Wikipedia

List of governors-general of New Zealand

The following is a list of the governors and governors-general of New Zealand.[1] As the personal representative of the New Zealand monarch, the governor-general performs many of the functions vested in the Crown, such as summoning and dissolving Parliament, granting or withholding the Royal Assent, making state visits, and receiving ambassadors. These functions are performed on the advice of the head of government, the prime minister.

Cindy Kiro (left), the incumbent governor-general, with her immediate predecessor, Patsy Reddy, in May 2021

From William Hobson's appointment in 1841, a total of 37 individuals have served as governor, governor-in-chief (1848–1853), or governor-general (since 1917). Sir Arthur Porritt was the first New Zealand-born governor-general, although he had been living in Britain for 31 years at the time of his appointment.[2] All governors-general since Sir Denis Blundell in 1972 have been New Zealand residents and, with the exception of Sir David Beattie, New Zealand-born.[3] The list does not include lieutenant-governors of the provinces of New Ulster and New Munster that existed between 1848 and 1853.[a] The table also does not include administrators of the government, who fulfil viceregal duties between the terms of governors-general, or at other times when the governor-general is overseas or otherwise unable to carry out the role. The role of administrator is normally undertaken by the chief justice.

Overview

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Governors-general have been appointed under letters patent issued in 1917 and the current letters patent issued in 1983.[4]

Historically, governors and governors-general were generally British aristocrats, a reflection of colonial-era affiliations. From the 1970s onward, however, a significant shift occurred, aligning with a more inclusive approach that mirrored New Zealand's diverse population. All governors-general since 1972 have been New Zealand residents. Sir Paul Reeves, in office from 1985 to 1990, was the first Māori governor-general. Dame Catherine Tizard, who served from 1990 to 1996, was the first female governor-general. Sir Anand Satyanand, who held the position from 2006 to 2011, was the first governor-general of Indian and of Pasifika ancestry. Governors-general have had a range of backgrounds, encompassing judges, a mayor, archbishop, surgeon, diplomat, general, farmer, and prime minister.[5]

