At this morning's investiture ceremony at Government House Wellington, Dame Cindy presented the insignia of a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit to Sir Peter Beck, the founder and CEO of Rocket Lab. Since its founding in 2006, Rocket Lab has become a highly successful, award-winning business, deeply engaged with STEM education, and a widely connected and recognised leader within global aerospace. Rocket Lab employs 1,800 people globally, with 750 New Zealand employees, and has launched more than 160 satellites to orbit as of April 2024.
Also during the ceremony, Air Marshal Kevin Short received his CNZM insignia for services to the New Zealand Defence Force, serving as Chief of Defence Force from 2018 to 2024 – a term which encompassed significant and unprecedented domestic and global events, including the Covid-19 pandemic. Our very warmest congratulations to all of this morning's recipients.
You can find more images from this morning's ceremony in the Investiture Ceremony 5 September 2024 am image gallery.