Order of New Zealand Dinner

09 Oct 2009

Members of New Zealand's most select group are to gather at Government House in Auckland for a special dinner in their honour.

The Governor-General, Hon Sir Anand Satyanand, and Lady Satyanand, will host the Order of New Zealand Dinner at Government House, Auckland on Thursday 15 October 2009.

The Order of New Zealand is New Zealand's highest honour. Its purpose is "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity." It was instituted on 6 February 1987.

The Order comprises the Queen as Sovereign and ordinary, additional and honorary members. The ordinary membership is limited to twenty persons living at one time.

Sir Anand, in his speech at the last gathering of the Members of the Order in June 2007, acknowledged "the people who have been appointed as Members of The Order of New Zealand for having made a signal contribution to our country".

Current members of the Order include author Margaret Mahy, opera singer Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, former Prime Minister Rt Hon James Bolger and athlete Sir Murray Halberg.

Deceased members of the Order include Sir Edmund Hillary (the last of the original Members appointed on the institution of the Order on 6 February 1987), Rt Hon David Lange, and Dame Te Arikinui Te Atarangikaahu.

The insignia is made up of an oval medal of the Arms of New Zealand in gold and coloured enamel and is worn on a white and ochre ribbon around the neck. [inset picture]

Those that are members of the Order are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "ONZ".

To see a image from the last dinner, click here.