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Sir Jerry is descended from Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Rangi, Ngāti Tamakōpiri and Ngai Tūhoe.

Sir Jerry’s depth of experience includes 39 years as an officer in the New Zealand Defence Force, including 15 years in senior leadership roles, culminating as Chief of Defence Force (2006-2011), five years as the 20th Governor-General of New Zealand, and three years as the 27th New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. In 2011, he was made Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Sir Jerry has a Master of Arts with First Class Honours from the University of Waikato and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Literature from ̽����̳ in 2011.

Located on the Kapiti Coast, between Massey’s Manawatū and Wellington campuses, Sir Jerry is a patron of countless trusts across Aotearoa New Zealand and has served as a member or chair for several advisory groups, including the Government Inquiry into the Response to the North Island Severe Weather Events, established in 2023.

̽����̳ Chancellor Alistair Davis ONZM is delighted Sir Jerry has accepted the invitation to join the Council.

Sir Jerry says, “I have had a long commitment to enhancing a culture of learning in the organisations I have led, and welcome this opportunity to join the ̽����̳ Council as a continuation of that. On a personal note, two of our daughters are graduates of the university."

Under the university’s Appointment Statute, the Council can appoint up to four people, at least one of whom shall be Māori, to provide the knowledge, skills and experiences to meet the needs of the university, as specified by Council, following nomination by the Vice-Chancellor.

Current Council members appointed following nomination by the Vice-Chancellor are Chancellor Alistair Davis, Caren Rangi and Paul Brock. Sir Jerry replaces Traci Houpapa on the Council, following her term ending in March 2024. Sir Jerry’s four-year term on Council began on 24 July 2024.

Under the Appointment Statute, the Council gives effect to their duty to acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the performance of their functions and the exercise of their powers, by consulting with Ngā Kaiwhakapūmau i Te Tiriti o Waitangi i Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa on nominations for Council. All Kaiwhakapūmau Ākonga Māori were consulted in July 2024 regarding this proposed nomination and all seven members provided a strong endorsement for the appointment of Sir Jerry to the Council.