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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.…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Dame Cindy and Hon Megan Woods greet the new Members of the Executive Council   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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Jim Bolger and Helen Clark 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…

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…

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,…

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…

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…

On Thursday, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies visited the Waikato and Cambridge Studs – two of New Zealand’s premier Thoroughbred nurseries, each carrying an international reputation for breeding excellence. While there, she met some of the resident stallions,…

Yesterday Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted a reception honouring a new Life Member of the Child Cancer Foundation, Karen Heslip. Dame Cindy also presented medals to Star Tamariki, children who have had cancer and tell their stories to give other child…

Darcy Hadfield was the first New Zealander to win a medal at an Olympic Games. His bronze medal in the single sculls at the 1920 Antwerp Games set the bar for New Zealand rowers to emulate, and arguably started New Zealand's prominence in the sport.…

Yesterday Dame Cindy was on hand to launch Justice Matthew Palmer and Dean Parker's new survey of New Zealand's constitutional arrangements "The Constitution of New Zealand". 

Dame Cindy welcomed seven new overseas representatives to New Zealand today: HE Mr Viktor Vavricka, Ambassador of Switzerland; HE Mr Chang-sik Kim, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea; HE Mr Areg Hovhannisian, Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia; HE Mr…

Dame Cindy Kiro and Ranui Ngarimu walk on to Arowhenua Marae Dame Cindy and Dr Davies headed to South Canterbury for a regional visit to Timaru. Their Excellencies first engagement was a powhiri at Arowhenua Marae, which lies between the junction of the…

Yesterday Dame Cindy presided at a ceremony at Government House where she awarded Dame Silvia Cartwright and Sir Tipene O'Regan insignia for their additional membership of the Order of New Zealand.

Last night Government House celebrated Public Service Day by hosting Te Ra Ratonga Tumatanui Public Service Day Awards. The 34 public servants received their Public Service Medals from Dame Cindy, the Deputy Prime Minister Hon Grant Robertson and the…