Media release
3 February 2014
Patron announced for Queen Elizabeth II National Trust
The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust is delighted to announce that His Excellency Lieutenant General The Right
Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM, QSO, Governor-General of New Zealand has agreed to become Patron of the National
Trust.
National Trust Chief Executive Mike Jebson said the Governor-General’s patronage is a great honour for the National
Trust.
“I am delighted that the Governor- General has accepted our invitation to become our Patron.
“His patronage is a splendid endorsement of the work that the National Trust and its members do for the benefit of all
New Zealanders,” Mr Jebson said.
“It is fitting that the National Trust, established in 1977 and named in recognition and celebration of the 25th jubilee
of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second, has the Queen’s representative in New Zealand as its Patron,” Mr Jebson
said.
The National Trust works in partnership with landowners to protect in perpetuity significant natural, cultural,
historic, and cultural features on their land with open space covenants.
Since the National Trust’s establishment in 1977 landowners throughout the country have voluntarily established over
4,000 open space covenants that protect in excess of 125,000 hectares of special features on their land. This is an area
equivalent in size to the combined areas of Aoraki/Mt Cook, Egmont/Taranaki and Abel Tasman National Parks.
“Together, landowners and the National Trust protect some of the most significant landscapes, forests, wetlands, lakes,
and natural, cultural, and historic features in private ownership within New Zealand,” Mr Jebson said.
ENDS