Governor-General to Visit Italy and Barbados

The Governor-General, The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne will depart for an official visit to Italy and Barbados on Saturday 6 May.

In Rome, Dame Patsy will meet the President of the Italian Senate, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Italian Soldier, and visit cultural events. Their Excellencies will then travel to Venice to attend the official opening of Lisa Reihana: Emissaries at the New Zealand Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.

On Sunday 14 May, Dame Patsy and Sir David will depart from London for their visit to Barbados, where Dame Patsy will meet the Governor-General of Barbados, the Prime Minister of Barbados, and meet women from the business and creative communities and New Zealand scholarship alumni.

ENDS

Programme:

Sunday 7 May

1810 Tour of Palazzo Doria-Pamphilj and musical performance

Monday 8 May

1530 Meeting with Mr Pietro Grasso, President of the Italian Senate, at the Palazzo Giusitiniani

1610 Tour of Senate and Books that made Europe exhibition

Tuesday 9 May

0930 Private tour of the Caravaggio to Bernini exhibition at Scuderie del Quirinale

1115 Visit to the Commonwealth War Cemetery

Wednesday 10 May

1030 Their Excellencies attend the New Zealand Pavilion opening at the Venice Biennale

1900 Their Excellencies attend the New Zealand Pavilion Official Opening Dinner

Thursday 11 May 

Tour of national pavilions at the Venice Biennale (times to be arranged)

2030 Their Excellencies attend the Trans-Tasman Artists’ Function

Friday 12 May

Tour of national pavilions at the Venice Biennale (times to be arranged)

1915 Their Excellencies attend the New Zealand at Venice Commissioner’s closing function

Monday 15 May

0900 Their Excellencies meet HE Sir Elliot Belgrave, Governor-General of Barbados

1000 Their Excellencies meet The Rt Hon Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados

1130 Visit to Kensington Oval Cricket Ground

1430 Meet women from the Barbados business and creative communities at Lancaster Great House

1800 Gathering with New Zealand scholarship alumni and development partners at the Hilton Hotel