View source for Paul Reeves

{{Short description|Governor-General of New Zealand from 1985 to 1990}}
{{For|the Episcopal bishop|Paul Reeves (bishop of Georgia)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Most Reverend]] and [[the Honourable|Honourable]]
| name             = Sir Paul Reeves
| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=NZL|size=100|ONZ|GCMG|GCVO|Kt.|QSO|KStJ}}
| nationality      = New Zealand
| image            = Paul Reeves (cropped).jpg
| caption          = Reeves in 1987
| office2           = [[Auckland University of Technology|Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology]]
| term_start2       = 1 February 2005
| term_end2         = 13 August 2011
| predecessor2      = 
| successor2        = John Maasland
| order           = 15th
| office          = Governor-General of New Zealand
| monarch         = [[Elizabeth II]]
| primeminister   = [[David Lange]] <br/>[[Geoffrey Palmer (New Zealand politician)|Geoffrey Palmer]] <br/>[[Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)|Mike Moore]] <br/> [[Jim Bolger]]
| term_start      = 20 November 1985
| term_end        = 29 November 1990
| predecessor     = [[David Beattie]]
| successor       = [[Catherine Tizard]]
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|1932|12|6|df=yes}}
| birth_place      = [[Wellington]], New Zealand
| death_date       = {{death date and age|2011|8|14|1932|12|6|df=y}}
| death_place      = [[Auckland]], New Zealand
| spouse           = Beverley Watkins
| children         = 3
| profession       = Anglican bishop
}}
'''Sir Paul Alfred Reeves''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|ONZ|GCMG|GCVO|Kt.|QSO|KStJ}} (6 December 1932 – 14 August 2011) was a New Zealand clergyman who served as [[Archbishop and Primate of New Zealand]] from 1980 to 1985 and as the 15th [[governor-general of New Zealand]] from 1985 to 1990. He was the first governor-general of [[Māori people|Māori]] descent. He also served as the third Chancellor of [[Auckland University of Technology]], from 2005 until his death in 2011.

==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, Marlborough|Waikawa]] to [[Newtown, New Zealand|Newtown]], a working-class suburb of Wellington. Hilda was of [[Māori people|Māori]] descent, of the [[Te Āti Awa]] [[iwi]]; D'arcy was [[Pākehā]] and worked for the tramways.<ref name="NZHistory">{{cite web |title=Paul Reeves |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/paul-reeves |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=[[New Zealand history online]] |access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>
Reeves was educated at [[Wellington College (New Zealand)|Wellington College]] and at [[University of New Zealand|Victoria College, University of New Zealand]] (now the [[Victoria University of Wellington]]), where he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in 1955 and a [[Master of Arts]] in 1956. He went on to study for [[Ordination#Christianity|ordination]] as an [[Anglican priest]] at [[St John's College, Auckland]], receiving his [[Licentiate in Theology]] in 1958.

==Religious ministry==

===Deacon and priest===
Reeves was ordained [[Deacon#Anglicanism|deacon]] in 1958. After serving a brief [[Curate|curacy]] at [[Tokoroa]], he spent the period 1959–64 in England. From 1959 until 1961 he was an Advanced Student at [[St Peter's College, Oxford]] (Bachelor of Arts 1961, [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge)|Master of Arts]] 1965) as well as Assistant Curate at the [[University Church of St Mary the Virgin]]. He was ordained priest in 1960.<ref name="ODT"/> He served two further curacies in England, first at [[Kirkley|Kirkley St Peter]] (1961–63), then at [[Lewisham|Lewisham St Mary]] (1963–64).{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

Returning to New Zealand, Reeves was [[Vicar (Anglicanism)|Vicar]] of [[Ōkato|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 [[Diocese of Waiapu|Bishop of Waiapu]] and consecrated to the [[Episcopate#Anglican Communion|episcopate]] on 25 March.<ref name="lec09">[http://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/content/download/1193/9825/file/2009Lectionary.pdf ACANZP Lectionary, 2009] (p. 96)</ref> He was [[Anglican Diocese of Auckland|Bishop of Auckland]] from 1979 to 1985, and additionally as [[Archbishop of New Zealand|Archbishop and Primate of New Zealand]], the leader of New Zealand's Anglicans, from 1980 to 1985.<ref name="Church Times">{{cite news |last1=Randerson |first1=Richard |author-link1=Richard Randerson |title=Obituary: The Rt Revd Sir Paul Reeves |url=https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2011/2-september/gazette/obituary-the-rt-revd-sir-paul-reeves |access-date=10 September 2018 |work=[[Church Times]] |date=31 August 2011}}</ref>

