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National | Governor General

Dame Patsy Reddy named as next Governor General

Lawyer and former law lecturer Dame Patsy Reddy has being named to replace Sir Jerry Mateparae as NZ's next Governor-General.

Dame Patsy Reddy was hugely surprised by this honour, “When the Prime Minister asked me if I wanted to be the next Governor General I was stunned! I asked, why me.”

A lawyer and former law lecturer, in 2014, she was made a dame.

She has worked for a variety of entities over the years including as the Crown Chief Negotiator on the claims for Tauranga Moana and Ngā Punawai o Te Tokotoru, Ngāti Rangiteaorere, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, and Tapuika.

Dame Reddy says, “I will uphold the values and the importance of the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of New Zealand.

She will fill the role that will be vacated by Sir Jerry Mateparae.

According to the Prime Minister, it is important to have a woman now fill that role, “I thought it was important to have a woman as the governor general.”

“My style is what it is. I try to be relatively informal. I am an enthusiastic person, I like to meet people. I don't know that I will be as formal as governor generals of the past, but I hope I bring the appropriate dignity and mana to the role,” says Reddy.

Dame Patsy will be sworn in on September 14.