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 Portrait Name Term of office Length of term Monarch Premier/Prime Minister As lieutenant-governor 1 William Hobson 30 January 1840 3 May 1841 Victoria None As governor (1) William Hobson 3 May 1841 10 September 1842 Victoria None 2 Robert FitzRoy 26 December 1843 17 November 1845 3 Sir George Grey 18 November 1845 31 December 1853 4 Thomas Gore Browne 6 September 1855 2 October 1861 Henry Sewell William Fox Edward Stafford William Fox (3) Sir George Grey 4 December 1861 5 February 1868 Alfred Domett Frederick Whitaker Frederick Weld Edward Stafford 5 Sir George Bowen 5 February 1868 19 March 1873 William Fox Edward Stafford George Waterhouse William Fox 6 Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet 14 June 1873 3 December 1874 Julius Vogel 7 George Phipps, 2nd Marquess of Normanby 9 January 1875 21 February 1879 Daniel Pollen Julius Vogel Harry Atkinson George Grey 8 Sir Hercules Robinson 17 April 1879 8 September 1880 John Hall 9 Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon 29 November 1880 23 June 1882 Frederick Whitaker 10 Sir William Jervois 20 January 1883 22 March 1889 Harry Atkinson Robert Stout Harry Atkinson Robert Stout Harry Atkinson 11 William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow 2 May 1889 24 February 1892 John Ballance 12 David Boyle, 7th Earl of Glasgow 7 June 1892 6 February 1897 13 Uchter Knox, 5th Earl of Ranfurly 10 August 1897 19 June 1904 Richard Seddon Edward VII 14 William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket 20 June 1904 8 June 1910 William Hall-Jones Joseph Ward 15 John Dickson-Poynder, 1st Baron Islington 22 June 1910 2 December 1912 George V Thomas Mackenzie 16 Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool 19 December 1912 27 June 1917 William Massey As governor-general 1 Arthur Foljambe, 2nd Earl of Liverpool 28 June 1917 7 July 1920 George V William Massey 2 John Jellicoe, 1st Viscount Jellicoe 27 September 1920 26 November 1924 3 Sir Charles Fergusson, 7th Baronet 13 December 1924 8 February 1930 Francis Bell Gordon Coates Joseph Ward 4 Charles Bathurst, 1st Baron Bledisloe 19 March 1930 15 March 1935 George Forbes 5 George Monckton-Arundell, 8th Viscount Galway 12 April 1935 3 February 1941 Michael Joseph Savage Edward VIII 6 Sir Cyril Newall 22 February 1941 19 April 1946 George VI Peter Fraser 7 Sir Bernard Freyberg 17 June 1946 15 August 1952 8 Sir Willoughby Norrie 2 December 1952 25 July 1957 Elizabeth II Sidney Holland 9 Charles Lyttelton, 10th Viscount Cobham 5 September 1957 13 September 1962 Keith Holyoake Walter Nash 10 Sir Bernard Fergusson 9 November 1962 20 October 1967 Keith Holyoake 11 Sir Arthur Porritt, 1st Baronet 1 December 1967 6 September 1972 Jack Marshall 12 Sir Denis Blundell 27 September 1972 5 October 1977 Norman Kirk Bill Rowling 13 Sir Keith Holyoake 26 October 1977 23 October 1980 Robert Muldoon 14 Sir David Beattie 6 November 1980 10 November 1985 David Lange 15 Sir Paul Reeves 20 November 1985 29 November 1990 Geoffrey Palmer Mike Moore 16 Dame Catherine Tizard 12 December 1990 3 March 1996 Jim Bolger 17 Sir Michael Hardie Boys 21 March 1996 21 March 2001 5 years Jenny Shipley 18 Dame Silvia Cartwright 4 April 2001 4 August 2006 Helen Clark 19 Sir Anand Satyanand 23 August 2006 23 August 2011 5 years 20 Sir Jerry Mateparae 31 August 2011 31 August 2016 5 years John Key 21 Dame Patsy Reddy 28 September 2016 28 September 2021 5 years Bill English 22 Dame Cindy Kiro 21 October 2021 Incumbent Jacinda ArdernCharles III Chris Hipkins Christopher Luxon

Notes

References

Sources

External links Official Website of the Governor-General of New Zealand A history of the Governor-General in New Zealand Rulers.org: Extensive list of Governors-General of New Zealand