Mateparae was born on 14 November 1954 to the Andrews family in Wanganui. He was given to his mother's brother, a Mateparae, to be raised in the Māori customary adoption known as whāngai.[3] His birth father and his adoptive father were both ministers in the Rātana Church.[4] He is descended from the Ngāti Tūwharetoa[5] and Ngāti Kahungunu tribes and also has links to Tūhoe and tribes in the upper Whanganui.[6] He was raised in the Whanganui suburb of Castlecliff and attended Castlecliff Primary School, Rutherford Intermediate School and Wanganui High School.[7]
Military career
Lieutenant General Jerry Mateparae as Chief of Defence Force on 29 May 2009, in Singapore.
In February 2002, Mateparae was promoted to major general and became the Chief of General Staff.[9] The title was changed in mid-2002 to Chief of Army. On 1 May 2006 he was promoted to lieutenant general and took up appointment as the Chief of Defence Force, New Zealand's senior uniformed military appointment, which he held until 24 January 2011.[6]
On 26 August 2010, Prime Minister John Key announced the appointment of Mateparae as Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau. Mateparae was appointed for a five-year term commencing on 7 February 2011 but stepped down from the role on 1 July 2011.
Governor-General of New Zealand
Jerry Mateparae with Prime Minister John Key at the ceremony at which he was sworn in as Governor-General
On 8 March 2011, Prime Minister John Key announced the recommendation of Mateparae as the next Governor-General of New Zealand.[10] The Queen of New Zealand made the appointment later that day.[11] On 31 August 2011 he was sworn in as the governor-general for a five-year term.[12][13]
During the 2019 Operation Burnham inquiry Mateparae admitted to providing inaccurate information to Parliament.[17]
On 14 November 2012 Mateparae hosted a party for the 64th birthday of Charles, Prince of Wales who was visiting New Zealand, and for 64 New Zealanders, all of whom shared the same birthday of 14 November.
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In April 2013 Mateparae travelled to Afghanistan to mark the end of New Zealand Defence Force's deployment there.[19] In June 2014, he attended the 70th anniversary commemorations of D Day in Normandy with Queen Elizabeth II, other heads of government and world leaders, taking a number of New Zealand veterans with him.
Mateparae expanded on a tradition started by his predecessor, Sir Anand Satyanand in 2012, releasing the Governor-General's New Year Message on video for the first time.[20]
Jerry Mateparae, was granted armorial bearings with life supporters by the College of Arms on 9 April 2016, which consist of:[30]
Crest
Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Vert a Fantail or Piwakawaka wings extended fesswise the head lowered and the tail displayed upwards proper thereon five Mullets in cross Gules fimbriated Argent Mantled Argent Doubled Vert.
Torse
Gules and Argent
Escutcheon
Vert on a Fess invected Argent a Fess per fess indented of three points Gules and Sable thereon a Wave crested of three points each in the form of a Koru Argent all between three Whalebone Clubs or Kotiate bendwise sinister also Argent in the centre chief a Royal Crown proper.
Supporters
On the Dexter A European Woman proper vested in a long evening dress and wearing slippers Vert gorged with a cord also Vert pendant therefrom a greenstone pendant or Pounamu Kuru and holding in the dexter arm its head to the sinister a ginger and white Cat proper. On the Sinister A Māori vested in the uniform of a Lieutenant of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment with collar badges wearing a Service Dress shirt and tie with a Sam Browne Belt hanging to the sinister therefrom an Infantry Officer’s Sword on his head a Khaki Lemon Squeezer Hat proper the Puggaree thereon Khaki Gules and Khaki and worn over the shoulders a Māori Cloak or Kaitaka proper.
Motto
He Tāngata He Tāngata He Tāngata ("'It is the people' 'It is the people' 'It is the people'.")
The overall design of the arms alludes to Jerry Mateparae's family, Māori or Iwi heritage, military and vice-regal roles. For the shield, the green colour and the kotiate represent the surname 'Mateparae', which means 'field' or 'battle field'. The kotiate are based on one from the Whanganui region, where Mateparae was born. The Whanganui River is symbolised by the fess invected or the wavy edges to the fess. The central portion of the fess was inspired by the ceremonial sash worn by the Chief of Army and the Chief of Defence Force which is based on a Māori tāniko weaving pattern. The three waves of koru represent the volcanic mountains of Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe all three of which are in the land of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa; one of Mateparae's tribal affiliations is with Ngāti Tūwharetoa. Philip O'Shea (New Zealand Herald Extraordinary) speculates that the three waves/mountains might also represent the name 'Jeremiah', which is generally symbolised by three rocks. The royal crown (St Edward’s Crown) indicates that Mateparae was governor-general. It may also represent his long service to the Crown as a New Zealand Army officer. For the crest, the fantail or piwakawaka is Mateparae's favourite bird. The outstretched wings allude to the winged badge of the New Zealand Special Air Service (SAS) in which Mateparae served. The five mullets (stars) allude to the constellation of the Southern Cross and are similar to those on the New Zealand flag. The five mullets allude to his five children. The supporters, meanwhile, resemble Jerry Mateparare and his wife, Lady Janine Mateparae. the cat is based on the Mateparae family pet known as ‘Boots’, who was a common sight about Government House.
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