Career
Mateparae enlisted as a private in the Regular Force of the New Zealand Army in June 1972. He served in both battalions of the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regimentand in the New Zealand Special Air Service. He was a platoon commander in Singapore in 1979.
He had two operational postings to peace support missions, one 12-month tour of duty with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization as the Chief Observer in Southern Lebanon from May 1994 to May 1995, and commanding the combined-force Peace Monitoring Group on Bougainville during Operation Belisi in 1998. On 24 December 1999, he was promoted to brigadier, in the post of Land Component Commander, Joint Forces New Zealand. From December 1999 to July 2001, he was the Joint Commander for New Zealand forces attached to the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor.
In February 2002, Mateparae was promoted to major-general and became the Chief of General Staff. The title was changed in mid-2002 to Chief of Army. On 1 May 2006 he was promoted to lieutenant-general and took up appointment as the Chief of Defence Force, New Zealand's senior uniformed military appointment, which he held until 24 January 2011.[1]
On 26 August 2010, Prime Minister John Key announced the appointment of Mateparae as Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau. Mateparae was appointed for a five-year term commencing on 7 February 2011 but stepped down from the role on 1 July 2011.
On 8 March 2011, Prime Minister John Key announced the recommendation of Mateparae as the next Governor-General of New Zealand.
The Queen of New Zealand made the appointment later that day.On 31 August 2011 he was sworn in as the Governor-General for a five-year term.
On 20 May 2011, Mateparae was appointed an Additional Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and as anAdditional Companion of the Queen's Service Order. He became Chancellor and Principal Knight Grand Commander of that order and Principal Companion of the Queen's Service Order upon taking office as Governor-General, making him "His Excellency Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jeremiah Mateparae GNZM QSO"