# List of governors-general of New Zealand

The following is a list of the governors and governors-general of New Zealand. 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. 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. The list does not include lieutenant-governors of the provinces of New Ulster and New Munster that existed between 1848 and 1853. 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.
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.

## List of officeholders

Governors and Governors-General of New Zealand :
| No. | Name | Term of office | 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 |
| As governor ||||||||
| 1 | William Hobson | 3 May 1841 | 10 September 1842 | 1 year, 130 days | Victoria | None |
| 2 | Robert FitzRoy | 26 December 1843 | 17 November 1845 | 1 year, 326 days | Victoria | None |
| 3 | Sir George Grey | 18 November 1845 | 31 December 1853 | 8 years, 43 days | Victoria | None |
| 4 | Thomas Gore Browne | 6 September 1855 | 2 October 1861 | 6 years, 26 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 4 | Thomas Gore Browne | 6 September 1855 | 2 October 1861 | 6 years, 26 days | Victoria | Henry Sewell |
| 4 | Thomas Gore Browne | 6 September 1855 | 2 October 1861 | 6 years, 26 days | Victoria | William Fox |
| 4 | Thomas Gore Browne | 6 September 1855 | 2 October 1861 | 6 years, 26 days | Victoria | Edward Stafford |
| 4 | Thomas Gore Browne | 6 September 1855 | 2 October 1861 | 6 years, 26 days | Victoria | William Fox |
| (3) | Sir George Grey | 4 December 1861 | 5 February 1868 | 6 years, 63 days | Victoria | ​ |
| (3) | Sir George Grey | 4 December 1861 | 5 February 1868 | 6 years, 63 days | Victoria | Alfred Domett |
| (3) | Sir George Grey | 4 December 1861 | 5 February 1868 | 6 years, 63 days | Victoria | Frederick Whitaker |
| (3) | Sir George Grey | 4 December 1861 | 5 February 1868 | 6 years, 63 days | Victoria | Frederick Weld |
| (3) | Sir George Grey | 4 December 1861 | 5 February 1868 | 6 years, 63 days | Victoria | Edward Stafford |
| 5 | Sir George Bowen | 5 February 1868 | 19 March 1873 | 5 years, 42 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 5 | Sir George Bowen | 5 February 1868 | 19 March 1873 | 5 years, 42 days | Victoria | William Fox |
| 5 | Sir George Bowen | 5 February 1868 | 19 March 1873 | 5 years, 42 days | Victoria | Edward Stafford |
| 5 | Sir George Bowen | 5 February 1868 | 19 March 1873 | 5 years, 42 days | Victoria | George Waterhouse |
| 5 | Sir George Bowen | 5 February 1868 | 19 March 1873 | 5 years, 42 days | Victoria | William Fox |
| 6 | Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet | 14 June 1873 | 3 December 1874 | 1 year, 172 days | Victoria | Julius Vogel |
| 7 | George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby | 9 January 1875 | 21 February 1879 | 4 years, 43 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 7 | George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby | 9 January 1875 | 21 February 1879 | 4 years, 43 days | Victoria | Daniel Pollen |
| 7 | George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby | 9 January 1875 | 21 February 1879 | 4 years, 43 days | Victoria | Julius Vogel |
| 7 | George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby | 9 January 1875 | 21 February 1879 | 4 years, 43 days | Victoria | Harry Atkinson |
| 7 | George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby | 9 January 1875 | 21 February 1879 | 4 years, 43 days | Victoria | George Grey |
| 8 | Sir Hercules Robinson | 17 April 1879 | 8 September 1880 | 1 year, 144 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 8 | Sir Hercules Robinson | 17 April 1879 | 8 September 1880 | 1 year, 144 days | Victoria | John Hall |
| 9 | Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon | 29 November 1880 | 23 June 1882 | 1 year, 206 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 9 | Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon | 29 November 1880 | 23 June 1882 | 1 year, 206 days | Victoria | Frederick Whitaker |
| 10 | Sir William Jervois | 20 January 1883 | 22 March 1889 | 6 years, 61 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 10 | Sir William Jervois | 20 January 1883 | 22 March 1889 | 6 years, 61 days | Victoria | Harry Atkinson |
