Michael Hardie Boys

Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO, KStJ, PC (born 6 October 1931) is a New Zealand retired lawyer, judge, and jurist who served as the 17th Governor-General of New Zealand, in office from 1996 to 2001.

In this article, the surname is Hardie Boys, not Boys.

The Right Honourable Sir
Michael Hardie Boys
GNZM GCMG QSO KStJ
Hardie Boys in 2001
17th Governor-General of New Zealand
In office
21 March 1996 – 21 March 2001
MonarchElizabeth II
Prime MinisterJim Bolger
Jenny Shipley
Helen Clark
Preceded byCatherine Tizard
Succeeded bySilvia Cartwright
Personal details
Born (1931-10-06) 6 October 1931
Wellington, New Zealand
SpouseMary Zohrab
ProfessionJudge

Early life and family

Hardie Boys was born in 1931 in Wellington.[1] His father was the Hon Reginald Hardie Boys (1903–1970), a judge of the Supreme Court.[2] After his schooling at Hataitai School and Wellington College, Hardie Boys gained a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Victoria University College. Hardie Boys married Mary Zohrab in 1957. They have two sons, two daughters and eight grandchildren.

Judge of the High Court

A lawyer by profession, Hardie Boys became a Judge of the High Court of New Zealand in 1980 (prior to 1980, the name was Supreme Court, i.e. he sat in the same court that his father had). In 1989 he was elevated to the Court of Appeal, and was appointed as a Privy Counsellor.[3] In 1994 he was elected as an Honorary Bencher at Gray's Inn, and in 1995 became an Honorary Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge. He is also a visiting fellow at Wolfson. In the 1996 New Year Honours, Hardie Boys was appointed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George.[4]

Governor-General of New Zealand
Hardie Boys (left) with United States President Bill Clinton, 1999

On 21 March 1996, Hardie Boys was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand on the advice of Prime Minister Jim Bolger, as the Governor-General of New Zealand. As the 1996 New Zealand general election would be the first MMP election, the appointment of a lawyer was desirable.

In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, Hardie Boys was the first person appointed as a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.[5] He was also appointed a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in April 1996.[6]

Upon the completion of his term on 21 March 2001, Sir Michael and Lady Hardie Boys were both appointed as additional Companions of the Queen's Service Order.[7]

Controversies

In 1996, Hardie Boys caused controversy by stating his opposition to Minister of Youth Affairs Deborah Morris's suggestion that young people have access to contraceptives.[8] Later, in 2001, he created further controversy by making an implied attack on the Clark Labour Government's scrapping of the air defence wing of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.[8]

Retirement

After his retirement as Governor-General of New Zealand, Hardie Boys served as a judge of the Kiribati Court of Appeal. He now lives in retirement at Waikanae.

In 2004, Hardie Boys stated his opposition to New Zealand becoming a republic, stating in an interview: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."[9]

Arms
Coat of arms of Sir Michael Hardie Boys
Notes
Michael Hardie Boys was granted armorial bearings with life supporters by the College of Arms on 8 February 2000, which consist of:[10][11]
Crest
Perched on a Log fesswise a New Zealand bellbird proper holding in the beak an Anchor Or.
Escutcheon
Gules between two Pallets Argent a Cross formy convex Or on each limb a Mullet Gules on a Chief Or the Royal Crown between two full bottomed Wigs proper.
Supporters
On either side a North Island Weka proper.
Motto
Certus et Constans (Sure and Steadfast - in reference to the Boys' Brigade)

Further reading
  • The Boy from Evans Bay: The memoirs of Sir Michael Hardie Boys (2016)

References
  1. Lambert, Max (1991). Who's Who in New Zealand, 1991 (12th ed.). Auckland: Octopus. p. 263. ISBN 9780790001302.
  2. Petersen, George Conrad (1961). Who's Who in New Zealand, 1961 (7th ed.). Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. p. 150.
  3. "Appointments to the Privy Council" (14 September 1989) 159 New Zealand Gazette 4242.
  4. "No. 54256". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 30 December 1995. p. 33.
  5. "Queen's Birthday honours list 1996". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 3 June 1996. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  6. "No. 54362". The London Gazette. 3 April 1996. p. 4857.
  7. "Special Honours Lists – issued 20 and 21 March 2001". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 April 2011. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  8. Gavin Mclean (October 2006), The Governors, New Zealand Governors and Governors-General, Otago University Press, p. 281
  9. "Ditch Queen, say former Governors-General: New Zealand Herald". The New Zealand Herald. 14 November 2004. Retrieved 2 August 2006.
  10. TRANSCRIPT OF EXTRACT FROM THE RECORDS OF THE COLLEGE OF ARMS - Grants 166/110 - Grant of Arms, Crest and Supporters to Sir Michael Hardie Boys, College of Arms, 2000
  11. "New Zealand elements". The Governor-General of New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
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