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The system of vice-regal patronage in New Zealand follows the tradition of royal patronage established in the United Kingdom, although the practices of granting Royal Warrants and Royal Charters has not been continued here. This is the list of patronages…

Teachers who are planning a visit to Government House may wish to use the following resource to help prepare their trip: Visiting Government House. A social script for a student on a class visit - We can supply this social script in word format, so you…

The Queen Elizabeth II Lawn at Government House Wellington, To mark the centenary of the birth of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the North Lawn at Government House Wellington will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Lawn. This historic space has long been…

37 people - 33 men and 4 women- have held the Vice-regal office in New Zealand since Captain William Hobson became Lieutenant-Governor in 1840. This timeline tells the story of each of them. The title of Governor-General has only been used since 1917,…

On the Constitution of New Zealand: An Introduction to the Foundations of the Current Form of Government, The Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith, 1990, updated 2008 and 2017 and 2023 This essay is the introduction to the Cabinet Manual. , A constitution: What is it…

General accessibility information, Government House has marked mobility parks by the reception entrance and Visitor Centre. We also have general parking on-site for visitors. The house and Visitor Centre are wheelchair friendly and have wheelchair access…

Individuals and small groups wanting to tour Government House Wellington, please go to the Public Tours section of this page and book your place online., Schools, ECE, community and family groups should contact our Visitor Centre to make bookings for…

A team of dedicated staff cater for the more than 10,000 visitors, including Heads of State, politicians and diplomats, who pass through Government House in Wellington and Auckland each year. Functions hosted by the Governor-General range from formal…

Investiture photography, Photographs of recipients are taken as they receive their insignia from the Governor-General. The full suite of photos of each recipient will be available to view and download online within 48 hours of the ceremony. These are the…

The site has been developing using the New Zealand Government Web Guidelines and the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines . We want to ensure that our site is widely accessible, so if you have any problems or difficulties using this site please let us…

Below, you'll find forms to invite the Governor-General to your event or to request a function hosted by the Governor-General at Government House. We recommend you also read 'Engaging with the Governor-General', a guide outlining the Governor-General's…

Dame Cindy addressing the congregation   Organisations seeking vice-regal patronage must apply to the Governor-General, with patronage normally lasting for the duration of the Governor-General’s term of office. Organisations seeking vice-regal patronage…

Ka mahuta a Matariki ki te  pae, Ka mahuta o tatou tumanako ki te tau. "Mānawatia a Matariki" When Matariki rises above the horizon, our aspirations rise to the year ahead. Let us celebrate, honour and welcome Matariki I specifically acknowledge:…

You may browse and access information contained within this website without providing any personal information. If you provide information (including personal information) to us (e.g. through the general enquiry contact form or to book tours), we will…

Government House in Wellington is a large, two-storeyed house, with a grand staircase, dozens of large and small rooms,  long corridors and a flag tower.  Image of Government House from the North Lawn   Its principal designer was Claude Paton, the…

The gardens of Government House Auckland are a rare survivor from the era when many large New Zealand city estates had landscaped grounds. Government House Auckland gardens   Most such gardens have been subdivided, or completely redeveloped, or have…

Tour bookings, You must make bookings in advance of your tour date. Public Garden tour bookings close 24 hours before a tour. Security requirements mean only the people booked on a tour can attend. We check names at the entrance gate. Book online for a…

The site of the present day Government House, Auckland was first built upon in the 1880s or 1890s.  Government House Auckland Government House Auckland   Sir Frank and Lady Mappin bought the property in 1921 and spent the next 45 years developing and…

Group tours for 6 to 20 people of the gardens at Government House Auckland can be arranged for community organisations, rest homes, work groups, commercial tour groups and groups with specialist needs or interests. To arrange a group tour please contact…

Individuals and small groups wanting to tour the gardens at Government House Auckland, please go to the Public garden tour section of this page and book your place online. Tours are guided. The tours do not go inside the house. Our paths have stairs and…

Tours are offered at Government House Wellington (house and garden) and at Government House Auckland (garden only).  There will not be any tours at either house over King's Birthday or Matariki Weekend and the Visitor Centre will be closed., Government…

Unless stated otherwise copyright material on this Governor-General/Government House website is protected by copyright owned by Government House, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on behalf of the Crown. Unless stated otherwise the photographic…

The first Wellington Government House was Colonel William Wakefield's villa, near the main steps of Parliament Buildings. The first Government House, Wellington   Although this residence was taken for use as a hospital for a time in 1848 after a severe…

The Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname, His Excellency Dr Lloyd Lucien Pinas hongis with a member of the cultural party   Ambassadors and High Commissioners present their credentials to the Governor-General of New Zealand at ceremonies held at…

On arrival, The senior representative of the hosting organisation should meet Their Excellencies on arrival. A contact telephone number should be provided in advance so that the hosting organisation can be alerted to the Governor-General's imminent…

The Order of NZ Badge The Order of NZ Badge   The Governor-General, on behalf of the King, holds investiture ceremonies for people named in the New Year and The King's Birthday Honours Lists and in Special Honours Lists. Except for those honours that are…

If you would like to make a general enquiry please use the form below. Enquire about: Booking a tour. Contacting the Visitor Centre Government House, Wellington . Congratulatory Messages (sending birthday and anniversary cards). Inviting the Governor-…

  Image of the nine sheets comprising the Treaty of Waitangi New Zealand is an independent sovereign nation. Because it is a monarchy, New Zealand is called a "Realm." The Realm of New Zealand comprises New Zealand, Tokelau, the Ross Dependency and the…

  Frederick George Gurnsey in his studio, 1952 While the carver or carvers of the panels of Lord Islington and the Earl of Liverpool (1912-21) are not known, the similar style suggests they were executed by the same person. They are believed to have been…

  Grahame Sydney, KNZM Twice a year, the Governor-General holds investiture ceremonies at Government House in Wellington and Government House in Auckland for the people named in the New Year and King's Birthday honours lists. Honours recipients travel to…

Dame Helen Winkelmann presents Jacinta Ruru her insignia This "acting Governor-General" is known as the Administrator of the Government. First in line of succession is the Chief Justice, followed by the next most senior member of the New Zealand judiciary…