List of governors-general of New Zealand
{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2013}}
File:Cindy Kiro DNZM investiture.jpg (left), the incumbent governor-general, with her immediate predecessor, Patsy Reddy, in May 2021]]
The following is a list of the governors and governors-general of New Zealand.{{sfn|Former Governors-General}} 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.
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.{{sfn|Beaglehole|2012}} 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.{{sfn|Patriated – the Governor-General}} The list does not include lieutenant-governors of the provinces of New Ulster and New Munster that existed between 1848 and 1853.{{efn|For their respective lieutenant-governors, see New Ulster Province and New Munster Province.}} 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
Governors-general have been appointed under letters patent issued in 1917 and the current letters patent issued in 1983.{{cite web |title=Appendix B: Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand 1983 {{!}} Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual/appendix-b-letters-patent |website=Cabinet Manual |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |language=en |date=19 April 2023}}
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.{{cite web |title=New Zealand's Governor-General – an historical perspective |url=https://gg.govt.nz/office-governor-general/history/new-zealands-governor-general-historical-perspective |website=gg.govt.nz |publisher=Government House |access-date=10 August 2023 |language=en}}
List of officeholders
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Governors and Governors-General of New Zealand ! {{Abbr|No.|Number}} ! Portrait ! Name ! colspan=2 | Term of office ! Length of term ! Monarch |
| colspan=8 | As lieutenant-governor |
|---|
| 1
| 80px | 30 January 1840 | 3 May 1841 | {{age in years and days|30 January 1840|3 May 1841}} | Victoria | None{{efn|name=None|New Zealand attained responsible government following the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852}} |
| colspan=8 | As governor |
| 1
| 80px | 3 May 1841 | 10 September 1842 | {{age in years and days|3 May 1841|10 September 1842}} | rowspan=38 style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | Victoria | rowspan=3 style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | None{{efn|name=None}} |
| 2
| 80px | 26 December 1843 | 17 November 1845 | {{age in years and days|26 December 1843|17 November 1845}} |
| 3
| 80px | Sir George Grey | 18 November 1845 | 31 December 1853{{efn|Between 1 January 1848 and 7 March 1853, the viceregal representative held the office of governor-in-chief}} | {{age in years and days|18 November 1845|31 December 1853}} |
| rowspan=5 | 4
| rowspan=5 | 80px | rowspan=5 | Thomas Gore Browne | rowspan=5 | 6 September 1855 | rowspan=5 | 2 October 1861 | rowspan=5 | {{age in years and days|6 September 1855|2 October 1861}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Henry Sewell |
| William Fox |
| Edward Stafford |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' valign=top | William Fox |
| rowspan=5 | (3)
| rowspan=5 | 80px | rowspan=5 | Sir George Grey | rowspan=5 | 4 December 1861 | rowspan=5 | 5 February 1868 | rowspan=5 | {{age in years and days|4 December 1861|5 February 1868}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' valign=top | {{zwsp}} |
| Alfred Domett |
| Frederick Whitaker |
| Frederick Weld |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' valign=top | Edward Stafford |
| rowspan=5 | 5
| rowspan=5 | 80px | rowspan=5 | Sir George Bowen | rowspan=5 | 5 February 1868 | rowspan=5 | 19 March 1873 | rowspan=5 | {{age in years and days|5 February 1868|19 March 1873}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| William Fox |
| Edward Stafford |
| George Waterhouse |
| William Fox |
| 6
| 80px | Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet | 14 June 1873 | 3 December 1874 | {{age in years and days|14 June 1873|3 December 1874}} | style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | Julius Vogel |
| rowspan=5 | 7
| rowspan=5 | 80px | rowspan=5 | George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby | rowspan=5 | 9 January 1875 | rowspan=5 | 21 February 1879 | rowspan=5 | {{age in years and days|9 January 1875|21 February 1879}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Daniel Pollen |
| Julius Vogel |
| Harry Atkinson |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | George Grey |
| rowspan=2 | 8
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | Sir Hercules Robinson | rowspan=2 | 17 April 1879 | rowspan=2 | 8 September 1880 | rowspan=2 | {{age in years and days|17 April 1879|8 September 1880}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | John Hall |
| rowspan=2 | 9
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon | rowspan=2 | 29 November 1880 | rowspan=2 | 23 June 1882 | rowspan=2 | {{age in years and days|29 November 1880|23 June 1882}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | Frederick Whitaker |
| rowspan=6 | 10
| rowspan=6 | 80px | rowspan=6 | Sir William Jervois | rowspan=6 | 20 January 1883 | rowspan=6 | 22 March 1889 | rowspan=6 | {{age in years and days|20 January 1883|22 March 1889}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Harry Atkinson |
| Robert Stout |
| Harry Atkinson |
