In an article on Stuff explaining why the Governor-General is patron of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, the committee makes this observation:

“At Games, the presence of the Head of State elevates and adds value to international opportunities for our team and athletes.
“As the representative of Her Majesty the Queen in New Zealand, the patronage is particularly appropriate with the Commonwealth Games one of our pinnacle events. In recent years, the governor-general has attended the London and Rio Olympic Games, and the Glasgow and Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.”

This highlights, probably unintentionally, the ambiguity that surrounds the office of Governor-General. They are expected at once to be the Queen’s representative, with the Queen in the role of New Zealand’s head of state; at the same time undertaking the work of New Zealand’s head of state.

The article stresses the link to Arthur Porritt, the first Governor-General appointed solely on the advice of a New Zealand Prime Minister in 1967, who was our representative on the Olympic Committee right up until his appointment as Governor-General. Porritt was also an Olympic bronze medalist, and a great New Zealander.

Our campaign is focused on the head of state, and specifically elevating the office of Governor-General to our actual head of state (most likely with a title that actually matches the mana of the office). New Zealanders such as Arthur Porritt shouldn’t have to play second fiddle, they should, as the NZOC states, elevate our athletes by as our independent head of state.