Paul Reeves
KStJ | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Reeves in 1987 | |
| 15th Governor-General of New Zealand | |
| In office 20 November 1985 – 29 November 1990 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | David Lange Geoffrey Palmer Mike Moore Jim Bolger |
| Preceded by | David Beattie |
| Succeeded by | Catherine Tizard |
| Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology | |
| In office 1 February 2005 – 13 August 2011 | |
| Succeeded by | John Maasland |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 December 1932 Wellington, New Zealand |
| Died | 14 August 2011 (aged 78) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Spouse | Beverley Watkins |
| Children | 3 |
| Profession | Anglican bishop |
Sir Paul Alfred Reeves
Early life and education
Reeves was born in Wellington, New Zealand, on 6 December 1932, the son of D'arcy Reeves by his marriage to Hilda Pirihira, who had moved from Waikawa to Newtown, a working-class suburb of Wellington. Hilda was of Māori descent, of the Te Āti Awa iwi; D'arcy was Pākehā and worked for the tramways.[1] Reeves was educated at
Religious ministry
Deacon and priest
Reeves was ordained
Returning to New Zealand, Reeves was Vicar of Okato St Paul (1964–66), Lecturer in Church History at St John's College, Auckland (1966–69), and Director of Christian Education for the Anglican Diocese of Auckland (1969–71).
Bishop, archbishop, and primate
In 1971 Reeves was appointed
During this time Reeves also served as chairman of the Environmental Council (1974–76), and he served as president of the National Council of Churches in New Zealand (1984–85).[2]
Reeves was a supporter of Citizens for Rowling (the campaign for the re-election of Labour Prime Minister Bill Rowling).[5]
Governor-general
Appointment
On the advice of Prime Minister
Tenure
As a clergyman, Reeves opted not to wear the military uniform of the governor-general.[7] During his term, Reeves joined the Newtown Residents' Association, and invited members of that association to visit Government House, Wellington. He hosted the first open day at Government House on 7 October 1990, and employed the first public affairs officer, Cindy Beavis, to promote the governor-general's role.[6]
Reeves remained in office until 20 November 1990. He was succeeded by Dame Catherine Tizard.[6]
Controversies
During Reeves' tenure, the Fourth Labour Government made radical changes to the New Zealand economy, later known as Rogernomics. In November 1987 Reeves made comments critical of Rogernomics, stating that the reforms were creating "an increasingly stratified society".[6] He was rebuked for these comments by Lange, but later stated in May 1988 "...the spirit of the market steals life from the vulnerable but the spirit of God gives life to all".[6] Reeves later recalled that this marked a "parting of ways" with the government.[6]
Reeves also recalled "I had a little sense of being left alone and felt that I needed to be taken into the loop more, or be taken seriously."[8] Reeves wrote to the Queen, but did not receive replies directly from the Queen. He said, "I used to write to the Queen and express my opinion about this and that going on it [sic] the country and I wouldn't get a direct reply from her but I would always get a lengthy reply from her private secretary, which I took was expressing her viewpoint."[8]
On a state visit to Vanuatu in 1988, Reeves was invited to kill a pig at a ceremony, creating controversy as he was patron of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.[6] He later resigned as patron. This was followed by a similar incident when Reeves was a member of a party that shot an endangered bird during a trip to New Zealand's sub-Antarctic islands in December 1989. The bird was a light-mantled albatross and protected under the Wildlife Act 1953, however the Department of Conservation Southland operations manager Lou Sanson accepted that the shooting was accidental.[9]
Retirement
After his retirement from the viceregal office, Reeves became the Anglican Consultative Council Observer at the United Nations in New York (1991–93) and Assistant Bishop of New York (1991–94). From 1994 until 1995 he served briefly as Dean of Te Whare Wānanga o Te Rau Kahikatea (the theological college of Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa, and a constituent member of St John's College, Auckland). He was also Deputy Leader of the Commonwealth Observer group to South Africa, Chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and Visiting Montague Burton Professor of International Relations at the University of Edinburgh.[10]
Reeves went on to chair the Fiji Constitution Review Commission from 1995 until 1997, culminating in Fiji's readmission to the Commonwealth, until its suspension in 2000. On 12 December 2007 it was reported that Reeves was involved with "secret talks" to resolve Fiji's year-long political crisis, following the 2006 Fijian coup d'état.[11]
In 2004, Reeves made a statement in support of New Zealand republic, stating in an interview, "...if renouncing knighthoods was a prerequisite to being a citizen of a republic, I think it would be worth it."[12]
Reeves served as the Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology, from February 2005 until August 2011.[13]
In July 2011, Reeves announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and therefore was retiring from all public responsibilities.[14] He died from cancer on 14 August 2011, aged 78.[15]
Honours and other awards
Reeves was awarded the
There was some concern regarding Reeves' using the title Sir, as members of the clergy in the
On Waitangi Day 2007 Reeves was awarded New Zealand's highest honour, being admitted to the Order of New Zealand.[21]
The University of Oxford conferred on him the degree of
Changes to the rules in 2006 allowed him to use the style The Honourable for life.[22]
Arms
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References
- ^ New Zealand history online. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Tributes flow for Sir Paul Reeves". Otago Daily Times. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- ^ ACANZP Lectionary, 2009 (p. 96)
- ^ Randerson, Richard (31 August 2011). "Obituary: The Rt Revd Sir Paul Reeves". Church Times. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
- CiteSeerX 10.1.1.830.4908.
- ^ ISBN 1-877372-25-0.
- ISBN 9781877372254.
- ^ a b Rudman, Brian (4 June 2008). "Let's follow Nepal into the new century". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 October 2010.
- ^ Turner, Michael (4 March 1990). "Reeves' firing party kills albatross". Sunday Times.
- ^ "1993".
- ^ Field, Michael (11 December 2007). "Reeves holds secret Fiji talks". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 13 December 2007.
- ^ "Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General". The New Zealand Herald. 14 November 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
- ^ "New Chancellor announced". Auckland University of Technology. 30 March 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
Sir Paul Reeves who was Chancellor of AUT from February 2005 to August 2011.
- ^ "Former Governor-General diagnosed with cancer". ONE News. 26 July 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ Hayden Donnell, NZPA and NZ Herald staff (14 August 2011). "Sir Paul Reeves dies, aged 78". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
- ^ "No. 48959". The London Gazette. 22 April 1982. p. 5422.
- ^ "No. 50155". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 15 June 1985. p. 1.
- ^ "No. 50315". The London Gazette. 12 November 1985. p. 15781.
- ^ "No. 50416". The London Gazette. 30 January 1986. p. 1373.
- ^ "No. 50488". The London Gazette. 15 April 1986. p. 5191.
- Department of Internal Affairs. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
- ^ "Changes to rules around use of title" (Press release). New Zealand Government. 17 July 2006. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
External links
- Biography at Holy Trinity Cathedral website
- Official biographies of former Governors–General of New Zealand
- Radio NZ interview, 8 May 2011 Sir Paul talks extensively about his life and work with interviewer Chris Laidlaw. (Listen directly or download options)
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