lieutenant general sir jerry mateparae gnzm, qso (born 14 november 1954) is the former governor-general of new zealand. he was born in whanganui, manawatu-wanganui on the north island. he enlisted in the new zealand army in 1974 as a private. he became an officer after graduating from the officer cadet school, portsea in australia. he was eventually promoted to lieutenant general in 2006.