Mr Mike Hamilton, of Christchurch, CNZM, for services to marine engineering and business
Mike Hamilton has made a significant contribution to the economy as head of HamiltonJet, one of the world’s biggest waterjet manufacturing companies. In 1990, he designed a new generation of waterjet, far larger than anything to date, which was a leap forward for CWF Hamilton & Co.’s capability to compete for waterjet propulsion packages in ships traditionally driven by propellers. His contribution saw the emergence of specialist fleets of jet-powered vessels in markets such as tourism, aquaculture, offshore oil fields, patrol, wind farms, search and rescue, and passenger ferries. Privately, he supports many charitable causes and supports children through Child Fund and the Variety Club. Mr Hamilton was one of the lead jet boat drivers and the boat engineer for Sir Edmund Hillary’s 1977 Ocean to the Sky expedition