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There was some very exciting cricket in the weekend, including the New Zealand/UK match. Dame Patsy and Sir David attended a Willows Club dinner on Saturday night in Christchurch and a match the following day, where her team of aspiring Black Caps, the…

Dame Patsy and Sir David officially welcomed the President of the Republic of Indonesia HE Joko Widodo and Ibu Iriana Joko Widodo at Government House in Wellington. The NZDF Maori cultural party provided the powhiri and a one hundred person Guard of…

We commemorated Race Relations Day a few days early at Government House Auckland today. Our MC was 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year, Rez Gardi, and our theme was in support of the Human Right's Commission campaign: "Give Nothing to Racism". Speech…

This evening, Dame Patsy and Sir David are hosting Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand at a dinner at Government House to  celebrate LBC's 40th year of operation. LBC plays a vital role in assisting the 21,000 New Zealanders living with a blood cancer…

Last night Dame Patsy, as patron of the New Zealand Red Cross, presented Florence Nightingale Medals to three New Zealand nurses. The highest award in nursing, the medals are presented to Red Cross and Red Crescent nurses and others, who have shown…

This evening Dame Patsy and Sir David attended a Commonwealth Day 2018 National Observance service at the Cathedral of St Paul in Wellington. Dame Patsy read a message from Her Majesty the Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Hon Andrew Little read a message…

Dame Patsy joined a panel discussion on leadership at the Auckland Town Hall for Auckland Council's International Women's Day celebration. The discussion covered a broad range of topics related to women in the workforce including paths to leadership and…

What a great way to start International Women's Day, by joining hundreds of guests at Zonta/UN Women NZ's breakfast at Parliament. Dame Patsy spoke about the responsibility of everyone to use their influence to keep alive the momentum for change and Helen…

This evening, Dame Patsy and Sir David attended an International Women's Day cocktail event at The Sugar Club in Auckland, supporting the Otara Blue Light programme Turning the Tide. The programme is aimed at young Maori and Pasifika women from Otara…

Suffrage 125 was launched at Government House today in front of a crowd of women leaders, influencers and and public figures from all generations. Dame Patsy, Minister for Women Hon Julie Anne Genter and 2017 Young New Zealander of the Year Rez Gardi…

Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the re-opening of Wellington's City Gallery on Friday 2 March. The Gallery had been closed since late last year as it underwent some alterations, including the installation of a new, more welcoming entranceway. The first…

This afternoon Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the launch of a new book Wanted: The Search for the Modernist Murals of E Mervyn Taylor at the City Gallery in Wellington. Dame Patsy has followed the progress of this project with interest since its…

On the final day of the Northland visit, Dame Patsy and Sir David met students and staff at the recently established QRC Tai Tokerau College in Paihia. The students obtain qualifications in hospitality, spending a proportion of their time in internships.…

Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the launch of the Superdiversity Centre's #myidentity campaign in Auckland. The campaign celebrates and promotes the diversity of New Zealand's population and encourages people to upload videos of themselves…

Kaitaia was the focus of the first day of the visit of Dame Patsy and Sir David to Northland, and they were very impressed with the warmth of the welcome they received at all six engagements.   A powhiri at Te Ahu Centre was followed by a citizenship…

Conservation and heritage were the focuses of the second day of the regional visit to Northland. Dame Patsy and Sir David went by ferry to Urupukapuka Island, a picturesque jewel in the Bay of Islands. It was a chance to learn more about pre-European…

This evening Dame Patsy and Sir David joined thousands of people on the waterfront to see the  spectacular launch to the 2018 New Zealand Festival: Kupe - a Waka Odyssey, which featured waka, approximately 1000 children performing kapa haka, a choir,…

On this 7th anniversary of the devastating Christchurch earthquake, our thoughts are with the people of Christchurch, particularly those who have experienced personal loss. We hope that communities will find solace and strength by gathering together in…

Scouts NZ marked Founders Day and 110 years of scouting in this country with a special celebration at Government House this evening. Highlights included an inspiring address by Kate Te Wano, a young woman who came to scouting late and had to overcome many…

Last night, Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the launch of the Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation at the Supreme Court. The Foundation was established by the late Judge Ian Borrin to support legal research, education and scholarship in New Zealand,…

Today was an opportunity to support Dame Patsy's strategic focuses of creativity, innovation, leadership and diversity with a forum at Government House. The topic was diversity in the digital world, and the two guest speakers were Dr Siouxsie Wiles and…

On 13 February Dame Patsy received a call from HE Mr Orhan Tavli, Governor of Canakkale, Mr Ismail Kasdemir, President of the Gallipoli Historical Park Directorate, and HE Mr Ahmet Ergin, the Turkish Ambassador.

On Saturday night, Dame Patsy and Sir David held a reception at Government House for Gold Award recipients of the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards. The recipients, who had attended ceremonies earlier in the day at Government House, came from around…

Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted a magnificent performance of Eglantyne , written and performed by Anne Chamberlain. The play celebrates the life of Eglantyne Jebbs, co-founder of Save the Children, and writer of the Declaration of the Rights of…

Full coverage of Dame Patsy's Waitangi Day address at Government House in Auckland. Thanks to One News/ TVNZ for the footage.

The annual Waitangi Day Bledisloe Reception was held at Government House Auckland this year. Dame Patsy and Sir David were joined by 750 guests, including the Prime Minister and members of the Diplomatic Corps. The sun shone, and the cruisy jazz from the…

The Bledisloe Garden Reception 2018 takes place at Government House in Auckland on Waitangi Day. Don't forget to bring your invitation (it's going to be sunny) and wear a hat and apply sunscreen. Bledisloe Garden Reception info sheet

Today Dame Patsy received the credentials of the British High Commissioner, Her Excellency Ms Laura Mary Clarke; The High Commissioner of the Republic of Vanuatu, His Excellency Mr Johnson Naviti; the High Commissioner of Malaysia, Her Excellency Ms Nur…

In 1858, a ceremony was held at Maiki Hill to celebrate a new flagstaff, erected by Northern Maori as a gesture of goodwill and reconciliation, 12 years after the war between British forces and allied Northern tribes. Governor Gore-Brown declined an…

This morning Dame Patsy and Sir David visited the New Zealand Portrait Gallery in Wellington to see an impressive exhibition of portraits by Frances Hodgkins (1869-1947), one of New Zealand's  foremost artists. Frances Hodgkins is well-known for her still…

Dame Patsy and Sir David wish all New Zealanders a safe and happy New Year. Here is Dame Patsy's message for 2018, a year in which we mark a very special anniversary.

Congratulations to all the outstanding New Zealanders acknowledged with New Year's Honours. We look forward to hosting them and their families at investiture ceremonies at Government House Wellington and Government House Auckland in May. The full list of…