Monday 5 September, 2016

Ballot for Waitangi Day Bledisloe Garden Reception Opens

The ballot for invitations to next year’s Waitangi Day Bledisloe Garden Reception at Government House in Wellington has opened online.

This is the third year Government House has held a ballot for invitations and Government House Official Secretary Greg Baughen said the ballot has proved to be a popular innovation.

“The Bledisloe Garden Reception is a wonderful occasion and the ballot gives people from all over the country the opportunity to join with the Governor-General in celebrating our national day.”

Dame Patsy Reddy, who will be sworn in as Governor-General on Wednesday 28 September, and husband Sir David Gascoigne will be hosting the Waitangi Day Bledisloe Reception for the first time.
400 invitations will be available to ballot entrants and while people who have already attended a Bledisloe Reception are welcome to enter again, preference will be given to those wishing to attend for the first time.

“We want the opportunity to spend Waitangi Day at Government House to be spread amongst as many people as possible, “Mr Baughen said.

“With a limited number of invitations available each year, we felt the need to weight the ballot towards people who have never attended. Return applicants are welcome but a smaller proportion of invitations will be available for them.”

Guests at the Bledisloe Garden Reception would enjoy an afternoon of entertainment and refreshments on the North Lawn at Government House in Wellington.

The ballot opened at midday today (Monday 5 September, 2016) and will close at midnight on Sunday 18 September.

The Waitangi Day Bledisloe Reception will be held at Government House in Wellington on Monday 6 February, 2017. Each person entering the ballot will be able to nominate a guest to attend with them.

People entering the Bledisloe Reception ballot are required to be 18 and over, although they may nominate a guest who is under 18. While the ballot is open to people throughout New Zealand, those from outside Wellington will need to arrange and pay for their own transport and accommodation.

More information on the terms and conditions relating to the ballot and the link to the online entry form are available on the Governor-General’s website http://gg.govt.nz/content/bledisloe-ballot-2017

ENDS

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