| 10 | Sir William Jervois | 20 January 1883 | 22 March 1889 | 6 years, 61 days | Victoria | Robert Stout |
| 10 | Sir William Jervois | 20 January 1883 | 22 March 1889 | 6 years, 61 days | Victoria | Harry Atkinson |
| 10 | Sir William Jervois | 20 January 1883 | 22 March 1889 | 6 years, 61 days | Victoria | Robert Stout |
| 10 | Sir William Jervois | 20 January 1883 | 22 March 1889 | 6 years, 61 days | Victoria | Harry Atkinson |
| 11 | William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow | 2 May 1889 | 24 February 1892 | 2 years, 298 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 11 | William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow | 2 May 1889 | 24 February 1892 | 2 years, 298 days | Victoria | John Ballance |
| 12 | David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow | 7 June 1892 | 6 February 1897 | 4 years, 244 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 12 | David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow | 7 June 1892 | 6 February 1897 | 4 years, 244 days | Victoria | ​ |
| 13 | Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly | 10 August 1897 | 19 June 1904 | 6 years, 314 days | ​ | Richard Seddon |
| 13 | Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly | 10 August 1897 | 19 June 1904 | 6 years, 314 days | Edward VII | Richard Seddon |
| 14 | William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket | 20 June 1904 | 8 June 1910 | 5 years, 353 days | ​ | ​ |
| 14 | William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket | 20 June 1904 | 8 June 1910 | 5 years, 353 days | ​ | William Hall-Jones |
| 14 | William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket | 20 June 1904 | 8 June 1910 | 5 years, 353 days | ​ | ​ |
| 14 | William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket | 20 June 1904 | 8 June 1910 | 5 years, 353 days | ​ | Joseph Ward |
| 15 | John Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington | 22 June 1910 | 2 December 1912 | 2 years, 163 days | George V | ​ |
| 15 | John Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington | 22 June 1910 | 2 December 1912 | 2 years, 163 days | George V | Thomas Mackenzie |
| 15 | John Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington | 22 June 1910 | 2 December 1912 | 2 years, 163 days | George V | ​ |
| 16 | Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool | 19 December 1912 | 27 June 1917 | 4 years, 190 days | ​ | William Massey |
| As governor-general ||||||||
| 1 | Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool | 28 June 1917 | 7 July 1920 | 3 years, 9 days | George V | William Massey |
| 2 | John Jellicoe, 1st Viscount Jellicoe | 27 September 1920 | 26 November 1924 | 4 years, 60 days | George V | William Massey |
| 3 | Sir Charles Fergusson, 7th Baronet | 13 December 1924 | 8 February 1930 | 5 years, 57 days | George V | ​ |
| 3 | Sir Charles Fergusson, 7th Baronet | 13 December 1924 | 8 February 1930 | 5 years, 57 days | George V | Francis Bell |
| 3 | Sir Charles Fergusson, 7th Baronet | 13 December 1924 | 8 February 1930 | 5 years, 57 days | George V | Gordon Coates |
| 3 | Sir Charles Fergusson, 7th Baronet | 13 December 1924 | 8 February 1930 | 5 years, 57 days | George V | Joseph Ward |
| 4 | Charles Bathurst, 1st Baron Bledisloe | 19 March 1930 | 15 March 1935 | 4 years, 361 days | George V | ​ |
| 4 | Charles Bathurst, 1st Baron Bledisloe | 19 March 1930 | 15 March 1935 | 4 years, 361 days | George V | George Forbes |
| 5 | George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway | 12 April 1935 | 3 February 1941 | 5 years, 297 days | ​ | ​ |
| 5 | George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway | 12 April 1935 | 3 February 1941 | 5 years, 297 days | ​ | Michael Joseph Savage |
| 5 | George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway | 12 April 1935 | 3 February 1941 | 5 years, 297 days | Edward VIII | Michael Joseph Savage |
| 5 | George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway | 12 April 1935 | 3 February 1941 | 5 years, 297 days | ​ | ​ |
| 5 | George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway | 12 April 1935 | 3 February 1941 | 5 years, 297 days | ​ | ​ |
| 6 | Sir Cyril Newall | 22 February 1941 | 19 April 1946 | 5 years, 56 days | George VI | Peter Fraser |
| 7 | Sir Bernard Freyberg | 17 June 1946 | 15 August 1952 | 6 years, 59 days | ​ | ​ |
