Prime Minister John Key says a new Governor-General will be named soon, and that person will not necessarily have a legal background.
Sir Anand Satyanand is due to finish his term later this year.
Like most of his recent predecessors, Sir Anand has a legal background, which has been seen as desirable because of the constitutional role governors-general play.
Mr Key says however that the time has passed when a legal career such as being a judge or Queen's Counsel is necessary.
He adds, though, that any governor-general would have to be able to take good advice on constitutional issues.
