Governor General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae has agreed to become Patron of the Tongariro National Trout Centre Society.

Society Chairman Robert Lester said that the organisation was delighted to welcome Sir Jerry as patron particularly as his tribal affiliations include Ng?ti T?wharetoa, the local iwi for the National Trout Centre on the banks of the Tongariro River.

Mr Lester said: "The centre and our key partners, the Department of Conservation and Genesis Energy, very much welcome Sir Jerry's patronage and are particularly pleased that this brings Ng?ti T?wharetoa representation to the centre."

The centre, near Turangi, is a wild trout fishery experience and education facility. It encourages participation in recreational fishing as a healthy and pleasurable activity and raises awareness of New Zealand freshwater ecology.

Visitors, which include thousands of school children each year, can see and feed trout in their natural environment, view many of New Zealand's native freshwater fish in the Genesis Energy Freshwater Aquarium and view the extensive collection of freshwater fishing memorabilia.