Swearing-In Ceremony For Dame Silvia Cartwright, Wednesday 4 April

Dame Silvia Cartwright will be sworn in tomorrow as Governor-General, during a ceremony to be held on the forecourt of Parliament, starting at 11 am.

A tri-service guard, the central band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Navy Trumpeters, representatives of Wellington secondary schools and the Tawa College Choir will be in attendance.

Prime Minister Helen Clark and other ministers, MPs, members of the judiciary and defence chiefs will be among invited guests.

The motorcade bearing Dame Silvia Cartwright and Mr Peter Cartwright is scheduled to arrive at Parliament at 11.30 am. Mr John Tahuparae, kaumatua to Parliament, Mr Bill Katene, kaumatua of Ngati Toa, and Dr Ngatata Love, kaumatua of Te Atiawa will meet the Governor-General-designate and her party.

The ceremonies begin with the Ritual of the Rakau Tapu (Sacred branch of Taane), followed by the general salute, the inspection of the guard of honour and the swearing-in ceremony at 12 noon.

The wet weather arrangements provide for the swearing-in ceremony to be moved to the Legislative Council Chamber in Parliament Buildings.

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