New Patron Announcement

Tēnā koe,

I hope this letter finds all ARANZ members in good health and spirits.

Since inception in 1976 the Archives and Records Association of New Zealand has maintained patronage by the Governor-General of New Zealand.

When the Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy completed her term as Governor-General of New Zealand on 28 September 2021, per protocol the Association had to reapply for Vice-Regal Patronage with the new Governor-General, the Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro.

Due to there being several hundred patronage applications across a breadth of subject areas within New Zealand, the Governor-General was required to take a very considered approach to each individual application. Unfortunately, the Association was unsuccessful in our application for patronage.

In 2022 a search for a new Patron was undertaken, with several highly regarded individuals with involvement in the heritage sector considered for approach.

After due consideration of the candidates, and regarding her successful political career and holding of the portfolio for Arts, Culture and Heritage throughout 9 years as Prime Minister, I wrote to Helen Clark in late 2022 asking for her patronage.

It is today that I write to you to confirm that the Association’s new Patron is the Right Honourable Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ SSI PC. She joins a long list of distinguished and esteemed individuals as Patron of the Association:

• Rt Hon Sir John Marshall (1976-1988)

• HE the Most Rev Sir Paul Reeves (1989-1990)

• HE Dame Catherine Tizard (1990-1995)

• HE Rt Hon Sir Michael Hardie-Boys (1996-2001)

• HE Rt Hon Dame Silvia Cartwright (2001-2006)

• HE Rt Hon Sir Anand Satyanand (2006-2011)

• HE Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae (2011-2016)

• The Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy, GNZM CVO QSO DStJ (2016-2021)

I would like to take this opportunity to say tēnā rawa atu koe to Helen Clark. We are honoured to have a former Prime Minister and significant supporter of the heritage sector as our Patron.

Finally, thank you to all ARANZ members for your continued support of the Association’s work in all matters concerning the New Zealand records and archives sector.

Nā mātou noa, nā

Evan Greensides

ARANZ President