Eight further outstanding New Zealanders received their Royal Honours insignia this afternoon at Government House Auckland. Their diverse achievements and areas of service spanned health and health advocacy, education, Pacific performing arts, Māori, the Anglican Church, rugby league, and mosaic art. Our very warmest congratulations to all of this afternoon's recipients.
This morning, Dame Cindy welcomed seven recipients to Government House for their investiture ceremony. Phillip Lam received an MNZM for services to martial arts, recognising how he pioneered the sport in New Zealand. Mr Lam introduced kung fu to Aotearoa in 1975, and later Muay Thai/Thai boxing. He founded Lee Gar Kung Fu and Lee Gar Thai Boxing, and has coached many of our champion fighters.
Also among those recognised was Fleur Corbett, who received an MNZM for services to conservation. Mrs Corbett has been heavily involved with Guardians of the Bay of Islands, working to remove pests and restore seven islands to reintroduce native species. Congratulations to all of today’s recipients!
At this afternoon’s investiture ceremony, women’s rowing pioneer Lesley Milne received a CNZM to honour her decades of services to the sport. She was part of the first women’s crew to represent New Zealand in Europe in 1974, and continued a strong involvement with rowing as a coach, an umpire, and in governance roles. She served as President of Rowing New Zealand - the only woman to have held this role.
Dr Murray Williams was also among those being recognised, receiving an ONZM for services to wildlife conservation and science. Dr Williams has been instrumental in the establishment and implementation of conservation programmes for our endangered waterfoul, most notably the Whio. He provided the photo of the Whio that appeared on an earlier version of our $10 banknote. Congratulations to all this afternoon's recipients.
Dame Cindy welcomed eight recipients to Government House this morning, beginning the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours investitures in Tāmaki Makaurau. Former Manukau City Councillors, Anne Candy (CNZM) and Colleen Brown (KSO), were recognised for their significant contributions to the Counties Manukau community. Both were also members of the Counties Manukau District Health Board.
Also among those recognised was Julie Paterson, who received an MNZM for services to women and sport. Ms Paterson co-founded Women in Sport Aotearoa, and was member of the International Tennis Federation’s global committee for Gender Equality in Tennis. Warm congratulations to all this morning’s recipients.
This morning, Dame Cindy welcomed young student leaders from Rotorua schools who are the recipients of the 2024 Pūkākī Educational Awards. The image of Pūkākī, a great Ngāti Whakaue rangatira, has appeared on our 20c coin since 1990. To acknowledge the significance of this, the Reserve Bank began the Pūkākī Educational Awards in 2004, recognising young student leaders who descend from Ngāti Whakaue. As part of the Award, the recipients come to Wellington to visit Government House, Parliament and the Reserve Bank.
In this morning's investiture ceremony hosted at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy acknowledged eight members of Fire and Emergency New Zealand, for their outstanding commitment to the safety and wellbeing of their communities over many years. Among those recognised was Mr Ralph Fegan, who received his insignia as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in acknowledgement of his 22 years in the Franz Josef Volunteer Fire Brigade and 17 years in the Wānaka Fire Brigade.
Today's investiture marks the conclusion of this round of Wellington King's Birthday Honours ceremonies for the year. Our very warmest congratulations to all recipients, for your outstanding achievements and service to Aotearoa New Zealand.
'Whāia te iti kahurangi ki te tūohu koe me he maunga teitei. Seek the treasure you value most dearly: if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.'
For this afternoon’s ceremony, 10 further recipients were welcomed to Government House for their investiture. Among them was Tanya Ashken, a notable sculptor, silversmith and jeweller. She produced jewellery for HRH Princess Ann during her 1970 tour of New Zealand, and her sculpture ‘Albatross’ has been a prominent feature on the Wellington waterfront since it was unveiled in 1986.
Also recognised was Scratch Jansen, who received an ONZM for services to wildlife conservation. He has helped with the relocation of kōkako to predator-free islands, and was the leader of the Kākāpō Recovery Group Leader for DOC. Mr Jansen has also been heavily involved with the Capital Kiwi Project, which has seen North Island Brown kiwi reintroduced into a 23,000 hectare area from Red Rocks in Wellington to Whitireia Park in Porirua Congratulations to all of this afternoon’s recipients.
To begin the final week of Wellington’s King’s Birthday 2024 investiture ceremonies, Dame Cindy welcomed 10 recipients to Government House. Among them was Gemma New, who received an ONZM for services to music direction. She has conducted over 50 orchestras around the world, including in the United States, Canada, Scotland, and holds the distinction of being the first woman to be the Principal Conductor of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Also among those recognised was David Cade, who received a KSM for services to conservation and bio-security awareness. He is a leading advocate for the control and reduction of didymo – an invasive pest that harms our fresh waters.