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).<ref name="ODT">{{cite news |title=Tributes flow for Sir Paul Reeves |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/tributes-flow-sir-paul-reeves |access-date=10 September 2018 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=15 August 2011 |language=en}}</ref>

Reeves was a supporter of [[Citizens for Rowling]] (the campaign for the re-election of [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] Prime Minister [[Bill Rowling]]).<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Citizens for Rowling Campaign: An Insider's View |journal=Political Science |date=December 1976 |volume=28 |issue=2 |page=88 |citeseerx=10.1.1.830.4908 }}</ref>

==Governor-general==
[[File:Sir Paul Reeves with Pope John Paul II.jpg|thumb|Reeves welcomes [[Pope John Paul II]] to New Zealand, at [[Government House, Wellington]], on 23 November 1986]]
[[File:Paul and Beverley Reeves.jpg|thumb|Reeves and his wife Beverley at Government House, Wellington]]

===Appointment===
On the advice of Prime Minister [[David Lange]], [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] appointed Reeves the 15th [[Governor-General of New Zealand]] effective from 20 November 1985. His appointment was met with some scepticism due to his previous political involvement in Citizens for Rowling, opposing the [[1981 Springbok Tour]], and the fact that he was an Anglican bishop. [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]] [[Jim McLay]] opposed the appointment on these grounds,<ref name="governors">{{cite book|title=The Governors – Governors and Governors-General of New Zealand|first=Gavin | last=Maclean |publisher=Otago University Press |isbn=1-877372-25-0|date=November 2006}}</ref> asking "How can an ordained priest fulfil that [constitutional] role?" Many Māori groups welcomed the appointment, with [[James Henare|Sir James Henare]] arguing that "It must be a fruit of the [[Treaty of Waitangi]] to see a person from our people."<ref name="governors" /> He was the first (and up to the present the only) [[Clergyman#Anglican clergy|cleric]] to hold the post. Moreover, as a member of the Puketapu ''[[hapū]]'' of the [[Te Āti Awa]] of [[Taranaki]], he was the first governor-general of Māori descent.<ref name="NZHistory"/>

===Tenure===
As a clergyman, Reeves opted not to wear the military uniform of the governor-general.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McLean |first1=Gavin |title=The Governors: New Zealand's Governors and Governors-General |date=2006 |publisher=Otago University Press |page=292 |isbn=9781877372254 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-IOOAAAAMAAJ |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="governors" />

Reeves remained in office until 20 November 1990. He was succeeded by [[Catherine Tizard|Dame Catherine Tizard]].<ref name="governors" />

===Controversies===
During Reeves' tenure, the [[Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand|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".<ref name="governors" /> 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".<ref name="governors" /> Reeves later recalled that this marked a "parting of ways" with the government.<ref name="governors" />

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."<ref name="rudman_reeves">{{cite web | first=Brian | last=Rudman | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/time-for-a-republic-/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501793&objectid=10514154|title=Let's follow Nepal into the new century | author-link=Brian Rudman | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]| date=4 June 2008|access-date=2 October 2010}}</ref> 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."<ref name="rudman_reeves" />

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]].<ref name="governors" /> 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 (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] Southland operations manager [[Lou Sanson]] accepted that the shooting was accidental.<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Turner |title=Reeves' firing party kills albatross |work=Sunday Times | date=4 March 1990 |page= }}</ref>

==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 [[Episcopal Diocese of New York|Assistant Bishop of New York]] (1991–94). From 1994 until 1995 he served briefly as [[Dean (education)|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 of Nations|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]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/timeline/1993/ | title=1993 }}</ref>

