The Governor-General of New Zealand is the local representative of the Queen of New Zealand, Queen Elizabeth II, and as such is the highest office in the Government of New Zealand. The position of the Governor-General is similar to that in other Commonwealth realms, of which the Queen is also Head of State. The office's full title is The Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over New Zealand.

The Governor-General also represented the British Government until 1939 when the diplomatic functions were transferred to a High Commissioner. This was 13 years after the Balfour Declaration and after the functions were separated in the other Dominions. This was due to the New Zealand belief that such a thing would promote separatism within the British Empire.

The Governor-General is also the Governor of the Ross Dependency, which maintains a separate legal system from 'mainland New Zealand', inside the Realm of New Zealand (official link).

The Governor-General's main residence is at Government House, Wellington.

List of Lieutenant-Governors, Governors and Governors-General

Lieutenant-Governors, Governors and Governors-General of New Zealand

1840 - 1841 NZ a dependency of New South Wales

Title: Lieutenant-Governor

• Captain William Hobson RN

(under Lieutenant-Colonel Sir George Gipps RE, Governor of New South Wales 1837 - 1846, and Governor-in-Chief of New Zealand 1839 - 1841)

1841 - 1853 NZ a Crown Colony of Britain

Title: Governor

• 1841 - 1842 Captain William Hobson RN
• 1843 - 1845 Captain Robert FitzRoy RN
• 1845 - 1847 Captain George Grey

Title: Governor-in-Chief

• 1848 - 1853 Sir George Grey KCB

1853 - 1907 NZ a self-governing colony

Title: Governor of New Zealand

• 1853 - 1855 Sir George Grey KCB
• 1855 - 1861 Colonel Thomas Gore Browne CB
• 1861 - 1868 Sir George Grey KCB
• 1868 - 1873 Sir George Ferguson Bowen GCMG
• 1873 - 1874 The Rt Hon. Sir James Fergusson Bt
• 1875 - 1879 The Marquess of Normanby GCB GCMG PC
• 1879 - 1880 Sir Hercules Robinson GCMG
• 1880 - 1882 The Hon. Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon GCMG
• 1883 - 1889 Lieutenant-General Sir William Jervois GCMG CB
• 1889 - 1892 The Earl of Onslow GCMG
• 1892 - 1897 The Earl of Glasgow GCMG
• 1897 - 1904 The Earl of Ranfurly GCMG
• 1904 - 1910 The Lord Plunket GCMG KCVO

1907 to present: New Zealand as dominion and, later, realm

• 1904 - 1910 The Lord Plunket GCMG KCVO
• 1910 - 1912 The Lord Islington GCMG GBE DSO PC
• 1912 - 1917 The Earl of Liverpool GCMG MVO PC

With the title: Governor-General of New Zealand

• 1917 - 1920 The Earl of Liverpool GCMG MVO PC
• 1920 - 1924 The Viscount Jellicoe GCB OM GCVO
• 1924 - 1930 General Sir Charles Fergusson Bt GCMG KCB DSO MVO
• 1930 - 1935 The Viscount Bledisloe GCMG KBE PC
• 1935 - 1941 The Viscount Galway GCMG DSO OBE PC
• 1941 - 1946 Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall GCB OM GCMG CBE AM
• 1946 - 1952 Lieutenant-General The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO
• 1952 - 1957 Lieutenant-General The Lord Norrie GCMG GCVO CB DSO MC
• 1957 - 1962 The Viscount Cobham GCMG TD
• 1962 - 1967 Brigadier Sir Bernard Fergusson GCMG GCVO DSO OBE
• 1967 - 1972 Sir Arthur Porritt Bt GCMG GCVO CBE

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). All Governors-General since Sir Denis Blundell have been New Zealand born and resident.

• 1972 - 1977 Sir Denis Blundell GCMG GCVO KBE QSO
• 1977 - 1980 Sir Keith Holyoake KG GCMG CH QSO
• 1980 - 1985 The Hon. Sir David Beattie GCMG GCVO QSO QC
• 1985 - 1990 The Rt Revd Paul Reeves GCMG GCVO QSO
• 1990 - 1996 Dame Catherine Tizard GCMG GCVO DBE QSO
• 1996 - 2001 The Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys GMZM GCMG QSO
• 2001 - 2006 (designated term) Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM DBE

Note: The 'acting Governor-General' is known as the Administrator of the Government, or simply Administrator in every day usage.

See also

• Monarchy in New Zealand
• Republicanism in New Zealand
• British honours system and New Zealand Honours System for explanation of honours.

External links

• Official Website of the Governor-General of NZ