Governor-General to host investitures at Dunedin's Larnach Castle

The Wizard of New Zealand is one of 21 people from the South Island to be invested with New Zealand honours at an investiture ceremony in Dunedin next week.

To see images from the ceremony, click here.

Governor-General, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand, will host an investiture ceremony at Larnach Castle on 8 September 2009 as part of a three-day visit to Otago.

Others to be honoured include Christchurch  Deputy Mayor Norm Withers, former Silver Fern Belinda Charteris and broadcaster Neil Collins.

The investiture ceremony is being held in Dunedin as Government House in Wellington closed last year for a major Conservation Project.  This is the second major investiture ceremony to be held outside Wellington or Auckland, with investitures being held in Christchurch in March.

The ceremony starts at 10.30am and media wanting to attend must register with Public Affairs Manager, Antony Paltridge on 021 470 583 by 5pm on Monday 7 September.

Those to be invested are:

• Professor Alison Stewart, Lincoln, CNZM for services to biology, in particular plant pathology
• Bruce Aitken, Dunedin, QSO for services to education and music.
• Neil Collins, Dunedin, ONZM, for services to broadcasting, local body affairs and the community
• Jefferie Tippen, Christchurch, ONZM for services to tourism.
• Norma Campbell, Christchurch, MNZM for services to women's health, in particular midwifery.
• Belinda Charteris, Christchurch, MNZM for services to netball.
• Professor Terry Crooks, Dunedin, MNZM for services to education.
• Emeritus Professor David Elms, Christchurch, MNZM for services to civil engineering.
• Dr Francis Farry, Queenstown, MNZM for services to rural medicine.
• Lester Flockton, Dunedin, MNZM, for services to education and pipe bands.
• John Gilks, Wanaka, for services to business and the community
• Dr Cheung-Tak Hung, Dunedin, MNZM for services to philanthropy and the Chinese community
• Rosalie Sampson, Karamea, MNZM for services to conservation and the community.
• Norm Withers, Christchurch, MNZM for services to sport and the community.
• The Wizard of New Zealand, Christchurch, QSM for services to the community
• John Clayton, Ikamatua, QSM for services to local body affairs and the community
• Elisabeth Cunningham, Dunedin, QSM for services to the community
• Leslie Johnston, Tuatapere, QSM for services to the community.
• Peter McMillan, Christchurch, QSM for services to the community.
• Shirley Rudkin, Christchurch, QSM for services to the community.
• Richard Stark, Gore, QSM for services to the community

For more information contact: Antony Paltridge, Government House on 04-382-0827 or 021 470 583