appointed as new Parliamentary Under-Secretary.
For UN International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies attended a memorial at the Auckland War Memorial, hosted by the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand. The memorial began with a welcome by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei, and featured accounts of survivors of the Holocaust, and particulary from the Warsaw Ghetto. 2023 marks the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which was the first significant urban revolt against the Nazis during WWII, and the largest uprising by Jews.
One of the accounts came from Alicja Newman, who escaped the Warsaw Ghetto at just 10 years old with the help of her mother. Alicja lit a candle and placed it next to three cobblestones that originally came from the Ghetto. To read more about Alicja’s life and escaping the Nazis, click here.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies were formally welcomed to the Devonport Naval Base with a pōwhiri at Te Taua Moana Marae. After the pōwhiri, Dame Cindy presented the 2022 Bravo Zulu awards, which recognises outstanding achievements by sailors and units in the Royal New Zealand Navy. Next up was a chance for Dame Cindy and Dr Davies to come aboard some of the vessels in our Naval fleet, including Anzac Class warship the HMNZS Te Mana, and the HMNZS Aotearoa. Aotearoa is the largest ship in our Navy, and was deployed to Tonga where its desalination plant was able to provide fresh water after the devastating volcanic eruption in January 2022. The final stop at Devonport was a visit to Torpedo Bay Navy Museum, followed by a performance by the Royal New Zealand Navy band, featuring visiting friends from the Royal Canadian Navy.
After accepting the resignation of the Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern this morning, Dame Cindy held a ceremony to appoint the Rt Hon Chris Hipkins as New Zealand’s 41st Prime Minister, and Hon Carmel Sepuloni as the new Deputy Prime Minister. At today’s ceremony, Prime Minister Hipkins was also appointed Minister for National Security and Intelligence. A video of the ceremony is available below.
Last night at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy was delighted to officially welcome three new Arts Foundation Icons Whakamana Hiranga to a living circle of 20 of New Zealand’s most significant artists. Dame Robin White, Papali'i Fatu Feu'u, and Dame Jane Campion each received a bronze medallion set with pounamu, and a pin designed by sculptor John Edgar, honouring their immense contributions to the New Zealand arts. In the words of the late Professor Piri Sciascia ONZM: 'He toi whakairo, he mana tangata. Where there is artistic excellence, there is human dignity.'
You can read Dame Cindy's address here, and find more photos from the evening here.
Dr Davies went to Mangawhai for the Hato Hone St John and New Zealand Cadet Forces End of Year Parade, followed by attending the inaugural Hato Hone St John Youth Cadet of the Year Hui. The Hui officially recognised Nate Whitfield as Cadet of the Year for 2023. Dr Davies and Hato Hone St John National Youth Manager Kerry Mitchell also presented Regional Youth Manager Anastasia Tinsel with a challenge coin, recognising her bravery and quick thinking while providing first-aid support at a serious road accident.
It was a privilege to welcome the 2022 Sir George Elliot Scholars to Government House Auckland this morning. Dame Cindy presented Husna Hazari, from Auckland Girls' Grammar School; Hezekiah Young, from Dilworth School; and Sophie Roberts, from Onehunga High School, with the prestigious scholarship that will go towards their university education. Each recipient has displayed academic excellence and great leadership potential – all while overcoming challenges in their lives. We wish them all the best for their university studies.
This week, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies attended Zayed College for Girls end of year prizegiving, honouring the senior students who have had a very successful 2022. Zayed College is a small Muslim school in Māngere, with a very high-achieving student base. Of the 13 year 13 students, 12 received scholarships for university study. At the prizegiving, Zayed College welcomed Dame Cindy and Dr Davies with a pōwhiri, led by the school’s kapa haka group. Congratulations to all the students, and all the very best for the future ahead.
This evening, Dame Cindy hosted a very special dinner for members of the Order of New Zealand, which is New Zealand’s highest honour. Members have achieved to the highest level in their respective fields – each have made significant contributions to Aotearoa’s cultural, social and political landscapes. The Order of New Zealand consists of no more than 20 living New Zealanders at one time, with additional members awarded the honour to commemorate events of significance. In honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, Dame Silvia Cartwright and Sir Tipene O’Regan were made additional members earlier this year.
Attendees also included former Prime Ministers Helen Clark and Jim Bolger, author Joy Cowley, theologian Professor Sir Lloyd Geering and poet Professor Albert Wendt.
The evening also served as a welcome for Rachel Hayward, the new Secretary and Registrar of the Order of New Zealand; the New Zealand Order of Merit; and the Queen’s Service Order. King Charles III approved Ms Hayward’s appointment to these roles on the 28th of November 2022.
This afternoon, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies welcomed the recipients of the Caring Families Aotearoa Excellence in Foster Care Awards. Each recipient has gone above and beyond in their vital roles as foster carers, taking in at-risk young people and providing them with a nurturing, secure environment to grow up in. The recipients’ stories are truly inspirational, demonstrating the dedication, love and support they bring to the young children in their care. The reception also featured an amazing performance by Te Aro Kapa Haka.
We acknowledge today the sad news of the passing of Sir Murray Halberg. Sir Murray's outstanding athletics career was highlighted by his winning the gold medal in the 5,000 metres at the Rome Olympic Games in 1960. Following his retirement from running, Sir Murray founded the Halberg Foundation – an organisation which supports physically disabled young people to participate in sport. In the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours, Sir Murray was appointed to the Order of New Zealand – New Zealand's highest honour. We extend our condolences to Sir Murray's family and friends, and all who knew this extraordinary New Zealander.
This afternoon Dame Cindy presented Royal Humane Society of New Zealand medals to six recipients: Anna Brooke, Michael Smith, Henry Deans and Jeffrey Davies for their part in rescuing two trampers trapped on a mountain side; Paul Gerritson for rescuing two people from a burning car; and Naomi Gedye for the role she played in a hostage situation.
Dame Cindy on Friday received an Honorary Doctorate in Health from her alma mater Massey University in Palmerston North. During her address to graduands in the beautiful Regent Theatre, Her Excellency said: 'We need critical-thinking, curious, empathetic people: to safeguard our democracy; to find solutions that will protect our planet and biodiversity; and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to lead free, happy, and healthy lives.' Congratulations to all of this week's graduates, and all the very best for your future.
You can read Dame Cindy's address to graduands here, and find more images from the ceremony here.
