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This year's Waitangi Day Garden Reception was smaller than in other years, but certainly made up for it in terms of a warm sense of community and fellowship. The nearly 500 guests included MPs, four local mayors, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, former…

For the final event during her visit to Waitangi, Dame Patsy inspected the Guard of Honour at the 2021 Beat Retreat Sunset ceremony, hosted by the Royal New Zealand Navy. She was greeted on arrival by Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Proctor. Along with…

Dame Patsy and Sir David began their final day at Waitangi by attending a meeting of the Waitangi National Trust Board. While they were there they were able to have a quick viewing of the He Kaupapa Waka exhibition. Later it was off to Russell for the…

On February 4, Dame Patsy was welcomed on to Te Whare Rūnanga at Waitangi Treaty Grounds for the final time as Governor-General. She was greeted with a stirring pōwhiri while being guided to the mahau by Titewhai Harawira. The speakers included veteran…

This evening Dame Patsy was welcomed aboard the HMNZS Otago for a reception as part of the Waitangi celebrations in Northland. She was greeted on arrival by part of the ship’s company and saw a performance from the Navy’s kapa haka group. Chief of Navy RA…

Whare Runanga Powhiri Waitangi Treaty Grounds 6 February 2021     Ko ‘te amorangi ki mua’ Ko ‘te hāpai ō ki muri’   Tuatahi ki te Atua,  koia te tīmatanga, koia ano te whakamutunga o ngā mea katoa.   Tātai whetū ki te rangi, mau tonu, mau tonu Tātai…

On the 3rd of February Dame Patsy attended the unveiling ceremony of a memorial for the 12 British soldiers, sailors and Royal Marines killed at the Battle of Te Ruapekapeka in 1846. The battle was the final of the Northern Wars, fought between around 400…

Unveiling of the grave marker at Ruapekapeka Wednesday 3 February 2021   Kei aku rangatira, tēnā koutou. Nei tātou e whai whakaaro nei, ki ō tātou mate kua rehu ki te rua. Tēnā anō tātou.   I specifically acknowledge The Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern, Prime…

  The Governor-General, The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne will spend three days in Waitangi in the lead-up to Waitangi Day. In addition to her annual engagements with the Royal New Zealand Navy, Dame Patsy will be welcomed with a powhiri…

This morning Dame Patsy received the credentials of new diplomatic envoys to New Zealand: HE Mr Koichi Ito, Ambassador of Japan; HE Dr Hajdin Abazi, Ambassador of Kosovo; HE Mr Ran Yaakoby, Ambassador of Israel; and HE Mrs Maria Belen Bogado, Ambassador…

As the final year of Dame Patsy's term, 2021 looks set to be busy.  She currently has a full schedule of events from now until the end of April 2021 and no more invitations can be accepted. Invitations for the period May - August can still be submitted.…

To say goodbye to 2020 and welcome in 2021, Dame Patsy and Sir David attended a Chinese New Year celebration hosted by the Multicultural Council of Wellington. The festival was held in Te Marae at Te Papa Tongarewa, and included a speeches from Mayor Andy…

Last night Dame Patsy spoke at the International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorations at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. She noted New Zealand's history with Jewish refugees from the Holocaust, the contribution Holocaust survivors have made as…

Shalom Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou Tēnā tatou katoa Warm Greetings to you all I acknowledge Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parliament, the Mayor of Auckland His Worship Phil Goff and councillors, survivors of the Holocaust and their extended…

Last night Dame Patsy and Sir David hosted one of their final official engagements for 2020 - a reception for the Diplomatic Corps. The reception was originally scheduled for earlier in the year, and had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dame…

Christmas was in the air as the New Zealand Secondary Students' Choir performed at Government House. Covid-19 may have curtailed the choir's 2020 programme and ruled out a trip to Europe, but the choir's polished performance was a testament to their…

Government House is holding a ballot for 30 people, each with a guest, to attend the Waitangi Day reception at Government House in Wellington from 4.30pm-6.30pm on Saturday 6 February, 2021. To enter, please email the following details to  waitangi.…

After being postponed earlier in the year due to COVID-19, Gill Gatfield’s sculpture ‘Zealandia’ was officially welcomed to the gardens of Government House Auckland, where it is currently on loan. Zealandia stands 2.3m tall, carved from ancient stone…

On Wednesday 9 December Dame Patsy and Sir David attended the commemorations at Mataatua Marae in Whakatane marking the first anniversary of the Whakaari eruption. They joined the Prime Minister, Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, members of the…

Good news for those of you hoping that the ballot might return for the Waitangi Day reception at Government House. We've done some number crunching and found room for a few more people on the guest list for next year. We'll be opening the ballot to find…

Ngāti Awa ki te rangi, Ngāti Awa ki te whenua, Ngāti Awa tāngata Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. Mataatua Whare, te whare haumaru ai, i te tangata, i te wa, o te pahūtanga o Whakaari. E tu! E tu! Nou te karanga o te ra, kia tau mai ahau, i…