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Dame Patsy speaks about how proud she is of the country's response to the Covid-19 crisis and urges everyone to keep up the good work

Media advisory on behalf of Dame Patsy Reddy, Governor-General of New Zealand, The Governor-General, Dame Patsy Reddy, will be donating twenty percent of her salary over the next six months in support of a number of charities. Dame Patsy says she is…

Image of a message from HM Queen Elizabeth II April 6 2020 The message reads: As people across New Zealand and the Commonwealth are experiencing unprecedented changes to their lives, concern for family and friends, and financial uncertainty, you are in my…

Like other New Zealanders, we are doing everything we can to support measures that will help contain COVID-19. My constitutional duties will continue, but all community engagements and events in my programme have been postponed. David and I are sad that…

  As a consequence of the Alert Level 4 restrictions announced today by the Prime Minister in response to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Dame Patsy’s public engagements have been cancelled. Her programme will be re-evaluated when the lockdown has been…

Dame Patsy shares her thoughts on the current situation with Covid-19. Here are the links she refers to in the video: Unite against Covid-19 site Ministry of Health website Dr Siouxsie Wiles article on stopping the spread Dr Siouxsie Wiles article on…

All tours of Government House Wellington and Auckland are postponed until at least 14 April, 2020, when the tour programme will be reviewed again. If you have queries about tours later in the year, please email the Visitor Centre team bookings@govthouse.…

Dame Patsy spoke at a training session for the Returning Officers and Registrars of Electors taking part in this year's General Elections.  Dame Patsy spoke about the Governor-General's role in New Zealand's democratic system and where it sits in the…

Best wishes to the volunteers, sponsors and food donors supporting the new Kaibosh branch in Paraparaumu. When Dame Patsy opened the premises this evening, she noted how the organisation is a poster child for practical projects that promote sustainability…

Why paint the town red when you can paint it rainbow! The Capital put on a fantastic evening for the Wellington International Pride Parade, bringing together members of the LGBTQI+ community to show their pride and bring their aroha to the thousands…

On the 9th of March, Dame Patsy delivered Her Majesty The Queen's Commonwealth Message for Commonwealth Day. The theme for this year's Commonwealth Day was "Sustainable Future", a message reflected by Speaker of the House, the Rt Hon Trevor Mallard when…

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a dinner for members of the Order of New Zealand at Government House in Wellington. The ONZ is New Zealand's most senior honour and recognises "outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or…

This morning, Dame Patsy and Sir David were delighted to shine a spotlight on some of the good people who open up their homes as foster carers to children who are neglected or abused. The annual Caring Families Aotearoa Excellence in Foster Care Awards…

How can we help society be more cohesive? How can we strengthen personal resilience to deal with rapid change? How can we make good decisions about our adoption of new technologies? How can we counter misinformation and make sure people can access…

Four of New Zealand's best were inducted into the Massey College of Creative Arts Hall of Fame at a ceremony at Government House this evening. The Hall of Fame celebrates graduates of the College who have made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s…

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a lunch for some of the key figures behind the New Zealand Festival of the Arts, currently taking place in Wellington. Dame Patsy was delighted to welcome the three guest Festival curators Lemi Ponifasio, Laurie Anderson…

The Aotearoa Circle is attracting increasing numbers of leaders in the public and private sector who recognise the urgent need to address the wellbeing of our natural resources, while finding ways to pursue sustainable prosperity. Dame Patsy is Patron and…

Dame Patsy did the honours at the official opening of the new McKinnon Block at Wellington's Scots College this afternoon. The new block is the third major achievement in the school's recent change programme which has also included the admission of girls…

The sun came out to play when our friends from Newtown Kindergarten visited for a picnic in Coronation Grove at Government House, Wellington. The trees made for an excellent game of hide-and-seek for some, while others went hunting for cicada shells and…

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a reception for State Services Commission Crown Entity Board Chairs at Government House in Wellington this evening. Crown entities include an incredibly wide range of New Zealand institutions from universities and health…

Today, Dame Patsy and Sir David watched the Governor-General’s XI versus the NZ Māori Schoolboys and Schoolgirls at the Karori Cricket Club in Wellington. This is the second year the Governor-General’s XI has played the NZ Māori Schoolboys. As last years…

This evening, Dame Patsy hosted a reception for the Downtown Community Ministry’s 50th Birthday. DCM has been a safe, supportive environment for rough sleepers in Wellington since 1969, providing essential services like mental health and medical care,…

While visitors to Government House Wellington are treated to familiar sites like the ballroom or the reflection pool, a wander off the beaten track can uncover something unexpected. Click through to see some of our lesser-known areas. More photos Image of…

Dame Patsy hosted a networking reception for SheEO at Government House in Auckland. SheEO is a women-led inititative that raises investment capital and distributes it to women-led businesses in the form of interest-free loans.  Five ventures are chosen a…

Today Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the ceremony to mark the return of Pūkaha Reserve to Rangitāne, as part of the iwi's Treaty of Waitangi settlement. As representative of the Queen of New Zealand, Dame Patsy spoke about the beginning of a new…

Following Dame Patsy's Waitangi Day address, MC Ward Kamo made a few observations about Waitangi Day. Here's what he said: On this day 180 years ago, one of the founding documents of this nation, the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. I want to take a moment…

  Image of the Waitangi Day 2020 message from HM Queen Elizabeth

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a reception for around 1800 New Zealanders at Government House in Wellington. The sun shone and the sun screen tent was kept busy. The Government House chefs offered up a showcase of our best food and drink and guests were…

A very eventful day, beginning with the opening of Te Rau Aroha - the gift of love-a new museum on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds. It is dedicated to the story of Maori service in armed conflict since 1840, in New Zealand and overseas. Cutting the ribbon was…

Today Dame Patsy and Sir David attended a promotion ceremony for 17 cadets of the Leadership Academy of 'A' Company, an educational institution in Whangarei. All the young men are affiliated with the men who served in 'A' Company of 28 (Maori) Battalion…

It was a perfect still morning at Waitangi Treaty Grounds when Dame Patsy and Sir David were welcomed back to Waitangi with a very moving powhiri. They were accompanied by Sir John Clarke as Kaumatua and Dr Hiria Hape as Kuia. The tangata whenua speakers…

Yesterday Dame Patsy received the diplomatic credentials of new Heads of Mission: HE Ms Nina Obermaier, Ambassador of the European Union; HE Dr Mohammad Reza Mofatteh, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran; HE Dr Abdulla Mausoom, Ambassador of the…