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This morning, Dame Cindy formally opened the 99th Council Meeting of the University of the South Pacific, at Fale Pasifika, University of Auckland. Since its founding in 1968, USP has provided tertiary education across the Pacific for 12 member countries…

For this afternoon’s ceremony, eight recipients were welcomed to Government House Auckland, including Tony Shaw, who received an ONZM for services to people with intellectual disabilities and the community. Mr Shaw has been heavily involved with IHC New…

The New Year 2025 investiture ceremonies in Auckland began today with recognition of eight outstanding New Zealanders. Five of today’s recipients were recognised for acts of bravery, including the late Mr Hussein Al-Umari, whose outstanding bravery and…

Today, Dr Davies joined the Diplomatic Spouses Association for a potluck at Homewood, the residence of the British High Commissioner, complete with everyone’s favourite dishes from their home country - Dr Davies representing New Zealand well with a…

Today Dr Davies visited the Titahi Bay Boat Club to join Sailability Wellington in celebrating the recent success of their team at the 2025 Para Sailing International Championships, held as part of the Hansa World Championships in Australia. It was a…

This morning 13 Honours recipients received their insignia at Government House. They included Māori language educator Dr Peter Cleave, ONZM; founder of Sudima Hotels in New Zealand, Mr Sudesh Jhunjhnuwala, ONZM; and economist Dr Bryce Wilkinson, ONZM.…

For the final Wellington New Year 2025 investiture ceremony, thirteen recipients were welcomed to Government House this afternoon. Among them was Megan Tamati-Quennell, who received a CNZM for services to Māori and First Nations art, Professor Louise Parr…

For this morning's investiture, ten recipients were honoured for their contributions to New Zealand. Among them was Māori language educator Professor Rawinia Higgins, who is Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori at Victoria University. She has held many…

Floral art enthusiasts from across Aotearoa have braved the extreme weather to congregate in Wellington to celebrate the 60th year of Floral Art Society of New Zealand. This evening Dame Cindy was on hand to present awards to the winning designers, who…

Fourteen honours recipients received their insignia from Dame Cindy at this morning's investiture ceremony. They included Ms Laurie Hilsgen, who received an Honorary CNZM for services to family carers: former Head of Department at Dunedin School of…

At this afternoon’s ceremony, eleven recipients received their insignia, including KiwiHarvest founder Deborah Manning. KiwiHarvest redistributes excess food and ensures it goes to people in need – distributing the equivalent of 27 million meals over the…

This morning, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted 13 recipients of Royal New Zealand Honours, who were acknowledged for their outstanding services and achievements across diverse areas of endeavour. They included Mrs Arihia Bennett, CNZM, for services to…

This afternoon’s investiture ceremony acknowledged eleven honours recipients, including former Chief of Navy Read Admiral (Rtd.) David Proctor, and former Chief of Army Major General (Rtd.) John Boswell, who were recognised for their outstanding…

This morning Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted an investiture ceremony for 13 recipients of Royal New Zealand Honours. They included environmental law expert Honorary Professor Sir Peter Skelton; Sam Whitelock, ONZM, New Zealand's highest capped All Blacks…

This afternoon, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted an investiture ceremony for four recipients of a New Zealand Bravery Decoration for their acts of exceptional bravery in a situation of danger, and seven recipients of a New Zealand Bravery Medal for acts of…

This afternoon Dame Cindy presented insignia for Royal New Zealand Honours to people who have worked on behalf of people who have suffered abuse in care. The twelve honours recipients have all contributed in their own way to raising public awareness of…

“This Anzac Day marks 110 years since the Gallipoli landings by soldiers in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – the ANZACS. It signalled the beginning of a campaign that was to take the lives of so many of our young men – and would devastate the…

  Matariki is a significant time of year to remember those we have lost, to gather and celebrate the present, and to look forward to the future. To celebrate Matariki this year, members of the public are invited to register for a ballot for a chance to…

Today Dame Cindy received the credentials of new diplomatic envoys to New Zealand. In the morning, Her Excellency hosted HE Mr Daniel Sloper, High Commissioner of Australia; HE Mr Cristiano Maggipinto, Ambassador of Italy; and HE Ms Isaura Duarte,…

This afternoon, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies joined the Wellington Sikh community to celebrate Vaisakhi at Gurudwara Sahib in Naenae. Vaisakhi is the traditional Sikh harvest festival, and is a time to show gratitude for the crops harvested that year. During…

This morning, Dame Cindy welcomed the Good Deed Group for a morning tea at Government House Auckland, to acknowledge the wonderful volunteer work they do in their communities. The group, predominantly made up of immigrant women from Iraq and Syria, live…

Dame Cindy joined the crowds who braved the rain today to help celebrate Polyfest in Auckland, now in its 50th year. What began with just four schools has grown to become the largest Māori and Pacific Islands festival in the world, with 77 secondary…

  For the final day of Dame Cindy and Dr Davies regional visit to Te Tai Tokerau, they received a very warm welcome with a pōhiri at Te Ahu Centre, which included iwi representatives, and Far North Mayor Moko Tepania. Students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o…

  When Kaikohe whānau Clara and Manga Aperahama-Kopa realised there was no school in the Kaikohe area that could cater for their son, Manga, who was born with a rare brain disorder, they turned the family home into a te reo immersion ECE where he and…

  Day two of the regional visit to Te Tai Tokerau began with Dame Cindy being interviewed by the  Luke Bird, Marica Hopa and Phoenix Ruka – hosts of E Ara E Mara on Ngāti Hine FM, followed by a breakfast with Whangārei Mayor Vince Cocorullo and Deputy…

  Dame Cindy and Dr Davies began a regional visit to Te Tai Tokerau today, and were welcomed to the region with a stirring pōhiri at Terenga Paraoa Marae in Whangārei. In her speech, Dame Cindy reflected on her strong connections to the area, and to the…

This morning at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy hosted a reception for Community Networks Wellington and representatives of their member organisations from across the region's community and social sector. The reception offered an opportunity for…

This morning in beautiful Governors Bay, Dame Cindy attended the Cholmondeley Children's Centre's 100th birthday celebration. Hugh Heber Cholmondeley gifted the land and original Cholmondeley House to the children of the Banks Peninsula area in 1925 in…

Following Her Excellency's time at the Cholmondeley Children's Centre, Dame Cindy attended another significant community event – the opening of the new Canterbury Coastguard building in Lyttelton. This state-of-the-art facility replaces the Coastguard’s…

This evening Dame Cindy and Doctor Davies hosted a reception launching the Seeing Streets Differently campaign for Blind Low Vision NZ. The campaign aims to raise awareness about the barriers and hazards blind and low vision people face when they try to…

 Last night, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted a dinner in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Council for International Development. The Council's 96 members help Aotearoa to meet its responsibilities for international development…

To commemorate Commonwealth Day, Dame Cindy attended a ceremony at Parliament, featuring performances by Teina Mai Sasa’e Wellington East Girls College Pacific Group, and Natraj School of Dance. Dame Cindy delivered a message from His Majesty King Charles…