2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours (full list)

A director, an ex-All Black, medical researchers, leading Māori artists and authors are among those recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

In total 178 people have received Queen’s Birthday honours this year, with three new dames and two new knights.

Professor Robert Elliott

Elliott is one of those who has been awarded a knighthood, becoming a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

He has been involved in a medical research for 60 years, and some of his discoveries include a treatment for a fatal form of congenital heart disease in babies and a newborn screening test for cystic fibrosis.

However he said his working setting up Cure Kids in the 1970s is his greatest legacy.

“I’ve had a handful of memorable research discoveries, which have changed medical practice around the world, but what I’m proudest of was founding charity Cure Kids in 1971 to promote research in children’s diseases. It was called National Children’s Health Research Foundation then.

“It was struggling in 80s and 90s with finances, but fortunately one bit of research I did was connecting a variety of milk called A2 with human disease which turned out to be commercially very successful indeed. And the money which came in from selling that patent to the A2 milk corporation has set Cure Kids up very nicely.”

He said Cure Kids now employs five professors and each year finance a raft of research which has included childhood suicides, obscure bone diseases, cot death and childhood cancer.

“I’m particularly pleased to have fathered that organisation, and seen it through.”

Professor Derek Lardelli

Lardelli has been awarded a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori art.

Sir Derek is a leading tā moko artist, visual artist, kapa haka performer, orator, composer, graphic designer, researcher, cultural consultant and educationalist. He is Ahorangi at Toihoukura, School of Visual Arts Māori, in Gisborne and has been prominent in promoting Māori arts nationally and internationally. His artwork is found in national and international institutions, public buildings and private collections.

As chairperson of Te Uhi a Mataora, a national Tā Moko Arts collective, Sir Derek has been heavily involved in the retention and development of the rituals, karakia and oral histories associated with Tā Moko, and is credited with leading the renaissance of this art form.

He is also a composer, performer and leader of a kapa haka group which has twice won Te Matatini national competition. His most recognised musical composition is the All Blacks haka ‘Kapa O Pango’. He was awarded the Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2008.

Karen Poutasi

Poutasi has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to education and the State.

She was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006 for her services to health administration.

She worked for 30 years in the health sector, and served as Director General of Health at the Ministry of Health from 1995 to 2006.

In April, Dame Karen retired as chief executive of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) after leading the organisation for 14 years.

She said the honour was also a recognition of the teams she had worked with in health and education, and all their successes.

She said NZQA is well placed to deal with the challenges presented by Covid-19.

“We’ve been thinking about what we call the future state, qualifying for the future world, being able to work online, being able to have micro-credentials, small credentials that you might need if you are changing roles. All of these things are very very appropriate in the situation where we are at the moment.”

Professor Jane Harding

Harding has also been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to neonatology and perinatology – work with babies, pregnant women and new mothers.

Jane Harding said the honour was a complete surprise. Photo: University of Auckland

Dame Jane’s work has included looking at the regulation of a baby’s growth before and after birth, which has led to changes in the field, nationally and internationally. She also identified the impact of low blood sugar levels on premature babies’ brain development and developed a simple and cheap intervention in the form a dextrose gel, which has changed the treatment of babies around the world.

Dame Jane said the honour was a complete surprise but, she hopes, very positive for her field.

“I think it is very positive for research, for medical research. I think it’s very positive for the focus on mothers and babies, and hopefully it’s positive for other women working the field.”

She said she cannot ever imagine people calling her Dame.

Jane Harding, was the deputy director of the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland from 2003 to 2007 and the deputy vice chancellor (research) of the University of Auckland from 2008 to 2015, and is now a distinguished professor at the Liggins Institute. She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2002.

Aroha Hohipera Reriti-Crofts

Reriti-Crofts has been awarded a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Māori and the community.

Dame Aroha has been a member of the Māori Women’s Welfare League since 1968 and served as national and international president from 1990 to 1993, as well as being a life member of the Otautahi branch.

She is chairperson of Matapopore Charitable Trust, culturally advising and guiding developers in the Christchurch rebuild. She has also served as chairperson of the Poutama Training Centre and Nga Maia Māori Midwives Trust. Dame Aroha is currently a trustee of Te Puawaitanga Māori Health Provider and Kaumatua of Waimakariri District Council. She was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1993.

Others to be recognised

Other people to be recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours include director and actor Taika Waititi, former All Blacks captain Kieran Read and former police commissioner Mike Bush.

Taika Waititi, who has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to film, said the arts in general are not celebrated enough, so it is good to have recognition of the work.

He said it was particularly significant having a honour coming from New Zealand, and his peers in New Zealand.

“Personally I make my stuff for New Zealanders first and foremost. They are my first audience. My peers and colleagues, to be recognised by them, people who are closer to my home, is more significant.”

Waititi won an academy award for the screenplay of his film Jojo Rabbit, and the film, which he also directed, was nominated for best picture. He has also directed box office hit Thor: Ragnarok and it was recently announced that he will direct and co-write an upcoming live-action Star Wars film.