Mrs Mary Lee received her insignia as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit this morning at Government House Wellington, for her services to snow sports and tourism. Mary and her husband, Mr John Lee, developed Cardrona Ski Field, Snow Park, and the Snow Farm – New Zealand's only dedicated cross-country ski-field – and continue to make significant, often voluntary, contributions across New Zealand's snow sports community. Ten other recipients were acknowledged this morning for their outstanding contributions across the diverse fields of racing, health, military history, meteorology, philanthropy, music, the community, sport, and defense.
Warmest congratulations to all of today's recipients. This round of King's Birthday Honours investiture ceremonies continue next week in Wellington.
Nine recipients were welcomed to Government House this afternoon for their investiture ceremony, including Elizabeth Cunningham, who received a KSO for services to governance. Mrs Cunningham has been heavily involved with the Māori Women’s Welfare League, helped lead Environment Canterbury’s climate change policy, and is the elective representative of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.
Also among those recognised was Ligi Hetutū, who received a KSM for services to the Niuean community. She established Niue language classes on the Wellington region, chairs the Wellington Niuean Language committee and holds several roles with the Wellington Niuean Presbyterian Church. Congratulations to all this afternoon’s recipients.
At this morning's investiture ceremony at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy presented the insignia of a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit to Sir Peter Beck, the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. Since its founding in 2006, Rocket Lab has become a highly successful, award-winning business, deeply engaged with STEM education, and a widely connected and recognised leader within global aerospace. Rocket Lab employs 1,800 people globally, with 750 New Zealand employees, and has launched more than 160 satellites to orbit as of April 2024.
Also during the ceremony, Air Marshal Kevin Short received his CNZM insignia for services to the New Zealand Defence Force, serving as Chief of Defence Force from 2018 to 2024 – a term which encompassed significant and unprecedented domestic and global events, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Our very warmest congratulations to all of this morning's recipients.
At today’s investiture ceremony, Dame Cindy presented Dame Joan Withers with the insignia of a DNZM, for services to business, governance and woman. Dame Joan has held many senior leadership roles in the media and business industries, including Chair of The Warehouse Group and TVNZ, Director of Sky Network TV and Chief Executive of Fairfax New Zealand. She was a foundation member of Global Women – an organisation aiming to encourage and increase diversity in business senior leadership. Several recipients were also recognised for their contributions to the New Zealand Police, including Inspector Freda Grace, who has served 40 years with New Zealand Police, supporting women on specialist squads such as the Armed Offenders Squad, and establishing the Critical Incident Liaison Officer programme. Congratulations to all this morning’s recipients.
The eleven Honours recipients at this afternoon's investiture ceremony included Michael Hollings, who became the first Royal New Zealand Honours recipient to receive the insignia for a King's Service Order (KSO), in recognition of his work in distance education, the revitalisation of te reo Māori within the Public Service, kohanga reo and theatre. Tere Gilbert (ONZM) was also recognised for her services to Māori language education. ONZM insignia were presented to Professor Emerita Nicola Peart for her services to the law, and to Gordon Glentworth for his services to the livestock and dairy industries.
Former senior diplomat Chris Seed (CNZM), Department of Conservation scientist Richard Coon (ONZM) and Cook Island cultural advocate Bridget Kauraka (MNZM) were among the ten recipients of Royal New Zealand Honours at an investiture ceremony at Government House this morning. This round of ceremonies is the first to include King's Birthday Honours, and will see the inaugural presentation of insignia for the King's Service Order and the King's Service Medal.
Following the death of Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, Dame Cindy Kiro released the following statement:
His Majesty King Charles III also offered a message of condolence to the people of Aotearoa New Zealand, following the death of Kiingi Tuheitia.
"My wife and I were profoundly saddened to learn of the death of Kiingi Tuheitia.
I had the greatest pleasure of knowing Kiingi Tuheitia for decades. He was deeply committed to forging a strong future for Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand founded upon culture, traditions and healing, which he carried out with wisdom and compassion.
I remember with immense fondness meeting Kiingi Tuheitia many times, including when Her Majesty and I were hosted so warmly and graciously at the Tuurangawaewae Marae in 2015, and then again during our meeting at Buckingham Palace last year. His death is a particular shock in view of the fact that I had only very recently spoken to Kiingi on the telephone at the beginning of August.
Kua hinga te tōtara i Te Waonui a Tāne. (A mighty Totora tree has fallen.)
My wife and I extend our deepest condolences to Kiingi Tuheitia’s whaanau and friends and all those who will mourn his loss. Our special thoughts and prayers will be with you at this most difficult and heartbreaking of times."
