Four new members of the Order of New Zealand and seven new Dames and Knights head up the 2012 Queen’s Birthday and Diamond Jubilee Honours list.
Becoming additional members of the Order of New Zealand are: HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh; public servant Dame Margaret Bazley; film maker Sir Peter Jackson; and opera singer, Dame Malvina Major.
The Order of New Zealand is New Zealand’s highest honour. It was instituted by Royal Warrant, dated 6 February 1987, “to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity.”
The four additional members brings to 28 holding the honour—18 ordinary members, nine additional members and one honorary member. While the Royal Warrant that established the Order of New Zealand in 1987 limits its ordinary membership to 20 members, it also allows additional members to be appointed to mark significant Royal and national occasions. Additional members have previously been appointed to mark the 1990 celebrations, to mark the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 and to mark the 20th anniversary of the Order in 2007. Information about the Order can be found here: http://www.honours.govt.nz/honours/overview/onz
The new Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit are: Dame June Mariu, for services to Māori and the community; Pieter Stewart, for services to fashion and the community; and Chief Ombudsman, Dame Beverley Wakem, for services to the State.
The new Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit are: former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Hon Sir Michael Cullen, for services to the State; former Telecom chairman and public servant, Dr Sir Roderick Deane, for services to business and the community; former All Black Sir John Kirwan, for services to rugby and mental health; and former senior public servant, Sir Maarten Wevers.
Others to be honoured include World Cup winning All Blacks assistant coaches, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith (both Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit), scientist Professor Christine Winterbourn (CNZM); concert pianist Michael Houstoun (CNZM); actor Bret McKenzie (Officer of NZ Order of Merit), former Silver Fern Temepara George (Member of the NZ Order of Merit), opera singer Margaret Medlyn (MNZM), former Justice Minister Simon Power and former NZX Chief Executive Mark Weldon (both Companions of the Queen’s Service Order).
The full list can be viewed here: http://gg.govt.nz/content/queens-birthday-and-diamond-jubilee-honours-2012
For more information: contact Antony Paltridge, Public Affairs Manager, Government House on 021 470 583