Reeves went on to chair the [[Fiji]] Constitution Review Commission from 1995 until 1997, culminating in Fiji's readmission to the [[Commonwealth of Nations|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]].<ref name="secret">{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Field|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4320383a12.html|title=Reeves holds secret Fiji talks|work=The Dominion Post|access-date=13 December 2007|date=11 December 2007|archive-date=20 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620080256/http://www.stuff.co.nz/4320383a12.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2004, Reeves made a statement in support of [[Republicanism in New Zealand|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."<ref name="ggsupport">{{cite news | url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ditch-queen-say-former-governors-general/IS6KTOKZMB6XUIQDVX2FX7QNHQ/| title= Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General | newspaper=The New Zealand Herald| date=14 November 2004 | access-date=2 August 2006}}</ref>

Reeves served as the [[Chancellor (education)|Chancellor]] of the [[Auckland University of Technology]], from February 2005 until August 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Chancellor announced |url=https://news.aut.ac.nz/news/new-chancellor-announced |publisher=Auckland University of Technology |access-date=25 January 2019 |date=30 March 2012 |quote=Sir Paul Reeves who was Chancellor of AUT from February 2005 to August 2011.}}</ref>

In July 2011, Reeves announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and therefore was retiring from all public responsibilities.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/former-governor-general-diagnosed-cancer-4326245?ref=newsletterafternoon |title=Former Governor-General diagnosed with cancer |date=26 July 2011 |work=ONE News |access-date=14 August 2011}}</ref> He died from cancer on 14 August 2011, aged 78.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10745083 |title=Sir Paul Reeves dies, aged 78 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald|date=14 August 2011 |author=Hayden Donnell, NZPA and NZ Herald staff |access-date=14 August 2011}}</ref> A state funeral for Reeves took place on 18 August 2011, at [[Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland|Holy Trinity Cathedral]] in Auckland.<ref>{{cite news |title=State funeral of former NZ Governor-General Sir Paul Reeves today |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/198984/state-funeral-of-former-nz-governor-general-sir-paul-reeves-today |access-date=4 October 2025 |work=[[RNZ News]] |date=18 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Paul Reeves farewelled |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sir-paul-reeves-farewelled |access-date=4 October 2025 |work=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=18 August 2011}}</ref>

==Honours and other awards==
Reeves was awarded the [[Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal]] (1977), he was appointed a [[Venerable Order of St John|Chaplain of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem]] in April 1982,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=48959|page=5422|date=22 April 1982}}</ref> [[Knight Bachelor]] in the [[1985 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|1985 Queen's Birthday Honours]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=50155|page=1|supp=2|date=15 June 1985}}</ref> a [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]] on 6 November 1985,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=50315|page=15781|date=12 November 1985}}</ref> a [[Venerable Order of St John|Knight of Justice of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem]] in 1986,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=50416|page=1373|date=30 January 1986}}</ref> and a [[Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]] on 2 March 1986.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=50488|page=5191|date=15 April 1986}}</ref> In 1990, he became a [[Queen's Service Order|Companion of the Queen's Service Order]] and was awarded the [[New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal]].<ref name="HBTQ">{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Alister |last2=Coddington |first2=Deborah |author-link1=Alister Taylor |author-link2=Deborah Coddington |title=Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand |year=1994 |publisher=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa |location=Auckland |isbn=0-908578-34-2 |page=311}}</ref> Reeves was also made a [[Order of Fiji|Companion of the Order of Fiji]].

There was some concern regarding Reeves' using the title ''Sir'', as members of the clergy in the [[Church of England]] do not usually receive this title when knighted, and the same rule presumably applied to the [[Anglican Church in New Zealand]]. Moreover, clergy are traditionally not [[Accolade|dubbed]]. To avoid placing the Queen in an awkward situation (governors-general would by tradition be knighted by her in person at [[Buckingham Palace]]), the prime minister of the time, [[David Lange]], made Reeves a [[Knight Bachelor]] before meeting her. Consequently, when Reeves went to receive the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George from the Queen, he was already Sir Paul.

On [[Waitangi Day]] 2007 Reeves was awarded New Zealand's highest honour, being admitted to the [[Order of New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Special Honours List|url= https://gazette.govt.nz/notice/id/2007-vr642|newspaper= [[New Zealand Gazette]]|date= 8 February 2007|publisher= [[Department of Internal Affairs (New Zealand)|Department of Internal Affairs]]|access-date=7 July 2014}}</ref>

The University of Oxford conferred on him the degree of [[Doctor of Civil Law]] in 1985 and his college, [[St Peter's College, Oxford|St Peter's]], appointed him an Honorary Fellow in 1981 and a Trustee in 1994. A Fellowship of [[St John's College, Auckland]] followed in 1989. He has received other honorary degrees, including an [[Doctor of Laws|LLD]] of [[Victoria University of Wellington]] (1989), a [[Doctor of Divinity|DD]] of the [[General Theological Seminary|General Theological Seminary, New York]] (1992), and the degree of [[Honorary degree|''Doctor Honoris Causa'']] of the [[University of Edinburgh]] (1994).

