To be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
KÓS, The Honourable John Stephen (Stephen), KC
For services to the judiciary and legal education
The Honourable Stephen Kós was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand in April 2022.
Justice Kós was previously a High Court Judge from 2011 to 2015, Judge of the Court of Appeal from 2015 and President of the Court of Appeal from 2016 until 2022. He joined the Independent Bar in 2005 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2007. He has taught restitution, evidence and civil procedure at Victoria University Law School. He was Pro-Chancellor of Massey University from 2006 to 2011 and currently teaches equity at Melbourne Law School. He has been a Moderator and Assessor for the Council of Legal Education. He has undertaken ‘roadshow’ seminars for the Law Society’s educational programme and been a faculty member of the Law Society’s Advanced Litigation Schools course. He has contributed to legal research and scholarship, with book chapters and articles published in law journals. He has continued to contribute to legal education through involvement with Te Kura Kaiwhakawā Institute of Judicial Studies, designing and presenting several courses. He was on the Te Kura Board for six years and helped reshape the curriculum and approach to judicial education in New Zealand. As President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Kós championed a programme to ensure junior counsel have the opportunity to present legal submissions alongside lead counsel when appearing in court.
To be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
PARATA, Mr Selwyn Tanetoa
For services to Māori
Mr Selwyn Parata (Ngāti Porou, Ngāi Tahu) has been the Chair of Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou since 2014, the Chair of Te Matatini since 2008 and the Chair of Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa since 2014.
Mr Parata has been a Trustee of Te Runanga o Ngāti Porou since 1987 and its successor Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou since 2012, serving as Deputy Chair and Chair. He was a member of Te Haeata, which successfully negotiated the Ngāti Porou Treaty of Waitangi claims as recognised by the Ngāti Porou Claims Settlement Act 2012. He led the negotiations between Ngāti Porou and the Crown, culminating in the Nga Rohe Moana o Nga Hapu o Ngāti Porou Act 2019. He is Chair of the Te Matatini Board, responsible for the bi-ennial National Kapa Haka festival, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier cultural events and international indigenous cultural events. Under his leadership the profile and financial position of Te Matatini has significantly grown along with audience numbers and kapa participation. Investment and engagement strategies have seen the growth of Māori performing arts across education, public and private sectors and international culture and trade exchanges. He is the co-Chair of Rau Tipu Rau Ora Tairawhiti leadership group, established to lead COVID-19, future pandemic and natural disaster responses and recovery. Mr Parata has supported the commemoration of the 28 Māori Battalion and the establishment of the C Company Memorial Museum in Gisborne.
To be a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:
SMITH, Mr Wayne Ross, CNZM
For services to rugby
Mr Wayne Smith was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 for his services to rugby and has led the men’s and women’s sides to Rugby World Cup victory in recent times.
Mr Smith was Assistant Coach of the All Blacks at the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups and Head Coach of the Black Ferns at the 2022 Rugby World Cup. He took over coaching of the Black Ferns six months prior to the tournament kicking off, where he helped create a better environment for the players to focus on playing styles, which led the Black Ferns to their sixth World Cup title. Through the duration of the Women’s World Cup, he was an advocate for women’s rugby, providing exposure to the team. Mr Smith is a Life Member and was previously a long-term Patron of the New Zealand Foundation for Conductive Education, which helps children and adults with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy.
HONOURS
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, Queen’s Birthday 2012