Woman appointed New Zealand's Governor General

A woman, Dame Silvia Cartwright has been chosen as New Zealand's next Governor General , meaning that women now occupy all the country's top constitutional posts.

Dame Silvia, a high court judge, will take on her new role, as the Queen's official representative, next April.

The Chief Justice, the Attorney General, the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition are all female.

New Zealand has long claimed to be at the forefront of the campaign to increase women's rights - it was the first country to give women the vote.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service