| 7 | Sir Bernard Freyberg | 17 June 1946 | 15 August 1952 | 6 years, 59 days | ​ | ​ |
| 7 | Sir Bernard 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, 10th Viscount Cobham | 5 September 1957 | 13 September 1962 | 5 years, 8 days | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 9 | Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham | 5 September 1957 | 13 September 1962 | 5 years, 8 days | Elizabeth II | Keith Holyoake |
| 9 | Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham | 5 September 1957 | 13 September 1962 | 5 years, 8 days | Elizabeth II | Walter Nash |
| 9 | Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham | 5 September 1957 | 13 September 1962 | 5 years, 8 days | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 10 | Sir Bernard Fergusson | 9 November 1962 | 20 October 1967 | 4 years, 345 days | Elizabeth II | Keith Holyoake |
| 11 | Sir Arthur Porritt, 1st Baronet | 1 December 1967 | 6 September 1972 | 4 years, 280 days | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 11 | Sir Arthur Porritt, 1st Baronet | 1 December 1967 | 6 September 1972 | 4 years, 280 days | Elizabeth II | Jack Marshall |
| 12 | Sir Denis Blundell | 27 September 1972 | 5 October 1977 | 5 years, 8 days | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 12 | Sir Denis Blundell | 27 September 1972 | 5 October 1977 | 5 years, 8 days | Elizabeth II | Norman Kirk |
| 12 | Sir Denis Blundell | 27 September 1972 | 5 October 1977 | 5 years, 8 days | Elizabeth II | Bill Rowling |
| 12 | Sir Denis Blundell | 27 September 1972 | 5 October 1977 | 5 years, 8 days | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 13 | Sir Keith Holyoake | 26 October 1977 | 23 October 1980 | 2 years, 363 days | Elizabeth II | Robert Muldoon |
| 14 | Sir David Beattie | 6 November 1980 | 10 November 1985 | 5 years, 4 days | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 14 | Sir David Beattie | 6 November 1980 | 10 November 1985 | 5 years, 4 days | Elizabeth II | David Lange |
| 15 | Sir Paul Reeves | 20 November 1985 | 29 November 1990 | 5 years, 9 days | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 15 | Sir Paul Reeves | 20 November 1985 | 29 November 1990 | 5 years, 9 days | Elizabeth II | Geoffrey Palmer |
| 15 | Sir Paul Reeves | 20 November 1985 | 29 November 1990 | 5 years, 9 days | Elizabeth II | Mike Moore |
| 15 | Sir Paul Reeves | 20 November 1985 | 29 November 1990 | 5 years, 9 days | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 16 | Dame Catherine Tizard | 12 December 1990 | 3 March 1996 | 5 years, 104 days | Elizabeth II | Jim Bolger |
| 17 | Sir Michael Hardie Boys | 21 March 1996 | 21 March 2001 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 17 | Sir Michael Hardie Boys | 21 March 1996 | 21 March 2001 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | Jenny Shipley |
| 17 | Sir Michael Hardie Boys | 21 March 1996 | 21 March 2001 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 18 | Dame Silvia Cartwright | 4 April 2001 | 4 August 2006 | 5 years, 122 days | Elizabeth II | Helen Clark |
| 19 | Sir Anand Satyanand | 23 August 2006 | 23 August 2011 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 19 | Sir Anand Satyanand | 23 August 2006 | 23 August 2011 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 20 | Sir Jerry Mateparae | 31 August 2011 | 31 August 2016 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | John Key |
| 21 | Dame Patsy Reddy | 28 September 2016 | 28 September 2021 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 21 | Dame Patsy Reddy | 28 September 2016 | 28 September 2021 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | Bill English |
| 21 | Dame Patsy Reddy | 28 September 2016 | 28 September 2021 | 5 years | Elizabeth II | ​ |
| 22 | Dame Cindy Kiro | 21 October 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 147 days | Elizabeth II | Jacinda Ardern |
| 22 | Dame Cindy Kiro | 21 October 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 147 days | Charles III | ​ |
| 22 | Dame Cindy Kiro | 21 October 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 147 days | Charles III | Chris Hipkins |
| 22 | Dame Cindy Kiro | 21 October 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 147 days | Charles III | Christopher Luxon |