Search

Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a reception celebrating the successful conclusion of a major refurbishment of the Katherine Mansfield House and Garden. The project saw the roof replaces, an upgrade of the heating and ventilation systems, the installation…

The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake made the building that housed Defence and the Ministry of Defence uninhabitable. Today Dame Patsy and Hon Ron Mark, Minister of Defence, formally opened a new Defence House by unveiling the signage. Dame Patsy also cut a…

Dame Patsy hosted the final investiture ceremony of 2019 in the ballroom of Dunedin's famed Larnach Castle. 19 New Zealanders were recognised for their services to documentary filmmaking, natural history, conservation, sexual and reproductive health,…

Dame Patsy hosted the final investiture ceremony of 2019 in the ballroom of Dunedin's famed Larnach Castle. 19 New Zealanders were recognised for their services to documentary filmmaking, natural history, conservation, sexual and reproductive health,…

"I dub thee ... Coco!" That's not actually what Dame Patsy said but the black and white SPCA puppy who was given her forever name this morning at Government House seemed quite happy as the SPCA launched its Giving Hearts legacy programme in Wellington.…

To date, nearly 900 New Zealanders have been Churchill Fellows, travelling overseas to further their knowledge in an incredibly diverse range of fields. The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust was established in the 1960s, with fellowships awarded to people…

Dame Patsy received a farewell call from the Ambassador of Switzerland, HE David Vogelsanger at Government House in Wellington this morning. New Zealand was the final posting for the Ambassador who will retire from diplomatic life in six days. Image of…

Last call for entries to the ballot for invitations to the 2020 Waitangi Day Garden Reception. The ballot closes at midnight on Tuesday 24 September. Enter online here Strawberries at the Bledis  

Services to governance, the community, women, library information management and the arts, television and theatre, sport, woodchopping, youth, philanthropy, and the Tokelauan community. Dame Kerry Prendergast was recognised for her many leadership roles…

Congratulations to the 16 New Zealanders recognised at Government House this morning for their services to local, government, the community, conservation, people with rare health disorders, the blind community, music education, wildlife conservation, the…

This afternoon's honour recipients received insignia for services to Cook Islands business and tourism, people with intellectual disabilities, design, the New Zealand Kennel Club, education, rugby, gliding, Maori and Maori arts, horticulture and the arts…

Science, youth health, wildlife conservation and opthalmology were just some of the areas this morning's 16 honours recipients have made an impact on. Dame Sue Bagshaw was recognised for her 30 year career in the youth health sector, while Professor…

Members of the Defence Force, Police, Fire and Emergency and the Coastguard received insignia for the Queen's Birthday Honours at a ceremony at Government House this morning. In addition, services to criminal psychology and victim support were…

Congratulations to everybody recognised for their service at this afternoon's investiture ceremony at Government House in Wellington. Sir Paul Adams received the insignia of a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philanthropy…

As a tribute to one of our most distinguished scientists, the late Sir Paul Callaghan, the Eureka! Young Science Leaders programme was established to encourage and recognise excellence in science communication. The 12 finalists come together in Wellington…

The 2020 Waitangi Day Garden Reception is being held at Government House in, Wellington, on Thursday 6 February. We want as many New Zealanders as possible to have the opportunity to join Their Excellencies in marking this special day, so once again we're…

The final investiture ceremony for the week saw nine women and three men receive their insignia from Dame Patsy. Services to Maori and Maori language education, haemotology and obstetrics, midwifery, health, dancing, the arts, and diverse communities were…

12 more recipients were honoured for their services to youth and education, family violence prevention, women, engineering, domestic violence prevention and the State, rugby, victim support, seniors, the community, the Niuean community and sport. Coaching…

There was a strong Pasifika presence amongst the thirteen recipients at this afternoon's investiture ceremony. Honours were awarded for outstanding sporting achievements; and for dedicated service to communities, youth, education, workers' rights, and…

Congratulations to New Zealand's newest theatrical knight, Sir Roger Hall and the 12 other New Zealanders who were recognised at Government House in Auckland for their contributions to ballet, health,mental health awareness and suicide prevention,…

Contributions to the arts and conservation was a strong theme at this morning's investiture ceremony, along with services to Maori, the community, counselling, palliative care and equestrian sports. Congratulations to Dame Fran Walsh and the twelve…

Congratulations to the 11 New Zealanders, recognised for their contribution to social policy, Māori, psychiatry, the New Zealand Defence Force, women, the State, woodturning, Fire and Emergency New Zealand, art and governance and Māori art at this…

Yesterday Dame Patsy visited the Suffrage in Stitches exhibition at Wellington Museum. The exhibition consists of panels depicting a personal response to particular women who signed the suffrage petition in 1893. Hundreds of people responded to the…

This morning we were fortunate to have clear skies for the official welcome for new diplomatic envoys at Government House. HE Mr Sudesh Maniar, High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore, HE Mr Stefan Krawielicki, the Ambassador of the Federal…

Children were front and centre at a reception celebrating 25 years of the Duffy Books in Homes programme. Stemming from an encounter author Alan Duff had with a group of children who didn't own books, Duffy Books in Homes will give out it's 13 millionth…

Last night Dame Patsy hosted Foundation North's inaugural Tohu Autaia - Community Stars- at Government House Auckland. Foundation North has established the awards as a way of celebrating a billion dollars returned to communities in Auckland and Northland…

This morning Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted Gandhi Nivas staff, counsellors, researchers and Police liaison at Government House Auckland. Gandhi Nivas offers early intervention programmes to prevent the escalation of family violence, working on the…

This morning Dame Patsy was the first member of the SPCA's new Giving Hearts legacy programme to have the privilege of naming a rescue animal - in this case, a foxy-chihuahua cross - which she named Coco after her own dog. The SPCA receives approximately…

Today we welcomed year 13 students from secondary schools in the Auckland region who had spent the rest of the day as guests of On Being Bold, a network of high-achieving women. On Being Bold's goal is to empower women to develop their potential,…

The Malvina Major Foundation assists emerging talent in New Zealand through an emerging artists programme, in partnership with NZ Opera; a Young Artist or Fellowship programme, which offers more experienced singers a principal role in a New Zealand Opera…

The centenary of Colin McCahon's birth is being marked by a series of events around New Zealand. Government House's reception last night was held 100 years to the day of his birth, and we were privileged to have three of his works on display. In addition…

On 1 August, 1987, te Reo Maori became an official language of New Zealand. Today, 32 years later, Dame Patsy officially launched Te Wiki o te Reo Maori 2019 at the Wharewaka on Wellington's waterfront. Dame Patsy joined Pere Wihongi as Ambassadors for …