Sir Richard Taylor
Sir Richard Taylor, of Wellington, received the Insignia of a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to film. Sir Richard has continued to be involved with design and special effects for the film industry. As the co-founder and Director of Weta Workshops he has worked with the Weta team on numerous projects. He co-founded the world-recognised children's television company, Pukeko Productions, which employs young New Zealand animators. He has developed significant business relationships with China. For the past nine years he has manufactured high end collectable art for the world market in China, been a partner in a bronze foundry and developed a unique chain maille manufacturing business. In 2009 he took a comprehensive art exhibition to Sichuan Province to raise money for the Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund. He and the team at Weta have won five Academy Awards and four BAFTAs for their work on The Lord of the Rings and King Kong. Sir Richard was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 and 2007, and the Supreme Winner of the World Class New Zealand Award in 2009.