Mr Barry Soper, of Auckland, ONZM for services to journalism
Mr Barry Soper is a political journalist and commentator who served in the Parliamentary Press Gallery for 43 years, and has mentored junior political journalists. Mr Soper has covered major international events, including Nelson Mandela’s inauguration in 1994, and the Fijian coups in 1987 and 2000. He instigated the invitation to Nelson Mandela to be the guest speaker at the Parliamentary Press Gallery 125th Anniversary Dinner, which was held during President Mandela’s visit to New Zealand. He co-established the Southland Club, which holds an annual function in Parliament to promote the Southland province. He has been named Journalist of the Year at the New Zealand Radio Awards on several occasions. In 2023 Mr Soper's lifetime of work was recognised at the New Zealand Radio Awards, where he received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Radio.