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This class of outputs involves:
The Governor-General is the Queen’s representative
in New Zealand – and has constitutional, ceremonial
and community roles. She requires high-quality advice
and support to carry out these roles in a way that is
appropriate for the representative of the head of state.
The Wellington and Auckland Government Houses are
important facilities for carrying out the Governor-General’s duties, and are also important as historic places.
Output Class 2 Financial Performance
| 30.06.05
Actual $000 |
30.06.06
Actual $000 |
30.06.06
Main Estimates $000 |
30.06.06
Supplementary Estimates $000 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue - Crown | 3,266 | 3,366 | 3,307 | 3,366 |
| Revenue - Other | 54 | 65 | 58 | 58 |
| Expenditure | 3,296 | 3,396 | 3,337 | 3,396 |
| Surplus | 24 | 35 | 28 | 28 |
Objective
To provide efficient and effective support to the Governor-General, to enable the carrying out of the Governor-General’s ceremonial and the community roles.
Performance
The Governor-General undertook an extensive programme of official engagements both within New Zealand and overseas. Arrangements were made and briefings provided to the Governor-General to enable her to attend 463 official engagements in New Zealand.
The Governor-General hosted 198 functions at Government House Wellington and 29 functions at Government House Auckland (the Auckland house was closed for refurbishment for part of the period). A total of 20,000 people visited the two Houses, either attending functions or on house visits individually or in groups.
The functions included 15 investitures (including 4 Order of St John investitures) for recipients from the 2005 Queen’s Birthday Honours List and the 2006 New Year Honours List, and 10 presentation-of-credentials ceremonies by foreign ambassadors.
Ceremonial welcomes and luncheons were held in honour of the presidents of Pakistan, Lithuania, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. State dinners were held for HRH Prince William and HRH the Duke of York, both of whom stayed at Government House Wellington; HRH Prince William stayed in addition at Government House Auckland. A state dinner was held in honour of the governor-general of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (in Wellington) and the governor-general of Tuvalu (in Auckland).
Her Excellency the Governor-General made extended visits to the Bay of Plenty, Waikato (which included the ruby (40th year) celebrations of the accession of the Maori Queen), Nelson, Taranaki, and Otago. During these visits she met New Zealanders in their communities, schools, institutions, and businesses – and on marae.
The Governor-General made visits to Singapore (June-July 2005), Vanuatu (July 2005) and the Cook Islands (August 2005); and state visits to Vietnam (November 2005), Korea (April 2006), the Republic of Ireland (May 2006), and Greece (June 2006). In addition, the Governor-General paid a farewell call on the Queen in June 2006.
In her ceremonial role, the Governor-General played a key part in New Zealand activities in 2006, including attendance at three ANZAC Day commemorations in Christchurch and Wellington and seven Waitangi Day activities at Waitangi, Hamilton, and Auckland.
To ensure that the Governor-General continued to receive efficient and effective support for carrying out her required ceremonial and community roles, informal debriefing was carried out with Her Excellency immediately after an event. Any areas for improvement were noted, discussed at the fortnightly management and programme meetings, and where possible incorporated into future events by way of changed procedures. A more formal monthly meeting was held with the Governor-General to seek feedback on all aspects of support for the official programme.
Objective
To provide the Governor-General with services of an advisory, administrative, function-organisation and household nature, to ensure the efficient and effective running of the official programme and household.
Performance
A wide range of functions and ceremonial occasions was delivered to the standard required for the Governor-General. The required standard to be achieved is that of “best practice”, and this is benchmarked against the standards at Buckingham Palace and at Government House Australia.
Staff from Government House have worked and visited both these establishments for the purpose of gaining experience, and to assist in benchmarking performance.
A management and staff survey conducted in early 2006 highlighted some areas for improved management and human resource practices. A forward work programme to address these issues is under development.
Preparations and planning began, for the change of Governor-General.
Objective
To preserve, secure and enhance the buildings and
grounds of both Government Houses as appropriate
residences of the head of state, and of Government
House Wellington as a listed building of historic
importance.
Performance
The major focus for the year has been preparing for the redevelopment of Government House Wellington. Independent reviews were commissioned during the period in order to ascertain the present condition, desirable maintenance level, and fitness for purpose of both the Auckland and Wellington properties. The resulting reports will form the basis of a 25-year asset-management plan for both properties.
Significant projects carried out in Government House Auckland during this period include tiling the balcony and installing louvres in the new pavilion. In Wellington, the Government House kitchen underwent a successful major refurbishment, a seismic analysis of the building was completed, and work on the security upgrade commenced.
Objective
To satisfy the Governor-General that the development projects and the maintenance programmes are implemented effectively.
Performance
The views of the Governor-General were sought regularly on the maintenance and development of both properties. The planning of major capital works was discussed, and contingencies in respect of the integrity of future vice-regal programmes were agreed. Routine maintenance was discussed and was planned around vice-regal occupancy of both houses, the maximum use being made of time spent away on official overseas travel. The proposed 25-year asset-management plan was discussed with the Governor-General, who strongly supported the “future proofing” of both Government Houses.