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Dame Patsy reddy, the governor-general of New Zealand photo by New Zealand Government, 

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Patsy Reddy

Dame Patricia Lee Reddy who is also known as Patsy Redd was born in 1954 in Matamata, New Zealand. She has been New Zealand lawyer and businesswoman who has served as the 21st governor-general of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021.

Reddy is the daughter of Neil William and Catherine Marjorie “Kay” Reddy, both of whom were schoolteachers. She was raised in the small Waikato towns of Te Akau and Minginui. Until her family moved to Hamilton when she was six years old. There, she attended Hillcrest Primary School, Peachgrove Intermediate School and Hamilton Girls’ High School.

Reddy  has completed tertiary study at Victoria University of Wellington. And graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1976 and a Master of Laws with first-class honours in 1979.

Reddy has been  married to the former New Zealand Judicial Conduct Commissioner, Sir David Gascoigne.They married one week before her appointment as governor-general was announced. She and her first husband, Geoff Harley, a tax barrister, divorced in 1988. Both husbands were her associates at Rudd Watts & Stone in Wellington in the 1980s.

Here are the Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Patsy Reddy

1. Reddy was chief negotiator for Treaty of Waitangi settlement

Dame Patsy reddy, the governor-general of New Zealand photo by New Zealand Government,

She was a chief Crown negotiator for Treaty of Waitangi settlements and a lead reviewer for the Performance Improvement Framework for the State Services Commission. 

2. Patsy Reddy appointment as the governor-general of New Zealand was approved by Queen Elizabeth II 

In 2016, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved the appointment of Reddy. As the next governor-general of New Zealand, for a five-year term on the advice of then Prime Minister John Key. She was officially sworn in as the 21st governor-general by Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias.

The swearing-in ceremony included a M膩ori p艒whiri, a 21-gun salute, and music from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band and the New Zealand Opera Chorus; the ceremony was attended by hundreds of observers, including film-makers Sir Peter Jackson and James Cameron (a former neighbour), with an address by Prime Minister John Key.

3. She has been the third woman to hold the position as the Governor General

Dame Patsy reddy, the governor-general of New Zealand photo by New Zealand Government,

Dame Patsy who is New Zealand’s 21st Governor-General and the third woman to hold the position. It has taken over the five-year role from Sir Jerry Mateparae.The ceremony began with a haka powhiri on the forecourt of Parliament before formal proceedings took place.

4. Reddy presided at the swearing-in of the new Executive Council

In 2017, Reddy presided at the swearing-in of the new Executive Council. She signed warrants appointing the new prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, and other ministers. Reddy attended the State Opening of Parliament where she addressed MPs from the throne.

5. She was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts and business

In the 2014 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Reddy was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts and business.In 2016, she was made a Dame of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem.

6.Dame Patsy Reddy has been appointed a trustee of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Foundation

Dame Patsy Reddy 2019photo by New Zealand Government,

The NZSO Foundation is a charitable trust which was established in 1996 as a separate entity from the NZSO. It provides support to the NZSO, thereby ensuring that the NZSO remains a symphony orchestra of international standard.

A former lawyer, Dame Patsy was Governor-General of New Zealand from 2016 to 2021.Dame Patsy has had extensive experience in governance and consulting roles, both in the private and public sector. She has also had significant involvement in the governance of creative and charitable organizations.

  Including as a trustee of the New Zealand International Festival of the Arts, the Victoria University Foundation, the Victoria University Art Collection Trust, the Spark Art Trust, the Wellington Jazz Festival Trust, the Symphony Orchestra Foundation (she was one of the founding trustees of the Foundation 鈥� which was established in 1996) and Sky City Community Trust. 

7. Reddy was the first female partner of Wellington firm Watts and Patterson which is now Minter Ellison Rudd Watts

In 1982 she joined the Wellington firm Watts and Patterson (now Minter Ellison Rudd Watts), becoming their first female partner in 1983. She specialised in tax, corporate and film law. She later took up a position at Brierley Investments, where she was employed for 11 years, and worked on large acquisition negotiations such as the privatisation of Air New Zealand.

8. Patsy represented New Zealand at the commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Portsmouth in the United Kingdom

Dame Patsy Reddy speaks Photo by Governor General of New Zealand

Dame Patsy represented New Zealand at the commemorations for the 75th anniversary of D-Day at Portsmouth in the United Kingdom. As well as attending the official ceremony, she had the opportunity to meet with leaders of 15 other nations as well as Her Majesty the Queen and the Prince of Wales. 

9. Reddy has been the first vegan governor-general

Dame Patsy Reddy became New Zealand鈥檚 Governor General. The first vegan鈥揳nd third female鈥攖o ever hold that office celebrated with a plant-based banquet featuring menu items such as shiitake mushroom consomme, steamed buns with miso roasted eggplant and pickled cucumber, crispy fried tofu with lemongrass, chilli and black vinegar, and, for dessert, citrus syrup cake with date and cacao filo. 

The four chefs at the Government House where Reddy will reside revealed they will continue to create plant-based menus for the new Governor General, her visitors, and future events. In addition to playing the role of the Queen鈥檚 representative, the Governor General will serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the military group Royal Guard of Honor. 

10. Patsy Reddy has received several honors and Awards

Dame Patsy Reddy photo by Governor General of New Zealand

Reddy was promoted as an Additional Dame Grand Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit and appointed an Additional Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in 2016 in preparation for becoming governor-general.As governor-general, Reddy is entitled to be styled “Her Excellency” while in office and “The Right Honorable” for life.

Victoria University of Wellington conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Reddy in 2017. Reddy was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2022 New Year Honours.