Dr Davies hosted a very special lunch in the Government House ballroom today, with the manaakitanga coming from local Wellington tamariki participating in the Garden to Table school programme. First, the children learned of the importance of pollinators, before visiting the Government House garden to harvest some vegetables. Next, the students showed their skills working alongside the Government House chefs and the front of house team, experimenting with salads and galettes, and discovering the art (and maths!) of table settings. Once the kai was ready and the ballroom was prepared, Dr Davies joined the tamariki for a delicious, seasonal lunch. For 15 years, Garden to Table has been working with schools across Aotearoa to educate thousands of students about how to grow, harvest, prepare and share healthy kai. Last year, their students prepared over one million vegetable-based meals.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies had the honour of welcoming the 2024 recipients of the Royal Humane Society Silver Medals, which recognise each of their exceptional acts of bravery. Matt Atkins, Jeremy Lee, Constable Bruce Whitley, father and son Tim and Matt Dodge, and Senior Constable Kurt Waugh were recognised today for their efforts to rescue others in life-threatening situations, despite the considerable risk to their own safety. The Royal Humane Society of New Zealand has been recognising the acts of bravery of people – like today’s recipients – for 126 years. He toa taumata rau. Bravery has many resting places.
Today, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies welcomed the recipients of the Child Cancer Foundation's Life Membership and Star Awards to Government House Auckland, for a very special ceremony to recognise their outstanding involvement with the Child Cancer Foundation. Barbara Richardson, Christine Donovan, Raewyn Sawyers, and Sue Green were honoured for their years of contributions to the Foundation, helping support children and their families through a cancer diagnosis. Mae, William, Maggie and Roman were the inspirational recipients of the Star Awards. These awards reflect the bravery each child has shown when they shared their own cancer stories to raise awareness and help other children like them affected by cancer. The ceremony also recognised the Rongotea Lions, who were awarded regional and national Lions Kindness awards, and who have been nominated for the World Lions Kindness award.
Last night at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy had the pleasure of launching Antarctic Heritage Trust's new educational virtual reality experience of Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Discovery Hut. Through the use of a VR headset and controllers, participants in the experience will be able to come face-to-face with penguins, take a ride in a hydrogen balloon, and explore inside the hut itself.
Scott's Discovery Hut is significant in that it was the first expedition base built on Antarctica’s Ross Island, during Captain Scott's National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-1904. This special experience, developed by StaplesVR, will now be taken to schools and communities across Aotearoa, so they too can step into the shoes of Scott and his team, and be inspired by the spirit of exploration and courage they so outstandingly embodied.
This morning Dame Cindy received the credentials of five diplomatic representatives: HE Mr Johnny Sexwale, High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa; HE Mr Hadera Abera, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia; HE Mr Sidya El Hadj; Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania; HE Dr Abu Bakarr Karim, High Commissioner of the Republic of Sierra Leone; and HE Mr Ali Saad Mohamed Habab Al-Hajri, Ambassador of the State of Qatar.
This afternoon at Government House, Dame Cindy gave a warm welcome to people who were involved in the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care. During six years of hearings, 2,797 people shared their experiences and insights about abuse in care in Aotearoa, and the final report was presented to Dame Cindy last month. Today Dame Cindy thanked the survivors for putting their trust in the Commission. She noted that she had spent much of her career as an advocate for the wellbeing of children and young people, and so the kaupapa of the Commission was close to her heart. The arts as a means of expression were highlighted with a performance by Fa'amoana Luafutu and a display of art from Te Roopu Toiora, a survivors' arts collective.
His Majesty King Charles III offers his congratulations to the New Zealand Olympic Team following their outstanding success at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In what was a truly special event on Saturday, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies welcomed guests to Government House for Hākari Fusion, a Wellington on a Plate event celebrating Aotearoa’s oldest form of cooking – the hāngī. Hāngī Master Rewi Spraggon joined the Government House chefs to create a feast cooked in the House’s new permanent hāngī pit, which combined traditional and modern cooking techniques. The evening was filled with music, waiata and kapa haka, and showcased local kai that included plants grown on the grounds. The event was free to the public, with 180 lucky guests selected from a ballot, becoming the first of many to enjoy hāngī cooked on site at Government House Wellington.
Last night, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted The Honourable Droupadi Murmu, President of India, and her delegation for a very special State Banquet at Government House Wellington. The menu included food lifted from the newly-built Government House hāngi – and the evening provided an opportunity to reinforce the strong bond of friendship between New Zealand and India, as well as to celebrate the diverse contributions of New Zealand's Indian communities.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies hosted a State Ceremony of Welcome this morning for The Honourable Droupadi Murmu, President of India. President Murmu is in Aotearoa New Zealand for three days as part of a wider visit to the Pacific and Southeast Asia. President Murmu is the 15th President of India, and is the second woman to be elected to this role. Today’s Ceremony of Welcome was supported by the New Zealand Army, the Royal New Zealand Air Force Band and the New Zealand Defence Force Cultural group. We wish President Murmu all the very best during her time in New Zealand.
