Patsy Reddy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dame Patsy Reddy
GNZM CVO QSO DStJ
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Official portrait, 2017
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| 21st Governor-General of New Zealand | |
| In office 28 September 2016 – 28 September 2021 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | John Key Bill English Jacinda Ardern |
| Preceded by | Sir Jerry Mateparae |
| Succeeded by | Dame Cindy Kiro |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Patricia Lee Reddy
17 May 1954 Matamata, New Zealand |
| Spouses |
Geoff Harley
(div. 1988)Sir David Gascoigne
(m. 2016) |
| Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Dame Patricia Lee Reddy (born 17 May 1954) is a New Zealand lawyer and businesswoman. She served as the 21st governor-general of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021.
Before becoming governor-general, Dame Patsy was a partner in a law firm. She also led a review of New Zealand's spy agencies. She held many leadership roles, including chairing the New Zealand Film Commission. She also worked as a chief negotiator for Treaty of Waitangi settlements. Then-Prime Minister John Key suggested to Queen Elizabeth II that Dame Patsy be appointed. She was sworn in for a five-year term on 28 September 2016.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dame Patsy Reddy was born in Matamata, New Zealand, on 17 May 1954. Her parents, Neil William and Catherine Marjorie "Kay" Reddy, were both schoolteachers. Some of her ancestors came from Ireland. A distant cousin, singer Helen Reddy, was from the Australian side of her family.
Dame Patsy grew up in small towns in the Waikato region. These towns were Te Ākau and Minginui. When she was six, her family moved to Hamilton. There, she went to Hillcrest Primary School, Peachgrove Intermediate School, and Hamilton Girls' High School.
She studied at Victoria University of Wellington. She earned a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1976. In 1979, she completed a Master of Laws degree with top marks.
Career Highlights
Dame Patsy Reddy started her career as a lecturer at Victoria University's law school. In 1982, she joined a law firm in Wellington called Watts and Patterson. She became their first female partner in 1983. She focused on tax, company, and film law.
Later, she worked at Brierley Investments for 11 years. She helped with big deals, like when Air New Zealand became a private company.
Leadership Roles and Contributions
Dame Patsy held many important roles. She was the chair of the New Zealand Film Commission. She also chaired Education Payroll Ltd. She was a director for Payments NZ Ltd and Active Equity Holdings Ltd.
She was a main negotiator for Treaty of Waitangi settlements. These settlements resolve historical issues between the Crown and Māori. She also helped review how government services were performing. She was the deputy chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency. Other companies she directed included Telecom, SKYCITY Entertainment Group, New Zealand Post, and Air New Zealand.
In 2016, Dame Patsy worked with Sir Michael Cullen. They wrote a report for the New Zealand government. This report looked at laws for the country's intelligence agencies. Their report was released just before her appointment as governor-general was announced.
Dame Patsy was also involved in many non-profit groups. She supported the arts and worked for gender equality. In 2009, she helped start Global Women New Zealand. This group promotes diversity in leadership.
In December 2022, she was chosen as the chair of New Zealand Rugby. In December 2024, she joined the board of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. Also in December 2024, Dame Patsy became the chair of the Climate Change Commission.
Governor-General of New Zealand
In March 2016, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved Dame Patsy's appointment. She would be the next governor-general of New Zealand. Her five-year term began in September 2016. She was officially sworn in by Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias on 28 September.
The ceremony included a Māori pōwhiri (a welcome ceremony). There was also a 21-gun salute and music. Many people attended, including filmmakers Sir Peter Jackson and James Cameron. Prime Minister John Key gave a speech. Dame Patsy became the third woman to hold this important role.
On 18 October 2016, Dame Patsy gave her first Royal assent. This is the final step for a bill to become law.
Official Engagements and Visits
On 7 November 2016, Dame Patsy welcomed King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to New Zealand. She hosted a special dinner for them.
After John Key resigned, Dame Patsy swore in Bill English as prime minister. She also swore in Paula Bennett as deputy prime minister on 12 December 2016.
On 7 February 2017, she gave her first annual Waitangi Day Bledisloe Address. This was at Government House, Wellington.
Her first overseas trip was to Niue and the Cook Islands. These are states associated with New Zealand. She visited them on 21 and 22 March 2017.
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On 30 September 2017, Dame Patsy visited Israel. She represented New Zealand at a ceremony. This marked 100 years since the Battle of Beersheba in the First World War. She met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On 26 October 2017, Dame Patsy oversaw the swearing-in of the new government. She signed documents appointing Jacinda Ardern as prime minister and other ministers. On 8 November, she spoke to Members of Parliament from the throne at the State Opening of Parliament.
She hosted the president of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, on 24 October 2017. A few weeks later, she hosted German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
On 5 December 2017, Dame Patsy began a three-day trip to Malaysia. This visit celebrated 60 years of diplomatic ties between New Zealand and Malaysia. She met with Sultan Muhammad V.
On 1 January 2018, Dame Patsy released her New Year video message. She talked about gender equality and respect for women. She also noted the 125th anniversary of women's suffrage in New Zealand.
Dame Patsy welcomed former US President Barack Obama to Government House on 22 March 2018. On 23 April, she went to Turkey. She represented New Zealand at events for the Gallipoli campaign.
On 28 October 2018, Dame Patsy welcomed Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to Wellington. She also hosted a reception celebrating 125 years of women's right to vote. The next month, she hosted the President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera. In December, she welcomed the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in, and his wife.
On 15 March 2019, Dame Patsy shared a message of sympathy. This was for the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings. She said it was a time to remember values like compassion and tolerance.
On 7 June 2019, she represented New Zealand at events in the United Kingdom. These marked 75 years since the D-Day landings. In October 2019, she made an official visit to Japan.
Dame Patsy's last overseas visit was to Australia in June 2021. She finished her term as Governor-General of New Zealand on 28 September 2021.
Personal Life
Dame Patsy Reddy is married to Sir David Gascoigne. He was formerly New Zealand's Judicial Conduct Commissioner. They married one week before her appointment as governor-general was announced. Her first husband was Geoff Harley. They divorced in 1988. Both of her husbands worked with her at a law firm in the 1980s.
Dame Patsy is the first vegan governor-general. Because of this, the meal at her swearing-in ceremony was entirely vegan.
Honours and Awards
| Viceregal styles of Dame Patsy Reddy (2016–2021) |
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| Reference style | Her Excellency the Right Honourable |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
In 2014, Dame Patsy was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. This was for her work in the arts and business. In June 2016, she also became a Dame of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.
She was given higher honours on 27 June 2016, before becoming governor-general. She became an Additional Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She was also appointed an Additional Companion of the Queen's Service Order. As governor-general, she was called "Her Excellency" while in office. She can be called "The Right Honourable" for the rest of her life.
Victoria University of Wellington gave Dame Patsy an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on 13 December 2017.
In 2022, Dame Patsy was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order. The president of Hungary also gave her the Commander's Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit in 2022.
See also
In Spanish: Patsy Reddy para niños
- List of female representatives of heads of state
