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HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee emblem, Designer, The emblem, approved by The Queen, was prepared by Phillip O’Shea, CNZM, CVO, New Zealand Herald of Arms. He also designed the three New Zealand Orders and The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Emblem for New…

23 December 1953 – 31 January 1954:, This was the first time a reigning sovereign had set foot in New Zealand. The Queen toured 46 towns or cities and attended 110 functions. In her Christmas message broadcast from Auckland, Her Majesty paid tribute to…

Some Jubilee dates and events in 2022 include: Date Event 6 February 70th Anniversary of the accession of The Queen 9 April Dinner with former Governors-General to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee 16 May Launch of the Trees that Count Legacy Project for the…

  Sir Cyril Newall (1941-1946). While the early panels reflected inherited coats of arms, those from the 1940s onwards increasingly showed the connections between the Office of Governor-General and New Zealand. Sir Cyril Newall (1941-46) was granted Arms…

It's helpful to use the correct titles when writing to the Governor-General or her spouse. The Governor-General's full title is: Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM, QSO Governor-General of New Zealand The title of the Governor-…

  Dame Alcyion Cynthia (Cindy) Kiro was born in Whangārei, Northland, in 1958, the eldest of six children. She is of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahu and British descent. She has a level of fluency in te reo Māori. Dame Cindy completed her primary and…

Dr Richard Davies is of English and Welsh descent and grew up in Kenya.   Official photo of Dr Richard Davies He returned to the United Kingdom to complete his education, studying Psychology and Philosophy at Oxford University, before spending two years…

Government House is managed by a small management team headed by the Official Secretary. The Official Secretary is a member of Senior Management Group of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and reports to the Clerk of the Executive Council. The…

The Fitzroy Room is named after New Zealand’s second Governor, Captain Robert Fitzroy (1843-45) and is used as a small dining room. The distinctive japanned cabinet dates from the 17th Century. The circular dining table was made by Wellingtonian David…

Image of the landing at Government House The Landing provides a transitional space between the Taupaepae and the guest suites on the first floor. The stained glass windows on the landing includes the coat of arms of King George V, New Zealand’s monarch at…

Image of the Norrie Dining Room   The Norrie State Dining Room in Government House Wellington features a long, extending table that dates from about 1880 and seats up to 26 guests. The room is one of the most authentic in the House and has high heritage…

Image of the Liverpool Room The Liverpool Room is named after the Earl of Liverpool (1912-20) who was New Zealand’s last Governor and first Governor-General following the issuing of new Letters Patent in 1917. The room is used for bilateral meetings with…

The Galway Suite, located at the top of the Landing, is one of eight guest suites in Government House. The suite is named after Governor-General Viscount Galway (1935-41), who gifted the  painting of Captain Charles Clerke by Nathaniel Dance that hangs in…

The Blundell Drawing Room The Blundell Room, and associated Porritt Room, originated in the  ‘withdrawing room’ of times past.  The rooms are named after the first New Zealand-born and resident Governor-General, Sir Denis Blundell (1972-77) while the…

Image of the Bledisloe Conservatory 2021 The Bledisloe Conservatory, named after Governor-General Lord Bledisloe (1930-35), originated as a glasshouse nursery for the cultivation of seedlings. It continued to function as a nursery until the 1960s, when…

Invitations to Government House often specify a dress code. This guide gives more information on those codes. Dress codes are suggestions that give guests certainty they are dressed appropriately for the occasion. They are guidelines put in place for the…

1868 - 1904 1905-1929 Royal Commission on Prisons 1868 Immigration to New Zealand 1874 Boiler accident at Kurunui Battery 1874 Claims to compensation by owners of tramways 1876 New General Assembly Library 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International…

Earl of Ranfurly’s waka 1970 Royal Visit Maota Ariki is the entry point to the Ballroom. It displays a collection of art and artifacts that reflect New Zealand’s place in the Pacific, including a model of a waka taua, commissioned by the Earl of Ranfurly…

The Royal prerogative of mercy has been an important constitutional safeguard in New Zealand's criminal justice system, providing a special avenue for criminal cases to be re-opened where a person may have been wrongly convicted or sentenced.  Where it…

Visitor Centre educators Heather Mills and Owen Mann put together these videos to give an idea of what you might see during a visit to Government House.  Book real life tours at Government House Wellington tours            

A guide to the precedence of constitutional office holders and others, to be followed at State and official functions. The order of precedence in New Zealand is used at many functions and events at Government House, such as State and Royal welcomes,…

Pou Pou Guests to Government House Wellington enter under a covered porte-cochère on the southern side of the House. The Taupaepae, or official entrance hall, is where guests arriving to see Their Excellencies are greeted. The two pou, or pillar facings,…

Throne The Ballroom is the largest room in Government House Wellington. It is used for receptions, large formal dinners, concerts, investitures and other award ceremonies, and occasionally for formal balls. It is where the Prime Minister and his or her…

Aerial View of Government House Wellington. On 24 March 2011, Government House reopened after five years of conservation work.  In 2005, a preliminary building condition survey identified a number of shortcomings. The 2006 Budget included funding for…

Governor-General Act Governor-General Act The remuneration and funding for the programme of the Governor-General is governed by the Governor-General Act 2010. The then Governor-General, The Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, gave royal assent to the Governor-…

Sir Bernard and Lady Freyberg at Government House Sir Bernard and Lady Freyberg at Government House An essay on Queen Elizabeth's reign by the late Gavin McLean, former Senior Historian with the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. On 11 February 1952 New…

Notes for reception guests, The Main Gate will open at 3.45pm. Guests are requested to arrive at Government House, Wellington via the Main Gate and proceed to the Terrace by 4.30pm before gates close and formalities begin. The Main Gate of Government…

The Governor-General’s Bledisloe Reception acknowledges the role of Lord Bledisloe, Governor-General of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935, who purchased the grounds in Waitangi where the Treaty was signed, and then gifted them to the nation., IMPORTANT…

  Their Excellencies, The Governor-General The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne, will host the Bledisloe Garden Reception to mark the 178th Anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. The Reception will be held at…

The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro and Dr Richard Davies   In May 2021, Queen Elizabeth II approved the appointment of Dame Cindy Kiro as the next Governor-General of New Zealand, for a five-year term starting on 21 October 2021. Before being sworn-in as Governor…

The Great Governor-General Hunt of 2015 is now on! Our Visitor Centre is putting together a collection of photos of the streets and places in New Zealand that are named after former Governors and Governors-General. Take a photo of yourself beside the sign…