Waititi said he thought the pinnacle of his career had been his role as a cocky waiter in a 1996 butter commercial, but his film Boy was still the work he was most proud of.

During the Covid-19 pandemic he has released readings of James and the Giant Peach, with donations going to Partners In Health, a medical and social justice organisation fighting Covid-19 around the world.

Former police commissioner Mike Bush has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s honours.

Bush, who stood down as police commissioner in April after six years in the role, said when he took on the role he wanted to take the service in the right direction.

“A lot of that was ensuring that we were a really modern service,” Bush said, “that we served our community as best as we possibly could. That we were very inclusive, we’re very accessible, that we built real diversity and the right relationship with our communities, and by that I mean that we really cared for them, we were really open to them. ”

Bush said he thought of the award as an acknowledgement for the organisation which he was part of for 42 years.

To be Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM)

• Turanga Barclay-Kerr: For services to Māori and heritage commemoration.
• Mike Bush: For services to the New Zealand Police and the community.
• Maureen Corby: For services to early childhood education.
• Dr Tessa Duder: For services to literature.
• David Ellis: For services to the thoroughbred industry.
• Elizabeth Knox: For services to literature.
• Barry Maister: For services to sport and the community.
• Bruce McKenzie: For services to the cattle industry.
• Professor John Nacey: For services to health and education.
• George Ngaei: For services to health and the Pacific community.
• Rosslyn Noonan: For services to human rights.
• Justine Smyth: For services to governance and women.

To be Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM)

• Barbara Ala’alatoa: For services to education.
• Jeanne Begej: For services to ice figure skating.
• Anthony Bonne: For services to local government and the community.
• Taika Waititi (Cohen): For services to film.
• Marston Conder: For services to mathematics.
• Derek Crowther: For services to the motor vehicle industry.
• Judith Darragh: For services to the arts.
• Dr Daryle Deering: For services to nursing – particularly mental health and addictions.
• James Doherty: For services to Māori and conservation.
• Rosemary Du Plessis: For services to women and education.
• Alec Ekeroma: For services to health and the Pacific community.
• Dr Garry Forgeson: For services to oncology.
• Dr Jan Gregor: For services to water safety and public health.
• James Griffin: For services to the television and film industries.
• Joan Harnett-Kindley: For services to netball and the real estate industry.
• Mary Holm: For services to financial literacy education.
• Terence Kayes: For services to the engineering industry.
• Ian Lambie: For services to clinical psychology.
• Anthony Lepper: For services to sports administration and local government.
• David Ling: For services to the publishing industry.
• Vicki Masson: For services to perinatal and maternal health.
• Beverley May: For services to cycling.
• Dr Anthony O’Brien: For services to mental health nursing.
• Murray Powell: For services to wildlife conservation and the deer industry.
• Thomas Rainey: For services to music and music education.
• Kieran Read: For services to rugby.
• Anne Richardson: For services to wildlife conservation.
• Avis Rishworth: For services to women.
• Alistair Spierling: For services to the State and community.
• James Tomlin: For services to art education.
• Dr Brian Turner: For services to literature and poetry.
• Āni Wainui: For services to Māori language education.
• Lisa Woolley: For services to the community and governance.
• David Zwartz: For services to the Jewish and interfaith communities.

To be Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)

