MEDIA ADVISORY
8 February 2001
CHANGEOVER OF GOVERNORS-GENERAL
The Governor-General, Sir Michael Hardie Boys, will complete his term of office on 21 March 2001. The Governor-General
Designate, Dame Silvia Cartwright, will be sworn into office on 4 April 2001.
A state luncheon to farewell Sir Michael will be held on 21 March 2001.
It is customary for the Governor-General Designate to travel to London for an audience with the Queen, prior to taking
up office. Dame Silvia leaves New Zealand for this trip on 7 March, returning on 29 March. The Governor-General
Designate will meet the Queen on 20 March. In addition to the United Kingdom, Dame Silvia will also make brief visits to
Norway, Finland and Japan to view first-hand the practice of proportional representation in those countries.
The Chief Justice, Dame Sian Elias, will act as Administrator of the Government during the interregnum.
ENDS