List

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Governors and Governors-General of New Zealand
No. Portrait Name Term of office Length of term Monarch Premier/Prime Minister
As lieutenant-governor
1   William Hobson 30 January 1840 3 May 1841 1 year, 93 days Victoria None[b]
As governor
1   William Hobson 3 May 1841 10 September 1842 1 year, 130 days Victoria None[b]
2   Robert FitzRoy 26 December 1843 17 November 1845 1 year, 326 days
3   Sir George Grey 18 November 1845 31 December 1853[c] 8 years, 43 days
4   Thomas Gore Browne 6 September 1855 2 October 1861 6 years, 26 days ​
Henry Sewell
William Fox
Edward Stafford
William Fox
(3)   Sir George Grey 4 December 1861 5 February 1868 6 years, 63 days ​
Alfred Domett
Frederick Whitaker
Frederick Weld
Edward Stafford
5   Sir George Ferguson Bowen 5 February 1868 19 March 1873 5 years, 42 days ​
William Fox
Edward Stafford
George Waterhouse
William Fox
6   Sir James Fergusson 14 June 1873 3 December 1874 1 year, 172 days Julius Vogel
7   George Phipps, Marquess of Normanby 9 January 1875 21 February 1879 4 years, 43 days ​
Daniel Pollen
Julius Vogel
Harry Atkinson
George Grey
8   Sir Hercules Robinson 17 April 1879 8 September 1880 1 year, 144 days ​
John Hall
9   Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon 29 November 1880 23 June 1882 1 year, 206 days ​
Frederick Whitaker
10   Sir William Jervois 20 January 1883 22 March 1889 6 years, 61 days ​
Harry Atkinson
Robert Stout
Harry Atkinson
Robert Stout
Harry Atkinson
11   William Onslow, Earl of Onslow 2 May 1889 24 February 1892 2 years, 298 days ​
John Ballance
12   David Boyle, Earl of Glasgow 7 June 1892 6 February 1897 4 years, 244 days ​
​
13   Uchter Knox, Earl of Ranfurly 10 August 1897 19 June 1904 6 years, 314 days ​ Richard Seddon
Edward VII
14   William Plunket, Lord Plunket 20 June 1904 8 June 1910 5 years, 353 days ​ ​
William Hall-Jones
​
​ Joseph Ward
15   John Dickson-Poynder, Lord Islington 22 June 1910 2 December 1912 2 years, 163 days George V ​
Thomas Mackenzie
​
16   Arthur Foljambe, Earl of Liverpool 19 December 1912 27 June 1917 4 years, 190 days ​ William Massey
As governor-general
1   Arthur Foljambe, Earl of Liverpool 28 June 1917 7 July 1920 3 years, 9 days George V William Massey
2   John Jellicoe, Viscount Jellicoe 27 September 1920 26 November 1924 4 years, 60 days
3   Sir Charles Fergusson 13 December 1924 8 February 1930 5 years, 57 days ​
Francis Bell
Gordon Coates
Joseph Ward
4   Charles Bathurst, Lord Bledisloe 19 March 1930 15 March 1935 4 years, 361 days ​
George Forbes
5   George Monckton-Arundell, Viscount Galway 12 April 1935 3 February 1941 5 years, 297 days ​ ​
​ Michael Joseph Savage
Edward VIII
​ ​
​
6   Sir Cyril Newall 22 February 1941 19 April 1946 5 years, 56 days George VI Peter Fraser
7   Bernard Freyberg, Lord Freyberg 17 June 1946 15 August 1952 6 years, 59 days ​ ​
​ ​
​ ​
8   Sir Willoughby Norrie 2 December 1952 25 July 1957 4 years, 235 days Elizabeth II Sidney Holland
9   Charles Lyttelton, Viscount Cobham 5 September 1957 13 September 1962 5 years, 8 days ​
Keith Holyoake
Walter Nash
​
10   Sir Bernard Fergusson 9 November 1962 20 October 1967 4 years, 345 days Keith Holyoake
11   Sir Arthur Porritt 1 December 1967 6 September 1972 4 years, 280 days ​
Jack Marshall
12   Sir Denis Blundell 27 September 1972 5 October 1977 5 years, 8 days ​
Norman Kirk
Bill Rowling
​
13   Sir Keith Holyoake 26 October 1977 23 October 1980 2 years, 363 days Robert Muldoon
14   Sir David Beattie 6 November 1980 10 November 1985 5 years, 4 days ​
David Lange
15   Sir Paul Reeves 20 November 1985 29 November 1990 5 years, 9 days ​
Geoffrey Palmer
Mike Moore
​
16   Dame Catherine Tizard 12 December 1990 3 March 1996 5 years, 104 days Jim Bolger
17   Sir Michael Hardie Boys 21 March 1996 21 March 2001 5 years ​
Jenny Shipley
​
18   Dame Silvia Cartwright 4 April 2001 4 August 2006 5 years, 122 days Helen Clark
19   Sir Anand Satyanand 23 August 2006 23 August 2011 5 years ​
​
20   Sir Jerry Mateparae 31 August 2011 31 August 2016 5 years John Key
21   Dame Patsy Reddy 28 September 2016 28 September 2021 5 years ​
Bill English
​
22   Dame Cindy Kiro 21 October 2021 Incumbent 3 years, 16 days Jacinda Ardern
Charles III ​
Chris Hipkins
Christopher Luxon

Notes

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  1. ^ For their respective lieutenant-governors, see New Ulster Province and New Munster Province.
  2. ^ a b New Zealand attained responsible government following the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
  3. ^ Between 1 January 1848 and 7 March 1853, the viceregal representative held the office of governor-in-chief

References

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  1. ^ Former Governors-General.
  2. ^ Beaglehole 2012.
  3. ^ Patriated – the Governor-General.
  4. ^ "Appendix B: Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand 1983 | Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)". Cabinet Manual. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 19 April 2023.
  5. ^ "New Zealand's Governor-General – an historical perspective". gg.govt.nz. Government House. Retrieved 10 August 2023.

Sources

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