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Sir Jerry Mataparae is has been officially farewelled as the nation’s governor general, and the verdict is in, he was a class act.
Sir Jerry and his wife Janine received a full military welcome on the steps on parliament yesterday as part of a three-hour farewell.
Only the second Maori to hold the position, he came to the job after a long army career, retiring as chief of the Defence Force before serving briefly as head of the Government Communications Security Bureau.
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says she has enjoyed the warm and natural way he would meet and greet people.
"His wife spoke about the kids playing cricket and touch on the north lawn. The way she expressed it made it feel like, they're just a family who have been representing the Queen and New Zealand and have been very grateful to do so but very natural and loving in the way that they did it. I think that exemplifies who they are," says Marama Fox.
Sir Jerry Mataparae will be succeeded as governor general by Dame Patsy Reddy, who has a legal and business background.
Copyright © 2016, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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