First ethnic Indian becomes Queen Elizabeth's man in New Zealand

Aug 23, 2006, 8:05 GMT

Wellington - Retired judge Anand Satyanand, 61, was sworn in as New Zealand's Governor-General - representative of Queen Elizabeth II, who remains formally head of state of the former British colony - on Wednesday.

Born in New Zealand of Fijian-Indian parents, whose ancestors migrated to Fiji from India a century ago, he is the first non-European or indigenous Maori to hold the post, which retains rarely used constitutional powers.

Although founded by Britons who migrated to the South Pacific island state populated by Maoris, New Zealand is now a multi-cultural country with a fast-growing Asian population.

The proportion of Asians is predicted to more than double from 7 per cent at the 2001 census to 15 per cent by 2021, while the European population will drop by 9 per cent to 70 per cent.

Satyanand, who is married with three adult children, worked as a lawyer for 12 years before being made a judge and then served 10 years as an ombudsman.

He is the 19th Governor-General of New Zealand, which has been totally independent since 1947, and will hold the post for five years.

The Governor-General is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the government and by convention is advised by the prime minister when carrying out formal procedures as the country's titular administrator.

British lords and army generals held the post until Sir Arthur Porritt became the first New Zealander appointed in 1967. Archbishop Sir Paul Reeves was the first Governor-General of Maori descent from 1985-90.