A citizenship ceremony at Government House in Wellington will be a feature of the Governor-General, Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae’s first Waitangi Day programme.
Sir Jerry and Lady Janine Mateparae will also attending a number of events at Kaikohe, Paihia, Waitangi, Porirua and central Wellington from Friday 3 February to Monday 6 February. At the citizenship ceremony 24 people will become New Zealand citizens. They include people from Somalia, South Africa, Samoa, United States, Iran, Britain, Ireland, Gambia, the Philippines, Australia, Fiji, Sri Lanka, Japan, the Netherlands, China, India, Mexico, Thailand and Bulgaria. Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown will administer the oaths and affirmations of allegiance.
Sir Jerry Mateparae said: “As Waitangi Day is our national day, I could not think of a better way of recognising the contribution of ‘new New Zealanders’ to our country than to hold a citizenship ceremony to welcome them to our New Zealand family.”
On Friday 3 February Sir Jerry and Lady Janine will arrive in Northland and attend a number of events in Kaikohe with Far North Mayor Wayne Brown.
On Saturday 4 February, Sir Jerry and Lady Janine will be welcomed on to Te Tii Marae at Waitangi.
On 5 February they will attend a luncheon hosted by the Waitangi National Trust Board. They will then host the annual Bledisloe Reception at Waitangi. (Media must RSVP – see below). The Governor-General will then serve as Reviewing Officer of the Royal New Zealand Navy Beat the Retreat ceremony.
On 6 February, the Governor-General and Lady Janine will travel to Wellington and will attend Waitangi Day festivities in Porirua and Wellington in the morning.
In the afternoon, Sir Jerry will host the citizenship ceremony followed by a garden reception at Government House Wellington, attended by a wide range of community and government guests, including members of the Diplomatic Corps. It is the first Waitangi Day reception to be held at Government House in Wellington since 2006. During the reception, the Governor-General will give his first annual Waitangi Day address. (Media must RSVP – see below).
Full programme:
Friday 3 February
11:10 The Governor-General and Lady Janine are met by Far North Mayor Wayne Brown at Kerikeri Airport. Contact Richard Edmondson, Communications Manager, FNDC on 09 401 5200 or 0800 920 029
11:45 The Governor-General and Lady Janine welcomed with pōwhiri at Far North District Council offices, Kaikohe. Contact Richard Edmondson, Communications Manager, FNDC on 09 401 5200 or 0800 920 029
12.00 The Governor-General and Lady Janine attend informal lunch with Mayor and iwi leaders. (No media)
12:50 The Governor-General and Lady Janine visit the Mill Gym, Kaikohe. For more information, contact: Anthony Warren, Manager, on 027 281 7285 or 09 405 3867
14:15 The Governor-General and Lady Janine visit Mt Pokaka Timber Products sawmill. For more information contact: Mike Hewitt on 0274 999 731
Saturday 4 February
09:00 The Governor-General and Lady Janine are welcomed on to Te Tii Marae, Waitangi
14:00 The Governor-General and Lady Janine visit Manginangina Kauri Walk
18:00 The Governor-General and Lady Janine attend a reception hosted by the Chief of Navy. To attend, contact Lt Commander Angela Barker RNZN on 021 244 0638
Sunday 5 February
12.30 The Governor-General and Lady Janine attend a Waitangi National Trust Board luncheon, Copthorne Hotel, Waitangi (no media). Contact: Rick McCall, WNTB Media Liaison on 0220 379 077
14.00 The Governor-General attends an informal meeting of the Waitangi National Trust Board, Copthorne Hotel, Waitangi (no media) Contact: Rick McCall, WNTB Media Liaison on 0220 379 077
15:00 The Governor-General and Lady Janine host the Bledisloe Reception, Copthorne Hotel Grounds. Media wanting to attend must RSVP to Rebekah Clement (021 243 7958) to register their attendance before 5 February.
17:00 The Governor-General is the Reviewing Officer of the RNZN Beat Retreat and Ceremonial Sunset Ceremony, Waitangi Treaty Grounds. For more information, contact Lt Commander Angela Barker RNZN on 021 244 0638
18:00 The Governor-General and Lady Janine attend Twilight Concert, Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Monday 6 February
10.30: The Governor-General and Lady Janine are formally welcomed with a powhiri at Takapuwahia Marae, Porirua.
11.00 The Governor-General and Lady Janine visit Festival of the Elements, Te Rauparaha Park and Pataka Museum, Porirua
12.30 The Governor-General and Lady Janine visit Wellington City Council and Port Nicholson Treaty Trust Waitangi Day programme, Wharewaka Lagoon area, Wellington
15:00 The Governor-General hosts a citizenship ceremony, Government House Wellington. Media wanting to attend must RSVP to Antony Paltridge, (021 470 583) to register their attendance before 6 February.
16:00 The Governor-General and Lady Janine host a garden reception to mark the 172nd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, Government House Wellington. Media wanting to attend must RSVP to Antony Paltridge, (021 470 583) to register their attendance before 6 February.
16:30 The Governor-General will give his Waitangi Day address. An embargoed copy of the address will be issued to media earlier in the day.
For more information about events from 3-5 February, contact Rebekah Clement, Government House Public Affairs Adviser on 021 243 7958
For more information about events on 6 February, contact Antony Paltridge, Government House Public Affairs Manager, on 021 470 583 or 04 382 0827