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The purpose of the New Zealand Royal Honours system is to recognise those who have served and achieved. Honours are administered by the Honours Unit, which is part of the Cabinet Office.

In this section, you'll find the Honours lists and information for and about recipients. It includes: Honours lists from 1995 to today a historical archive of honours lists is available from the New Zealand Gazette...

The New Zealand Royal Honours system is a uniquely New Zealand system.  Honours are administered by the Honours Unit, which is part of the Cabinet Office. The final honours lists are approved by The Queen of New Zealand on the Prime Minister's...

Our honours system is a way for New Zealand to say thanks and well done to those who have served and those who have achieved. We believe that such recognition is consistent with the egalitarian character of New Zealand society and enlivens and enriches...

The New Zealand Gallantry Awards recognise those military, and certain other categories of support personnel, who perform acts of gallantry while involved in war and warlike operational service (including peacekeeping). The New Zealand Bravery Awards...

New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal (obverse) New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal (reverse) New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 (obverse) New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 (reverse)...

In New Zealand, in the past, the service of senior Ministers and members of the judiciary has been given recognition by their appointment to the Privy Council, and the consequent right to use the title "The Right Honourable" (abbreviated to "The Rt Hon...

In August 2010, the Queen approved the following rules for the grant, use and retention of the title "The Honourable" in New Zealand. Rules for the grant, use and retention of the title "The Honourable" in New Zealand Her Majesty the Queen has approved...

Order of wear Life saving awards Wearing of decorations and medals by next of kin or family members Commonwealth and foreign honours Awards made by non-governmental and private organisations Occasions on which to wear insignia...

1. Postnominal Letters Postnominals (abbreviations after a name) may be shown with or without points (full stops); e.g. K.N.Z.M. or KNZM. Knights A knight of an Order of Chivalry may use the appropriate postnominal letters after his name; e.g. Sir...

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the following rules relating to the acceptance and wearing of Commonwealth, foreign and international honours by New Zealand citizens. These rules were signed by Prime Minister Helen Clark on 23 July 2007....

Since the late 1840s, the Royal Honours System in New Zealand has evolved along with changes in the country’s constitution, from Crown Colony to Dominion, and from Dominion to a fully independent monarchy or realm. Between 1848 and 1996, New Zealanders...

The Office The office of New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary to The Queen was established by Royal Warrant on 6 February 1978 and Mr Phillip O'Shea is the first appointee.  Until October 2004 he combined his duties with...

Rolls of the New Zealand Gallantry Awards (established 1999). The Victoria Cross for New Zealand For most conspicuous gallantry, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy...

New Zealand Gallantry Awards and criteria 1. The New Zealand Gallantry Awards are Royal honours. They are designed to recognise acts of gallantry carried out at risk to or sacrifice of life, by members of the New Zealand Armed Forces and support...

The Right Honourable (PC) New Zealand Members of Her Majesty’s Privy Council Current members Listed in order of precedence Appointed PALMER, The...

The insignia of orders of chivalry, orders and certain decorations are usually accompanied by information cards which detail how the individual insignia should be worn. These notes are a guide on how the various insignia should be mounted for...

ASKEW, Mrs Hazel For services to the community Mrs Hazel Askew has been a volunteer for Onehunga Ladies Benevolent Society since 1980, and from 1985 she served for a time as Treasurer and President and continues to serve as current Secretary. Mrs...

To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit: BAIN, Mr John Walker, JP For services to the community and sport Mr John Bain has contributed to the Northland community for more than 35 years. Mr Bain has been closely involved in sports committees...

To be a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit: ADAMS, Mrs Janet Elspeth (Jan) For services to education Mrs Jan Adams has been working for more than 40 years in education, first as a teacher and Associate Principal, as a public servant in the...

To be an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit: ALLAN, Dr Simon Gardiner For services to palliative care Dr Simon Allan has been Director of Palliative Care at Arohanui Hospice since 2005, having started as Acting Medical Director in 1995. Dr...

To be a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit: BURROWS, Emeritus Professor John Frederick, ONZM, QC For services to the State Emeritus Professor John Burrows is a law lecturer, author, former member of the Law Commission, and was co-chairman of...

Badge of the Order of New Zealand, pictured suspended from a neck ribbon. Overview The Order of New Zealand is New Zealand’s most senior honour. The Order was instituted by Royal Warrant - dated 6 February (Waitangi Day) 1987 - "to recognise...

Background Insignia Background The New Zealand Order of Merit was instituted by Royal Warrant dated 30 May 1996. The Order is awarded to those “who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and...

Background Design of awards Design and manaufacture of Gallantry and Bravery Awards Other issues relating to Gallantry and Bravery Awards Background The New Zealand Gallantry Awards are designed to recognise those military, and certain...

History The New Zealand Antarctic Medal was instituted as a New Zealand Royal Honour on 1 September 2006. The New Zealand Antarctic Medal replaced the (British) Polar Medal, which was instituted in 1904 under a British Royal Warrant and awarded to...

Background Eligibility Precedence Royal warrant and regulations Design and manufacture Other issues Background The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration has been instituted as a New Zealand Royal Honour to recognise...

To be a Knight Grand Companion of the said Order: KEY, The Right Honourable John Phillip For services to the State The Right Honourable John Key was New Zealand’s 38th Prime Minister, holding the office from November 2008 until stepping down in...

To be a Dame Companion of the said Order: CHRISTIE, Mrs Julie Claire Molloy, ONZM For services to governance and the television industry Mrs Julie Christie was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 for her services to film and...

To be a Knight Companion of the said Order: DINGLE, Mr Graeme, ONZM, MBE For services to youth Mr Graeme Dingle was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to youth in 2001. Mr Dingle established the first Outdoor Pursuits...

To be a Companion of the said Order: AMA, Ms Mary Tupai For services to the arts and the Pacific community Ms Mary Ama is a New Zealand-Pacific artist, educator, cultural and community leader. Ms Ama founded and is lead artist and mentor for Pacifica...

To be an Officer of the said Order: ASHTON, Mr Desmond Albert (Des) For services to the New Zealand Defence Force and aviation Mr Des Ashton was Deputy Secretary Acquisition with the Ministry of Defence from 2008 to 2016, during which time he had...

To be a Member of the said Order: AITKEN, Mr Ross Alexander For services to conservation Mr Ross Aitken has been a member of the Auckland Conservation Board for the past five years, the last four as Chairperson. During this time the Board has...

The Queen's Service Medal ANDERSON, Mrs Clarice Lee For services to the blind and seniors Mrs Clarice Anderson has had a longstanding involvement with the Royal New Zealand Blind Foundation at a local level. Mrs Anderson helped establish the Central...

HEKE, Mr Randal Murray For services to New Zealand interests in Antarctica and historic preservation Mr Randal Heke was Chief Building Superintendent with the Ministry of Works and Development and oversaw the construction of a base headquarters (Scott...