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Centenary plaque Centenary plaque One hundred years’ of history was marked on 1 October 2010 when the then Governor-General, Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, unveiled a plaque at Government House in Wellington to mark the centenary of the historic building.…

Viscount Cobham’s carved panel Viscount Cobham’s carved panel The panels have been carved from various designs; paintings in Armorial Letters Patent, bookplates or illustrations found in Burke’s and Debrett’s Peerages. The Armorial Bearings of Lord…

Understanding an Achievement of Arms Understanding an Achievement of Arms While the carvings are colloquially referred to as “coats of arms,” the correct term is Armorial Bearings or an Achievement of Arms. The terms are synonymous and refer to the whole…

Main Hallway Landing windows The Hallway, with its lush carpets and impressive collections of paintings and artefacts, is one of the most admired parts of Government House Wellington. The east wing of the corridor houses a display- case containing gifts…

Leather chair. Leather chair. Until the early 1970s, the Executive Council met in the Council Room and Ministers presented regulations requiring the Governor-General's signature. The room is now used for business meetings, such as the Rhodes and Georgetti…

Captain William Hobson Since 1840, when William Hobson was appointed as the first Governor, the role of the Governor-General has changed as New Zealand has evolved from a dependent colony to an independent nation. New Zealand became a British Crown Colony…

In a very few instances, the Governor-General may exercise a degree of personal discretion, under what are known as the "reserve powers." The most important of these is the appointment of a Prime Minister following an election, or accepting the…

Historic Colour Scheme Earthquake strengthening: This involved new piles and foundation walls for much of the House and ensuring the foundations were properly connected to the building. The walls were exposed and strengthened with structural steel braces…

  At the request of the Prime Minister, Governors-General represent New Zealand on the international stage - undertaking state visits to enhance relations between New Zealand and other countries as well as attending important ceremonies overseas. The…

Rebecca Rose Sculptures   Government House Wellington has an extensive collection of art and artifacts, including works from the 16th Century. The Norrie Collection of paintings of British monarchs and other royalty in the Norrie Dining Room were donated…

If you have a matter you wish to bring to the Governor-General's attention, there are several ways to get in contact. You may wish to write to the Governor-General, guidance on how to do so can be found here.   General enquiries and information on other…

Dame Cindy applauds the performers You can invite the Governor-General to attend or host events, or be a patron of your organisation. You can also apply to have congratulatory cards sent out for notable birthdays and anniversaries.

The Hon Anand Satyanand was sworn in as New Zealand’s 19th Governor-General for a five-year term in August 2006.  He is New Zealand’s first Governor-General of Indian and Pacific ancestry.  He has had a lengthy career as a lawyer, judge and ombudsman as…

Entries for the 2016 Bledisloe Garden Reception Ballot have now closed. Entrants will be advised by mid-December if their entry has been successful. 

THE ORDER OF NEW ZEALAND, The Queen has been pleased on the occasion of the celebration of the New Year, to make the following appointment to The Order of New Zealand., ONZ, The Right Honourable Helen Elizabeth, CLARK, , of New York, United States of…

About RSS Subscriptions, Government House has begun offering a personalised subscription to some new content published on its website.   By using this service, notices about some new content are sent to subscribers as soon as it is published online. The…

The Bledisloe Reception ballot is now closed. Government House will advise people if they have been successful from Monday 17 November 2014 onwards.

NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY AWARDS, The Queen has been pleased to approve the following New Zealand Bravery Awards:, THE NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY DECORATION (NZBD), Dr Bryce CURRAN, Citation, On 22 February 2011 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Christchurch, causing…

 , THE ORDER OF NEW ZEALAND, The Queen has been pleased, on the occasion of the celebration of Her Majesty's Birthday, to make the following appointment to The Order of New Zealand:, ONZ, To be a Member of the said Order: Sir Ronald Powell Carter, KNZM,…

    Governor-General Designate The Rt Hon Dame Patsy was born in Matamata and lived her early years in Te Akau and then Minginui, where her parents, Neil and Kay Reddy, were school teachers.  The family moved to Hamilton when she was six and she completed…

Tours can be arranged for groups of 7-50 people. They're free, and fully guided. Tours start with films and displays in our Visitor Centre, before exploring Government House. When weather and mobility permit, we can also explore the gardens. Please note:…

We have education programmes for groups from early childhood and primary through to tertiary and adult community education level, who want to learn more about the Governor-General and Government House. We recommend approximately 1.5-2 hours for a visit.…

Prince Charles in military uniform His Majesty King Charles III is New Zealand's Head of State. The Governor-General is His Majesty's representative in New Zealand and is appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. New Zealand's…

Image of Dame Patsy Reddy in the Blundell Room at Government House in Wellington Dame Patsy Reddy was born in Matamata and lived her early years in Te Akau and then Minginui, where her parents, Neil and Kay Reddy, were school teachers. The family moved to…

Looking down on to the swearing-in ceremony The Governor-General's constitutional role is to maintain the legitimacy and continuity of government by ensuring there is always a government in office with a democratic mandate to govern.  Legitimacy is the…

  The Governor-General represents the King and all New Zealanders at important public ceremonies, including Waitangi Day and Anzac Day commemorations. The Governor-General also holds investiture ceremonies where New Zealand honours are conferred. These…

The Governor-General provides non-partisan community leadership. Dame Cindy Kiro and Dr Richard Davies meet with veterans after the Act of Remembrance The Governor-General is the patron of many charitable, service, sporting, cultural and community…

The Governor-General's role includes several functions: Constitutional appointing the government after an election giving Royal Assent to legislation  presiding over the Executive Council appointing key public officials and accepting diplomatic…

Dame Cindy Kiro, Dr Richard Davies, King Charles III Learn about the Governor-General Act, the Governor-General's Flag, and who stands in for the Governor-General when she is overseas or unable to fulfill her engagements. 

An image of the family of Sir Bernard Fergusson, Lady Laura Fergusson and son Geordie at Government House in Wellington in the early 1960s Find out how the role of Governor-General has evolved from 1840 until the present day. Our earliest Governors and…