Government House Visitor Centre marks milestone   19 Jul 2013

Government House

The Government House Visitor Centre marked a significant milestone with it recording its 1000th visitor today (19 July 2013).

Since the appointment of the Visitor Centre co-ordinator in February this year, Government House has been offering tours to schools, community groups and other organisations, as well as public tours that people can book online at www.gg.govt.nz/tours

This morning, Frank Talataina, from a group from the Ministry of Justice, was recorded as the 1000th visitor. To mark the occasion Official Secretary Niels Holm and Centre co-ordinator Rebecca Burke presented Frank with a special jar of feijoa jelly made by the chefs at Government House.

Mr Holm said the 1000th visitor was a significant marker in the implementation of the Government House Visitor strategy.

“Government House is a place of mana and pride for all New Zealanders. The open days in 2011 and 2012, when thousands of New Zealanders flocked to see the work that had been done in strengthening and refurbishing the House, demonstrated a strong demand to visit the home of New Zealand’s Governor-General.

“The number of tours through Government House has increased significantly in the last month, with the launch of an online booking system, allowing individuals and small groups to book a tour of the Centre and the House for the first time. Some of the public tours, especially those on the weekend, have been booked out, often well in advance.”

Visitor Centre co-ordinator Rebecca Burke said the two-hour tours focused on the role of Government House and the Governor-General in New Zealand’s history and government.

“A tour of Government House engages visitors in New Zealand’s heritage and gives them the chance to see the place where some of our most important state occasions occur. Tours start in the Visitor Centre with its interactive displays and where visitors can view a video that showcases the role of Governor- General and how it has evolved over time.

“The tour takes visitors on a journey to learn about the challenges of our early Governors and the contributions each one has made to our society and constitution. Those contributions include the gifting of the Waitangi Treaty Grounds to New Zealand by Governor-General Lord Bledisloe in 1932,” she said.

“Other exhibits include Sir George Grey’s pocket watch and the original uniform of the Earl of Ranfurly, who gifted the Ranfurly Shield. You can even try on a monocle similar to the one worn by Governor-General, Sir Bernard Fergusson (1962-67).”

The Centre was opened by HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall on 14 November 2013 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II, The Queen of New Zealand.
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