Spouse of the governor-general of New Zealand

New Zealand governmental role

The spouse of the governor-general of New Zealand generally assists the office-holder in welcoming ambassadors and their spouses, and in performing their other official duties. The governor-general's spouse traditionally participates in celebratory occasions, attends functions and, as a patron of various voluntary associations, works to promote the activities of those associations. None of the activities have any official status. The spouse of the administrator of the Government fulfills the role when the administrator (chief justice) performs the function of the governor-general.

The current spouse (since 21 October 2021) is Richard Davies, husband of Cindy Kiro.

Both the governor-general and their spouse are entitled to the style "His/Her Excellency" during the governor-general's term of office, but not thereafter. The governor-general is entitled to the style "The Right Honourable" for life; this does not extend to the spouse.

Most of the spouses of governors-general have been content to be background figures providing the office-holder with support. Some have been all but unknown to the general New Zealand public. However, a few have been notable in their own right, and details are shown in the following table.

List of spouses of the governor-general of New Zealand

See also

• King consort
• Queen consort
• Spouse of the prime minister of New Zealand

References

1. "Galway, Lucia Emily Margaret, Viscountess, 1890-1983". Galway, Lucia Emily Margaret, Viscoun... | Items | National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1890.
2. "Norrie, Patricia Merryweather (Lady), 1907-2001". Norrie, Patricia Merryweather (Lady),... | Items | National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1907.
3. "Patricia Merryweather BAINBRIDGE 1906-2001 - Ancestry®". Ancestry.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019.
4. "Elizabeth Alison (née Makeig-Jones), Viscountess Cobham - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk.
5. "Cobham, Elizabeth Alison (Lady), -1986". Cobham, Elizabeth Alison (Lady), -1986 | Items | National Library of New Zealand. 1 January 1986.
6. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Porritt, Arthur Espie". teara.govt.nz.
7. "Norma Beattie death notice". New Zealand Herald. 11 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
8. "Lady Norma Beattie embodied a sense of public service". Stuff. 29 June 2018.
9. Reeves, Beverley Gwendolen (Lady) (1 March 2000). "Interview with Lady Beverley Reeves". Interview with Lady Beverley Reeves | Items | National Library of New Zealand.
10. "Lady Hardie Boys obituary". The New Zealand Herald. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
11. NZ Governor General's website Archived 14 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine