MFA Press Statement: State Visit of the Governor-General of New Zealand Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae, 6 to 8 july 2015

        The Governor-General of New Zealand, Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae, who is on a State Visit to Singapore, received a ceremonial welcome at the Istana this morning. It was followed by separate meetings with President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.  Mrs Mary Tan also hosted the wife of Governor-General Mateparae Lady Janine Mateparae to tea.  Governor-General Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae will be hosted to a State Banquet by President Tan and Mrs Mary Tan later this evening.

        During Governor-General Mateparae’s meetings with Prime Minister Lee and President Tan, they reaffirmed the excellent bilateral relations between Singapore and New Zealand.  They also discussed regional developments, the threat of extremism and emerging areas of cooperation between both countries such as research.

        Earlier today, Governor-General Mateparae and Lady Janine Mateparae attended an Orchid Naming Ceremony at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where an orchid, Dendrobium Jerry Janine Mateparae was named after them.  Governor-General Mateparae also planted an Agathis Robusta tree (commonly known as the Kauri Pine) at the Singapore Botanic Gardens to commemorate 50 years of the establishment of bilateral relations between Singapore and New Zealand. This anniversary, together with 40 years of partnership between New Zealand and ASEAN, was also commemorated by the New Zealand High Commission at a reception last evening attended by Governor-General Mateparae and Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong.  While in Singapore, Governor-General Mateparae also visited the KK Women and Children’s Hospital to view the ongoing collaboration between Singapore and New Zealand at the Neurodevelopment Research Centre under A*STAR’s Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences. 

        Tomorrow, Governor-General Mateparae will tour the Treelodge@Punggol and be briefed on Singapore’s first Eco-Precinct.  He will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Teo Chee Hean, who will host him to a lunch thereafter.  Governor-General Mateparae will also visit Gardens by the Bay.

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 MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

7 JULY 2015