The government has announced that Judge Anand Satyanand will succeed Dame Silvia Cartwright as the next Governor General of New Zealand.
Dame Silvia will complete her five-year term in early August and Satyanand will be sworn in after that.
Prime Minister Helen Clark says Satyanand will bring many
strengths to his new role including a broad knowledge of the
workings of government and the law.
"Throughout his working life Judge Satyanand has made a substantial
contribution to legal reform and legal education.
"He has been active in a range of community, cultural and
sporting groups, and maintains an abiding interest in international
affairs and New Zealand's relationships with other countries," says
Clark.
Satyanand, whose parents are Indo-Fijians, is a lawyer, judge and
former ombudsman.
He says he is deeply honoured to have been asked to serve as Governor General and says there will be a great deal of pride within the Indian community about his appointment.
Satyanand's appointment has been widely welcomed.
United Future leader Peter Dunne expressed his delight at the
news.
"I warmly welcome his appointment and I believe that with his
Asian, Fijian, Indian and Kiwi background he will do an excellent
job for the increasingly diverse society that is New Zealand
today," says Dunne.
New Zealand First leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters
says his party fully supports the appointment
"He is the right person to carry out the diverse role of the
Queen's representative in 21st century New Zealand.
"Judge Satyanand has the experience, respect and demeanour to
fulfil the various demands of this most important constitutional
role in the manner we expect in New Zealand," says Peters.
The Queen has approved the appointment.