As patron of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, and as the New Zealand team’s chief cheerleader, Dame Cindy is in Paris with Dr Davies to support the 200-strong team of Aotearoa’s athletes competing at the 2024 Olympic Games. This marks 100 years since the last time the Olympics were held in Paris, which coincidentally is where Sir Arthur Porritt, our only Governor-General who was also an Olympian, won bronze in the 100m sprint.
Dame Cindy and Dr Davies were welcomed to the New Zealand team base for a ceremony to name the Te Pou Hāpai (flag bearers) to lead our team down the Seine River during the opening ceremony, followed by a reception hosted by President Macron for Heads of State and Government. The flag bearers wear a kākahu each – Te Māhutonga and Te Hono ki Matariki – the creation of which was led by master weaver Ranui Ngarimu. As a special connection, Ranui is both the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s kuia, and is one of Dame Cindy’s kuia.
Once the games began, Their Excellencies have been cheering on the team at the many historic locations the games are being held, including equestrian eventing at the Château de Versailles, and tennis at Roland-Garros. NZOC Chef de Mission Nigel Avery gave Their Excellencies a tour of the New Zealand base at the Olympic Village, where athletes live, train and recover during the Olympic Games. Dame Cindy and Dr Davies ended their time supporting our Olympians in the best way possible, watching our mighty Black Ferns win NZ’s first medal – a back-to-back Olympic gold medal in front of 66,000 people in Stade de France, and celebrating the triathlon team’s success after their race.
This afternoon Dame Cindy received a farewell call from His Excellency Mr Grzegorz Kowal, the departing Ambassador of the Republic of Poland. We congratulate His Excellency on the success of his posting, and wish him and his family all the very best for the future.
New official portraits have been released of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla, wearing their New Zealand Royal Honours. The portraits were taken in the White Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace in June.
His Majesty the King is wearing the Badge of the Sovereign of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) suspended around his neck. The Order of New Zealand, instituted in 1987, is New Zealand’s most senior Royal Honour. On the left side of His Majesty’s jacket, the King wears the Star of a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (GNZM). The New Zealand Order of Merit, a distinctive New Zealand Order of Chivalry of which the King is Sovereign, was instituted in 1996. Above the Star, His Majesty wears a set of insignia which includes the Badge of a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order (QSO); the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal; and the New Zealand Armed Forces Award. As Prince of Wales, His Majesty was appointed as an Extra Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in 1983.
Her Majesty the Queen wears the Badge of an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand. Her Majesty’s appointment to the Order was announced on the King’s Birthday and Coronation Honours List 2023.
The portraits were taken by photographer Millie Pilkington, whose previous work includes wedding photography for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
The photographs are available here and can be downloaded in accordance with the terms of use.
Terms of use
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provided that each publication is accompanied by the credit “Photograph by Millie Pilkington 2024”. Please direct any questions to [email protected]
As their patron, Dr Davies welcomed Mission to Seafarers Oceania to Government House this evening to celebrate the charitable organisation’s 125th anniversary of active service. The Mission to Seafarers Oceania is part of an international network of Missions, found in over 200 ports around the world, helping hundreds of thousands of seafarers each year. The support they provide includes welfare checks during ship visits, giving spiritual guidance, providing a space to relax off ship, and gifting a whole heap of knitting. In his speech, Dr Davies reflected on his own experiences as a seafarer – visiting the Auckland Mission was his first welcome to New Zealand back in the early 80s.
The Mission’s global president, HRH The Princess Royal, provided a congratulatory message for the evening, noting her visit to the Wellington Mission last year.
This evening, Dame Cindy welcomed members of the Port Nicholson Rotary Club to celebrate their 35th anniversary. The Port Nicholson Rotary Club have been active in Wellington's community fundraising for projects like the whānau room at the Wellington Children’s Hospital, and supporting young leaders with scholarships. Their current major project is Lifting the Lid – a programme aimed at helping Wellington schools access help for students who have, or who are at risk of developing mental health issues. Since being launched in Te Whanganui a Tara in late 2022, they are helping 12 schools and hundreds of students in the area.
During World War II, the eyes and ears for the Allied effort in the pacific were coastwatch stations, keeping watch for ships and planes, and monitoring radio activity. They were manned by a mixture of Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force soldiers, civilian radio operators, and local Pacific Island radio operators. To give civilian coastwatchers more legal protection should they be captured, an attempt was made to attest them into military service. For the Cook Islands coastwatchers and a small number of Post and Telegraph coastwatchers, this did not eventuate and their service was not formally recognised. Today, Dame Cindy and Dr Davies, joined by representatives from the New Zealand Defence Force, welcomed descendants from these coastwatchers to recognise their service during the war.
Dame Cindy particularly acknowledged Willie Cuthers, who’s efforts to honour the service of his grandfather and his compatriots set in motion the official recognition the of civilian coastwatchers in the Pacific, and military historian John Crawford.
