page_title: Patsy Reddy
section_title: Governor-General of New Zealand
hierarchical_section_title: Patsy Reddy / Governor-General of New Zealand
caption_attribution_description: English: Dame Patsy Reddy and Chief Justice, Dame Sian Elias
context_page_description: Dame Patricia Lee Reddy GNZM QSO DStJ is a New Zealand lawyer and businesswoman serving as the 21st and current Governor-General of New Zealand, in office since 2016.
  Before becoming governor-general, Reddy was a partner of a law firm, headed a major review of intelligence agencies, held multiple directorships, chaired the New Zealand Film Commission and worked as a chief negotiator on Treaty of Waitangi settlements. Prime Minister John Key recommended her to succeed Sir Jerry Mateparae as the Queen's representative; Reddy was sworn in on 28 September 2016.
context_section_description: In March 2016, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, had approved the appointment of Reddy as the next Governor-General of New Zealand, for a five-year term starting in September 2016, on the advice of then Prime Minister John Key. She was officially sworn in as the 21st governor-general by Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias on 28 September. The swearing-in ceremony included a Māori pōwhiri, a 21-gun salute, and music from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band and the New Zealand Opera Chorus; the ceremony was attended by hundreds of observers, including film-makers Sir Peter Jackson and James Cameron (a former neighbour), with an address by Prime Minister John Key. Reddy became the third woman to hold the position, after Dame Catherine Tizard and Dame Silvia Cartwright.
  Reddy gave her first Royal assent as governor-general on 18 October 2016.
  On 7 November 2016, Reddy welcomed King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Queen Maxima to New Zealand. She hosted a state banquet.
  On 12 December 2016, subsequent to the resignation of John Key, Reddy swore in Bill English as Prime Minister and Paula Bennett as Deputy Prime Minister.
  On 7 February 2017, Reddy delivered her first annual Waitangi Day Bledisloe Address at the Bledisloe Garden reception at Government House, Wellington.
  In her first overseas trip, Reddy visited Niue and the Cook Islands, the associated states of New Zealand, on 21 and 22 March 2017 respectively. Reddy was welcomed by Tom Marsters, the Queen's Representative in the Cook Islands.
  On 6 May 2017, Reddy travelled to Italy, where she visited various cultural events in Rome and Venice. On 14 May, she visited Barbados, where she met with the Governor-General of Barbados, Elliott Belgrave, and the prime minister, Freundel Stuart.
  On 30 September 2017, Reddy travelled to Israel for a two-day trip, in which she represented New Zealand at official commemorations to mark the centennial of the Battle of Beersheba during the First World War. She was received by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and later met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netenyahu.
  On 26 October 2017, Reddy presided at the swearing-in of the new Executive Council. She signed warrants appointing the new prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, and other ministers. On 8 November, Reddy attended the State Opening of Parliament where she addressed MPs from the throne.
  On 24 October 2017, Reddy hosted a state welcome for the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, at Government House. A couple of weeks later, Reddy hosted German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Government House from 5 to 7 November 2017. The visit started with a wreath-laying ceremony at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.
  On 5 December 2017, Reddy began a three-day trip to Malaysia. The state visit marked the sixtieth year of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Malaysia. Among several engagements, Reddy had an audience with Sultan Muhammad V, and attended a state banquet.
  On 1 January 2018, Reddy issued her New Year video message. She focused on gender equality and respect for women; Reddy also noted the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand.
  Reddy welcomed former US President Barack Obama to Government House on 22 March 2018. On 23 April, Reddy travelled to Turkey to represent New Zealand at commemorative events associated with the Gallipoli campaign; on 26 April, she met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.
  On 28 October 2018, Reddy welcomed members of the Royal Family, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to Wellington. She also hosted a reception at Government House honouring the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage. The following month, on 19 November, Reddy hosted the President of Chile Sebastian Pinera. On 3 December she welcomed the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in and his wife Kim Jung-sook to New Zealand during a ceremony at Auckland Government House.
  On 15 March 2019, Reddy released a message expressing condolences to the victims of the Christchurch mosque
caption: Dame Patsy Reddy with Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias at the swearing-in ceremony, 28 September 2016
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