Michael Hardie Boys

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

His Excellency The Right Honourable
 Sir Michael Hardie Boys
Michael Hardie Boys

Sir Michael Hardie Boys (left) with United States President Bill Clinton, 1999


In office
21 March 1996 – 21 March 2001
Monarch Elizabeth II
Prime Minister Jim Bolger (1996 - 1997)
Jenny Shipley (1997 - 1999)
Helen Clark (1999 - 2001)
Preceded by Dame Catherine Tizard
Succeeded by Dame Silvia Cartwright

Born 1931
Wellington, Flag of New Zealand New Zealand
Nationality New Zealand
Spouse Mary Zohrab, married 1957
Profession Judge
Religion Anglican

Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO (born 1931) is a New Zealand jurist and was the country's 17th Governor-General, from 1996 to 2001.

Contents

[edit] Early life and family

After his schooling at Hataitai School and Wellington College, he gained BA and LL.B degrees from Victoria University College. Sir Michael married Mary Zohrab in 1957. They have two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

[edit] Judge of the High Court

Originally a lawyer, Sir Michael became a Judge of the High Court of New Zealand in 1980, and was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 1989, the same year in which he became a Privy Counsellor. In 1994 was created an Honorary Bencher at Gray's Inn, and in 1995 was elected an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge. He is also a Visiting Fellow at Wolfson. He was created a Knight Grand Cross in the Order of St Michael and St George in 1995, Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1996 (the first such award), and is a Knight of the Order of St John.

[edit] Governor-General

On 21 March 1996, Sir Michael was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of her Prime Minister, Jim Bolger, as the Governor-General of New Zealand. Upon the completion of his term on 21 March 2001 he and his wife were created additional Companions of the Queen's Service Order.

[edit] Controversies

In 1996, Sir Michael caused controversy by stating his opposition to Minister of Youth Affairs Deborah Morris's suggestion that young people have access to contraceptives[1]. Later, in 2001, he created further controversy by making an implied attack on the Clark Labour Governments scrapping of the air defence wing of the Royal New Zealand Air Force[1].

[edit] Retirement

Since his retirement as Governor-General, Sir Michael has served as a Judge of the High Court of Kiribati. He now lives at Waikanae.

In 2004 Sir Michael announced his opposition to New Zealand becoming a republic stating in an interview: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." [2].

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Dame Catherine Tizard
Governor-General of New Zealand
1996–2001
Succeeded by
Dame Silvia Cartwright

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Gavin Mclean, The Governors, New Zealand Governors and Governors-General, Otago University Press, October 2006.
  2. ^ Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General: New Zealand Herald. Retrieved on 2006-08-02.
Persondata
NAME Haride Boys, Michael
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Viceroy, jurist
DATE OF BIRTH 1931
PLACE OF BIRTH Wellington, New Zealand
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages