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The system of vice-regal patronage in New Zealand follows the tradition of royal patronage established in the United Kingdom, although the practices of granting Royal Warrants and Royal Charters has not been continued here. This is the list of patronages…

E ngā rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei i tēnei wā, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tinara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I wish to begin by specifically acknowledging: Lorna Ingram,…

Rau rangatira mā, e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa. Your Excellency The Honourable Sam Mostyn, Your Excellency Mr Simeon Beckett, and all distinguished guests gathered here this afternoon – tēnā koutou katoa. I have been…

Teachers who are planning a visit to Government House may wish to use the following resource to help prepare their trip: Visiting Government House. A social script for a student on a class visit - We can supply this social script in word format, so you…

Rau rangatira mā, e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa. I would like to begin by specifically acknowledging Nicki Nicol, Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, and of course, the 2026 NZOC Wāhine Toa…

E nga rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei i tēnei wā, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Whare o te Kāwana Tianara o Tāmaki Makaurau.  I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: Dr Kayla Kingdon-Bebb…

Rere ana nga roimata o Hine tērā te pae o Te Riri. Huihuia mai tātau katoa tēnei te pae o Maumahara. E nga iwi, kei aku rangatira wāhine mā, tāne mā tēnā tātau katoa. Greetings to all of you here at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park – our national place…

Rere ana nga roimata o Hine tērā te pae o Te Riri. Huihuia mai tātau katoa tēnei te pae o Maumahara. E nga iwi, kei aku rangatira wāhine mā, tāne mā tēnā tātau katoa. Greetings to you all at our national place of remembrance, Pukeahu National War Memorial…

Kei aku Mana Nui Kei aku Mana Roa Tēnā koutou katoa Tēnei hoki te mihi o Aotearoa Ki te Mana o Tākei Ki te Mana o te whenua nei o Karipori Mihi mai, karanga mai. To those who bear noble and enduring authority I greet you in the name of Aotearoa New…

Tēnā tātau katoa Tēnā tātau o te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa He tapu tō te roimata He tohu whaimana He kaikawe kōrero Mō te haukere o te pōuri Mō te hāngū o te Aroha. Greetings to us all Greetings to us of the South Pacific There is sacredness in tears They are…

Tēnā koutou katoa. I wish to begin by expressing my gratitude to the New Zealand Defence Force Contingent for this morning’s whakawātea, enabling us to gather safely in this sacred space. Standing here is a profound privilege. These grounds hold immense…

The Queen Elizabeth II Lawn at Government House Wellington, To mark the centenary of the birth of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the North Lawn at Government House Wellington will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Lawn. This historic space has long been…

E ngā rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei i tēnei wā, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tinara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: The Honourable Ruth…

37 people - 33 men and 4 women- have held the Vice-regal office in New Zealand since Captain William Hobson became Lieutenant-Governor in 1840. This timeline tells the story of each of them. The title of Governor-General has only been used since 1917,…

On the Constitution of New Zealand: An Introduction to the Foundations of the Current Form of Government, The Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith, 1990, updated 2008 and 2017 and 2023 This essay is the introduction to the Cabinet Manual. , A constitution: What is it…

E ngā rau rangatira mā, e huihui mai nei i tēnei wā, tēnei aku mihi nunui ki a koutou. I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: His Worship The Honourable Dr Nick Smith, Mayor of Nelson; Fiona Wilson, Chief Executive of the Nelson Regional…

Ka tū au i raro i te mana o āku tipuna, mai Nga Puhi, Ngati Kahu, me Ngati Hine, ki te mihi atu ki nga Iwi o Te Tauihu mai Mōhua ki Kapara te Hau. Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Tama ki Te Waipounamu, Ngāti Toa…

E nga rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei I tenei waa, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai ra ki Te Whare Kawana o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I’d like to begin by specifically acknowledging: The Honourable Penny Simmonds,…

E nga rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei I tenei waa, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai ra ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tinara o Tamaki Makaurau. I specifically acknowledge: Courtney Johnston, Chief Executive, Te Papa;…

E ngā rau rangatira mā, nga wāhine toa o te motu, e huihui mai nei i tēnei wā, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai rā ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tīnara o Tāmaki Makaurau. I’d like to specifically acknowledge: Katie Bhreatnach, CEO of Global…

Nau mai, haere mai ra ki Te Whare Kawana o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I would like to begin by specifically acknowledging: Mike Pannett, Deputy Commissioner; Greg O’Connor, MP and Member of Wing; Bruce Donald, Member of Wing. Fifty years ago, 68 fresh faced…

E nga rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei I tenei waa, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai ra ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tinara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I wish to begin by specifically acknowledging: the Right Honourable…

We join together on this Commonwealth Day at a time of great challenge and great possibility. Across our world, communities and nations face the increasing pressures of conflict, climate change and rapid transformation. Yet it is often in such testing…

Kia ora koutou It is an honour to be here today to commemorate the 109 th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the SS Otaki. Today, we pay tribute to all who have bravely served our country and remember those who never came home. I join the Principal in…

E nga rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui mai nei I tenei waa, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Nau mai, haere mai ra ki Te Whare o te Kawana Tinara o Te Whanganui-a-Tara. I specifically acknowledge: The Honourable Chris Bishop and the…

E nga rau rangatira mā, e kui mā, e koro mā, e huihui nei, tēnei aku mihi māhana ki a koutou. Kia ora tātou katoa. I specifically acknowledge: Hon Justice Simon Moore KC, Chair of the Board, Electoral Commission; Karl Le Quesne, Chief Electoral Officer…

E nga rau rangatira mā, e huihui mai nei i tēnei po, tēnei aku mihi nunui ki a koutou. Kia ora tatou katoa. I’d like to specifically acknowledge: Richard Stone, Life Flight Chair; Mark Johnston, Life Flight Chief Executive; Clive Button, Life Flight…

General accessibility information, Government House has marked mobility parks by the reception entrance and Visitor Centre. We also have general parking on-site for visitors. The house and Visitor Centre are wheelchair friendly and have wheelchair access…

Individuals and small groups wanting to tour Government House Wellington, please go to the Public Tours section of this page and book your place online., Schools, ECE, community and family groups should contact our Visitor Centre to make bookings for…

For use by schools or groups in preparation for a visit to Government House.

Whakarongo! Whakarongo! Whakarongo ki te reo o Te Ao Tūroa Whakarongo ki te au o te moana Kia mārama pai ai tōna mana, tōna ihi, tōna wehi E rarau nei me tōna Kotahi Kuri mai, kuri atu. Listen-Listen Hear the voice of the natural world Feel the voice of…

Kei aku rangatira e pai nei, tēnā koutou. Nau mai haere mai ki Kororāreka. Kia ora mai tātou katoa. I’d like to specifically acknowledge: Your Excellency Mr Alfredo Rogerio Pérez Bravo, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps – and may I offer my sincerest…