Sir Michael Hardie Boys

Chair of Advisory Board

Sir Michael was born in Wellington, where after attending Hataitai School and Wellington College, he went on to Victoria University College, graduating BA, LlB. In 1997, the University conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. He has been a Visiting Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge, and is an Honorary Fellow of that College.

Sir Michael practised law in Wellington for many years, serving on Law Society Councils and the Legal Aid Board, before being appointed a Judge of the High Court in 1980. In 1989, he was appointed to the Court of Appeal and became a Privy Counsellor. In 1994, he was elected an Honorary Bencher of Gray’s Inn, London.

As a young man, Sir Michael was active in youth leadership in the Methodist and Anglican Churches and the Boys’ Brigade. He has also been involved in a range of other community, church and educational activities.

Sir Michael was knighted (GCMG) in 1995, received the first GNZM awarded in 1996, and is a Knight of the Order of St John. He was New Zealand’s 17th Governor-General from 21 March 1996 to 21 March 2001, when he was awarded the Queen’s Service Order for Public Services.

Sir Michael married Mary Zohrab in 1957, and they have four children and eight grandchildren. They share common interests in the arts and the outdoors, and now live in the country north of Wellington.