NZ representation to Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral
London - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed the New Zealanders attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London next week.
They include the Māori King, Kiingi Tūheitia, former Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Victoria Cross for New Zealand recipient, Bill (Willie) Apiata and former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Sir Don McKinnon.
McKinnon was based at Marlborough House for some years doing his Commonwealth work. Marlborough House has for many years been the headquarters of the Commonwealth. It was built for Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, the favourite and confidante of Queen Anne.
Others from New Zealand attending include Sir Tipene O'Regan, Aivale Cole, Whaea Esther Jessop and Jacqueline Gilbert, Dame Silvia Cartwright and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
The Acting High Commissioner to New Zealand will also attend.
In addition, some holders of New Zealand’s most senior royal honours have also been invited to attend the funeral. Amongst those are representatives of the Victoria Cross for New Zealand, The New Zealand Cross, and the Order of New Zealand.
Being in London for the Queen’s funeral also represents an opportunity to meet with King Charles III along with other world leaders.
The Prime Minister will fly to London for the funeral on September14.
Following the Queen’s funeral the Prime Minister will fly to New York for the United Nations General Assembly and resuming her programme for the week there, including co-hosting the Christchurch Call Summit alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
Lisa was born in Auckland at the start of the 1970s, living in a small campsite community on the North Shore called Browns Bay. She spent a significant part of her life with her grandparents, often hanging out at the beaches. Lisa has many happy memories from those days at Browns Bay beach, where fish were plentiful on the point and the ocean was rich in seaweed. She played in the water for hours, going home totally “sun-kissed.” “An adorable time to grow up,” Lisa tells me.
Lisa enjoyed many sports; she was a keen tennis player and netballer, playing in the top teams for her age right up until the family moved to Wellington. Lisa was fifteen years old, which unfortunately marked the end of her sporting career. Local teams were well established in Wellington, and her attention was drawn elsewhere.