Brian Hight
Brian Hight, of Auckland, received the Insignia of an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to agricultural publishing. Mr Hight is a newspaper and magazine publisher who, through innovative rural publishing, has contributed to New Zealand agribusiness. In 1974 he launched the first free specialised publication for farmers, Farm Equipment News. This was an innovative model; previously only subscription publications with limited circulation existed, which he believed did not serve farmers’ interests. The Rural News is circulated free to all rural delivery box holders 23 times a year, and the Dairy News is circulated free to dairy farmers, sharemilkers and staff. His publishing model has been widely used by other organisations. Mr Hight has also been involved in charitable work, through Lions, and has helped to raise considerable funds for Asthma Auckland.