| Robert Stout |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | Harry Atkinson |
| rowspan=2 | 11
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow | rowspan=2 | 2 May 1889 | rowspan=2 | 24 February 1892 | rowspan=2 | {{age in years and days|2 May 1889|24 February 1892}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | John Ballance |
| rowspan=2 | 12
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow | rowspan=2 | 7 June 1892 | rowspan=2 | 6 February 1897 | rowspan=2 | {{age in years and days|7 June 1892|6 February 1897}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| rowspan=2 | 13
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly | rowspan=2 | 10 August 1897 | rowspan=2 | 19 June 1904 | rowspan=2 | {{age in years and days|10 August 1897|19 June 1904}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} | rowspan=2 style='border-style: none solid none solid;' valign=top | Richard Seddon |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' valign=bottom | Edward VII |
| rowspan=4 | 14
| rowspan=4 | 80px | rowspan=4 | William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket | rowspan=4 | 20 June 1904 | rowspan=4 | 8 June 1910 | rowspan=4 | {{age in years and days|20 June 1904|8 June 1910}} | rowspan=3 style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| William Hall-Jones |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}}
| style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | Joseph Ward |
| rowspan=3 | 15
| rowspan=3 | 80px | rowspan=3 | John Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington | rowspan=3 | 22 June 1910 | rowspan=3 | 2 December 1912 | rowspan=3 | {{age in years and days|22 June 1910|2 December 1912}} | rowspan=3 style='border-style: none solid none solid;' valign=bottom | George V | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Thomas Mackenzie |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| 16
| 80px | Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool | 19 December 1912 | 27 June 1917 | {{age in years and days|19 December 1912|27 June 1917}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' valign=top | William Massey |
| colspan=8 | As governor-general |
| 1
| 80px | Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool | 28 June 1917 | 7 July 1920 | {{age in years and days|28 June 1917|7 July 1920}} | rowspan=8 style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | George V | rowspan=2 style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | William Massey |
| 2
| 80px | John Jellicoe, 1st Viscount Jellicoe | 27 September 1920 | 26 November 1924 | {{age in years and days|27 September 1920|26 November 1924}} |
| rowspan=4 | 3
| rowspan=4 | 80px | rowspan=4 | Sir Charles Fergusson, 7th Baronet | rowspan=4 | 13 December 1924 | rowspan=4 | 8 February 1930 | rowspan=4 | {{age in years and days|13 December 1924|8 February 1930}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Francis Bell |
| Gordon Coates |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | Joseph Ward |
| rowspan=2 | 4
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | Charles Bathurst, 1st Baron Bledisloe | rowspan=2 | 19 March 1930 | rowspan=2 | 15 March 1935 | rowspan=2 | {{age in years and days|19 March 1930|15 March 1935}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | George Forbes |
| rowspan=5 | 5
| rowspan=5 | 80px | rowspan=5 | George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway | rowspan=5 | 12 April 1935 | rowspan=5 | 3 February 1941 | rowspan=5 | {{age in years and days|12 April 1935|3 February 1941}} | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}}
| rowspan=2 style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' valign=bottom | Michael Joseph Savage |
| Edward VIII |
| rowspan=2 style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}}
| style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| 6
| 80px | Sir Cyril Newall | 22 February 1941 | 19 April 1946 | {{age in years and days|22 February 1941|19 April 1946}} | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | George VI | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | Peter Fraser |
| rowspan=3 | 7
| rowspan=3 | 80px | rowspan=3 | Sir Bernard Freyberg{{efn|Raised to the peerage as 1st Baron Freyberg during his term in office, in 1951.}} | rowspan=3 | 17 June 1946 | rowspan=3 | 15 August 1952 | rowspan=3 | {{age in years and days|17 June 1946|15 August 1952}} | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}}
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}}
| style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| 8
| 80px | Sir Willoughby Norrie | 2 December 1952 | 25 July 1957 | {{age in years and days|2 December 1952|25 July 1957}} | rowspan=31 style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | Elizabeth II | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' valign=top | Sidney Holland |
| rowspan=4 | 9
| rowspan=4 | 80px | rowspan=4 | Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham | rowspan=4 | 5 September 1957 | rowspan=4 | 13 September 1962 | rowspan=4 | {{age in years and days|5 September 1957|13 September 1962}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Keith Holyoake |
| Walter Nash |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| 10
| 80px | Sir Bernard Fergusson | 9 November 1962 | 20 October 1967 | {{age in years and days|9 November 1962|20 October 1967}} | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | Keith Holyoake |
