page_title: Arthur Porritt, Baron Porritt
section_title: Governor-General
hierarchical_section_title: Arthur Porritt, Baron Porritt / Governor-General
caption_attribution_description: English: Sir Arthur Porritt visits Levin War Veterans Home. Accompanied by Sister M. Stewart, matron of the Levin War Vets. Home and Dr J. McHaffie
context_page_description: Colonel Arthur Espie Porritt, Baron Porritt, Bt, GCMG, GCVO, CBE, FRCS was a New Zealand physician, military surgeon, statesman and athlete. He won a bronze medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in the 100 m sprint. He served as the 11th Governor-General of New Zealand from 1967 to 1972.
context_section_description: In 1967 Porritt returned to New Zealand to be appointed by the Queen on the advice of Prime Minister Keith Holyoake as the 11th Governor-General of New Zealand, and the first to be born in New Zealand. His term marked a turning point in the country's constitutional history: his successors have all been New Zealanders (although one of his predecessors, Lord Freyberg, moved to New Zealand when he was two). An earlier Gallup poll for the Auckland Star newspaper found 43 per cent of respondents preferred Britons for the role, while 41 per cent favoured New Zealanders and 6 per cent candidates from other Commonwealth countries. Newspapers at the time welcomed the appointment, the Greymouth Star saying that it was "an acknowledgement of New Zealand's maturity."
caption: Sir Arthur Porritt visits Levin War Veterans Home on 23 July 1969.
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