Changes to the rules in 2006 allowed him to use the style ''[[The Honourable]]'' for life.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/changes-rules-around-use-title |title=Changes to rules around use of title |publisher=New Zealand Government |date=17 July 2006 |access-date=14 August 2011}}</ref>

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
|image = Paul Reeves Arms.svg
|bannerimage =
|badgeimage =
|notes = The arms of Paul Reeves consist of:
|adopted =
|crest = Upon a helm with a wreath Argent and Azure a circlet of the Maori poutama stepped pattern, statant thereon a tui or parson bird (Prosthemadera novaseelandiae) Proper holding aloft in its dexter claw three feathers Argent their quills crossing in base.
|torse =
|helm =
|escutcheon = Per pale and per chevron embowed and enhanced Argent and Azure, three mitres (two and one) the infulae adorned with the Maori pitau kowhaiwhai pattern and three estoiles (one and two) all Counterchanged, in the fess point a royal crown and cap of estate Proper.
|supporters = On the dexter a brown kiwi (Apteryx australis) and sinister a kotuku or white heron (Egretta alba) beaks downward Proper each gorged with an ancient crown and supporting with the interior foot crozier Gold with the shaft adorned with the Maori pitau kowhaiwhai pattern Proper.
|compartment = A grassy mount with fern fronds growing therefrom Proper.
|motto = Whakarongo (Listen)
|orders =
|other_elements =
|banner =
|badge =
|symbolism =
|previous_versions =
}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Paul Reeves (Governor-General)|Paul Reeves}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050215192844/http://holy-trinity.org.nz/159.php Biography at Holy Trinity Cathedral website]
*[http://www.gg.govt.nz/the-governor-general/historical/former.htm Official biographies of former Governors–General of New Zealand]
*[http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ideas/20110508 Radio NZ interview, 8 May 2011] Sir Paul talks extensively about his life and work with interviewer Chris Laidlaw. (Listen directly or download options)

{{S-start}}
{{s-rel|ac}}
{{succession box | before=[[Norman Lesser]]| title=[[Diocese of Waiapu|Bishop of Waiapu]] | years=1971–1979 | after=[[Ralph Matthews]]}}
{{succession box | before=[[Eric Gowing]]| title=[[Anglican Diocese of Auckland|Bishop of Auckland]] | years=1979–1985 | after=[[Bruce Gilberd]]}}
{{succession box | before=[[Allen Johnston]]| title=[[Archbishop of New Zealand]] | years=1980–1985 | after=[[Brian Davis (cleric)|Brian Davis]]}}
{{s-gov}}
{{succession box | before=[[David Beattie|Sir David Beattie]]| title=[[Governor-General of New Zealand]] | years=1985–1990 | after=[[Catherine Tizard|Dame Catherine Tizard]]}}
{{S-end}}

{{Bishops of Waiapu}}
{{Anglican Bishops of Auckland, NZ}}
{{Primates and Archbishops of New Zealand}}
{{Governors-General of New Zealand}}
{{Order of New Zealand}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reeves, Paul Alfred}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of St Peter's College, Oxford]]
[[Category:Primates of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Anglican bishops of Auckland]]
[[Category:Anglican bishops of Waiapu]]
[[Category:Honorary Fellows of St Peter's College, Oxford]]
[[Category:People educated at Wellington College, Wellington]]
[[Category:Governors-general of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Knights of Justice of the Order of St John]]
[[Category:New Zealand republicans]]
[[Category:20th-century Anglican archbishops in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni]]
[[Category:New Zealand Māori religious leaders]]
[[Category:Te Āti Awa people]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of New Zealand]]
[[Category:New Zealand Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:New Zealand Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Companions of the Queen's Service Order]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of Fiji]]
[[Category:New Zealand Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Edinburgh]]