• Donna Avia: For services to poetry and the arts.
• John Baddeley: For services to local government and the community.
• Carol Bartle: For services to health, particularly breastfeeding education.
• David Benton: For services to addiction support and treatment.
• Georgina Beyer: For services to LGBTIQA+ rights.
• Marianne Bishop: For services to the union movement and the community.
• Patricia Broad: For services to gymnastics.
• John Buchanan: For services to music.
• Russell Burt: For services to primary education.
• Lois Chick: For services to education
• David Crerar: For services to mountaineering and outdoor recreation.
• Joseph Davis: For services to Māori and conservation.
• Pamela Dawkins: For services to horticulture.
• Murray Dawson: For services to horticulture.
• Jacqueline Edmond: For services to sexual and reproductive health.
• Iosefa Enari: For services to Pacific dance.
• Rhonda Fraser: For services to women and aviation.
• Emily Sarah Gaddum: For services to hockey.
• William Graham: For services to youth and the community.
• David Harvey: For services to the New Zealand Police and the community.
• Dr Jeremy Hill: For services to the dairy industry and scientific research.
• Elizabeth Hird: For services to health.
• Dr Roberta Hunter: For services to mathematics education.
• Graham Jackson: For services to the trades industry and business.
• Sandra Jenkins: For services to education.
• Muriel Johnstone: For services to Māori and conservation.
• Sharon Kearney: For services to physiotherapy and netball
• Dr Alison Keeling: For services to gerontology.
• Dr Kevin Knight: For services to education.
• Dr Maureen Lander: For services to Māori art.
• Dr Sarah Leberman: For services to women, sport and tertiary education.
• Donald Long: For services to literature and education, particularly Pacific language education.
• Takapuna Mackey: For services to martial arts and Māori.
• Donald MacLean: For services to education.
• Maureen McCleary: For services to the arts.
• Donald McKay: For services to seniors and the community.
• Dr Priscilla McQueen: For services as a poet.
• Dr Beverley Milne: For services to education.
• Desmond Minehan: For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
• Dr Arish Naresh: For services to the community and dentistry.
• Kiri Nathan: For services to Māori and the fashion industry.
• Tofilau Pereira: For services to the Pacific community and women.
• Dr Vincent Peterson: For services to the veterinary profession.
• Graham Preston: For services to education.
• Peter Ramsden: For services to conservation.
• Aseta Redican: For services to health and Pacific peoples.
• William John Rickerby: For services to conservation.
• Richard Rudd: For services to ceramic art.
• Noel Sheat: For services to ploughing and the community.
• Susan Sherrard: For services to people with disabilities.
• Peter Smale: For services to seniors, the community and horticulture.
• Dianne Smeehuyzen: For services to brass bands.
• Ramari Stewart: For services to Māori culture, wildlife conservation and research.
• Lynette Te Aika: For services to Māori language education.
• Christopher Te’o: For services to health, cycling and the Pacific community.
• Mary Thompson: For services to netball administration.
• Ngareta Timutimu: For services to Māori and education.
• Dr Janet Turnbull: For services to health.
• Robert Webb: For services to wildlife conservation.
• Kayla Whitelock: For services to hockey.
• Joan Whittaker: For services to heritage preservation and music education.
• Lloyd Whittaker: For services to heritage preservation and music education.
• Maria Winder: For services to music education.
• Maureen Wood: For services to people with disabilities.

Companions of the Queen’s Service Order (QSO)

• Clare Wells: For services to early childhood education.

Queen’s Service Medal (QSM)

• Agnes Anderson: For services to choral music.
• Edith Barnes: For services to local government and the community.
• Rhys Bean: For services to the community.
• Gillian Bishop: For services to conservation.
• Robyn Bisset: For services to the community.
• Bevan Bradding: For services to the community.
• Margaret Bradding: For services to the community.
• Kay Brereton: For services to the welfare of beneficiaries.
• Dr David Butler: For services to conservation.
• Allan Cox: For services to the community.
• Chandu Daji: For services to the Indian community and sport.
• Priscilla Dawson: For services to refugees and the Burmese community.
• Dawn Elliott: For services to art education.
• Ian Foster: For services to the community.
• Audrey Gray: For services to choral music.
• Ella Hanify: For services to music.
• Eileen Holt: For services to stroke victims and the community.
• Donna Kennedy: For services to people with disabilities.
• John Kennedy-Good: For services to the community.
• Pravin Kumar: For services to the Indian community.
• Ronald Lamont: For services to aviation.
• Emelita Luisi: For services to youth.
• Christopher Marshall: For services to music.
• Gayle Marshall: For services to the community.
• Ewan Mason: For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community.
• Neil McCorkindale: For services to hockey administration.
• Morris McFall: For services to the community and philanthropy.
• Trevor McGlinchey: For services to Māori and the community.
• Robert McGowan: For services to Māori and conservation.
• Olga McKerras: For services to the community.
• Suresh Patel: For services to the community and sport.
• Molima Pihigia: For services to Niuean art and the community.
• Afamasaga Rasmussen: For services to education and the Pacific community.
• Roy Reid: For services to seniors.
• Melva Robb: For services to rural communities and women.
• Ian Robinson: For services to surf lifesaving and the community.
• Terence Roche: For services to the community.
• Richard Scadden: For services to the community.
• Afiff Shah: For services to the Muslim community and football.
• William Sharp: For services to youth.
• Maher Singh: For services to seniors and the community.
• Barry Smith: For services to football and historical research.
• Lynn Smith: For services to dance education.
• Marie Taylor: For services to horticulture and native revegetation.
• Neil Taylor: For services to people with intellectual disabilities and the community.
• Thomas Thomas: For services to victim support and the community.
• Stuart Thorne: For services to conservation and search and rescue.
• Myra Tohill: For services to the community.
• Ian Walker: For services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand.
• Malcolm Walker: For services to sport and education.
• Margaret Western: For services to migrant and refugee communities.
• Alexa Whaley: For services to historical research and heritage preservation.
• Roger Williams: For services to conservation.
• Gareth Winter: For services to historical research.
• Gwenyth Wright: For services to women and the community.
• Diane Yalden: For services to the community.

Honorary members of the New Zealand Order of Merit

• Angelica Edgley: For services to forensic science.
• Lita Foliaki: For services to the Pacific community.
• Dr Johan Hellemans: For services to triathlon.
• Elizabeth Herrmann: For services to the hospitality industry and philanthropy.

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD)

• Brigadier Michael Shapland: For services to the New Zealand Defence Force.

Source: rnz.co.nz Republished by arrangement.