| rowspan=2 | 11
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | Sir Arthur Porritt, 1st Baronet | rowspan=2 | 1 December 1967 | rowspan=2 | 6 September 1972 | rowspan=2 | {{age in years and days|1 December 1967|6 September 1972}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | Jack Marshall |
| rowspan=4 | 12
| rowspan=4 | 80px | rowspan=4 | Sir Denis Blundell | rowspan=4 | 27 September 1972 | rowspan=4 | 5 October 1977 | rowspan=4 | {{age in years and days|27 September 1972|5 October 1977}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Norman Kirk |
| Bill Rowling |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| 13
| 80px | Sir Keith Holyoake | 26 October 1977 | 23 October 1980 | {{age in years and days|26 October 1977|23 October 1980}} | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | Robert Muldoon |
| rowspan=2 | 14
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | Sir David Beattie | rowspan=2 | 6 November 1980 | rowspan=2 | 10 November 1985 | rowspan=2 | {{age in years and days|6 November 1980|10 November 1985}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | David Lange |
| rowspan=4 | 15
| rowspan=4 | 80px | rowspan=4 | Sir Paul Reeves | rowspan=4 | 20 November 1985 | rowspan=4 | 29 November 1990 | rowspan=4 | {{age in years and days|20 November 1985|29 November 1990}} | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Geoffrey Palmer |
| Mike Moore |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| 16
| 80px | Dame Catherine Tizard | 12 December 1990 | 3 March 1996 | {{age in years and days|20 November 1990|3 March 1996}} | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | Jim Bolger |
| rowspan=3 | 17
| rowspan=3 | 80px | rowspan=3 | Sir Michael Hardie Boys | rowspan=3 | 21 March 1996 | rowspan=3 | 21 March 2001 | rowspan=3 | 5 years | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Jenny Shipley |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| 18
| 80px | Dame Silvia Cartwright | 4 April 2001 | 4 August 2006 | {{age in years and days|4 April 2001|4 August 2006}} | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | Helen Clark |
| rowspan=2 | 19
| rowspan=2 | 80px | rowspan=2 | Sir Anand Satyanand | rowspan=2 | 23 August 2006 | rowspan=2 | 23 August 2011 | rowspan=2 | 5 years | style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| 20
| 80px | Sir Jerry Mateparae | 31 August 2011 | 31 August 2016 | 5 years | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | John Key |
| rowspan=3 | 21
| rowspan=3 | 80px | rowspan=3 | Dame Patsy Reddy | rowspan=3 | 28 September 2016 | rowspan=3 | 28 September 2021 | rowspan=3 | 5 years | style='border-style: none solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| Bill English |
| style='border-style: solid solid none solid;' | {{zwsp}} |
| rowspan=4 | 22
| rowspan=4 | 80px | rowspan=4 | Dame Cindy Kiro | rowspan=4 | 21 October 2021 | rowspan=4 | Incumbent | rowspan=4 | {{age in years and days|21 October 2021 |
| style='border-style: none solid none solid ;' | Jacinda Ardern
|-
| rowspan=3 |Charles III
| style='border-style: none solid solid solid;' | {{zwsp}}
|-
|-
|}
Notes
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite web| last=Beaglehole | first=Diana | url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5p34/porritt-arthur-espie | title=Porritt, Arthur Espie | publisher=Dictionary of New Zealand Biography | date=30 October 2012 | access-date=22 April 2013 }}
- {{cite web|url=http://gg.govt.nz/the-governor-general/historical/former.htm |title=Governor-General of New Zealand: Former Governors-General |publisher=gov-gen.govt.nz |access-date=22 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222114806/https://gg.govt.nz/the-governor-general/historical/former.htm |archive-date=22 February 2013 |ref={{harvid|Former Governors-General}} |url-status=dead }}
- {{cite web|first=Colin |last=James |url=http://www.colinjames.co.nz/herald/Herald_2006/Herald_column_06Aug22.htm |title=The huge challenge ahead of the Maori Queen's successor |work=The New Zealand Herald|date=22 August 2006 |author-link=Colin James (journalist) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206001054/http://www.colinjames.co.nz/herald/Herald_2006/Herald_column_06Aug22.htm |archive-date= 6 February 2012 }}
- {{cite book|first=Gavin |last=McLean|title=The Governors, New Zealand Governors and Governors-General|publisher=Otago University Press|url=http://www.otago.ac.nz/press/booksauthors/2006/governors.html|isbn= 978-1-877372-25-4|date=October 2006 }}
- {{cite news|publisher=The Evening Post|title=Republic 'inevitable'–Clark|date=4 March 2002 | ref={{harvid|Evening Post}} }}
- {{cite news| url = http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/history-of-the-governor-general/patriated | date=20 December 2012 | title=Patriated – the Governor-General | publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage | access-date=22 April 2013 | ref= {{harvid|Patriated – the Governor-General}} }}
External links
- [http://www.gg.govt.nz Official Website of the Governor-General of New Zealand]
- [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/1892 A history of the Governor-General in New Zealand]
- [http://www.rulers.org/ruln1.html#new_zealand Rulers.org: Extensive list of Governors-General of New Zealand]
{{Lists of New Zealanders}}
Category:Government of New Zealand
Category:Constitution of New Zealand