New Zealand Order of Merit

New Zealand Order of Merit
Badge of the Order
Awarded by the monarch of New Zealand
Type National Order
Motto For Merit - Tohu Hiranga
Eligibility Citizens of Commonwealth realms
Awarded for Meritorious service to the Crown and the nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions, or other merits
Status Currently constituted
Sovereign Queen Elizabeth II
Chancellor Dame Patsy Reddy
Grades (w/ post-nominals)

Knight/Dame Grand Companion (GNZM)
Knight/Dame Companion (KNZM/DNZM)
Companion (CNZM)
Officer (ONZM)
Member (MNZM)

Established 30 May 1996
Last induction 2015 New Year Honours
Ribbon of the New Zealand Order of Merit

The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of chivalry in New Zealand's honours system. It was established on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits",[1] to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity.

The order is currently awarded in five grades:

In the order of precedence, the New Zealand Order of Merit ranks immediately after the Order of New Zealand. Prior to 1996 New Zealanders received appointments to various British orders, such as the Order of the Bath, the Order of St Michael and St George, the Order of the British Empire, and the Order of the Companions of Honour, as well as the distinction of Knight Bachelor.[2] The change came about after the Prime Minister's Honours Advisory Committee (1995) was created "to consider and present options and suggestions on the structure of a New Zealand Royal Honours System in New Zealand, which is designed to recognise meritorious service, gallantry and bravery and long service".[3]

Award quotas

Rear Admiral David Ledson, ONZM, RNZN, wearing the medal for Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

The number of Knights and Dames Grand Companion (and Principal Companions) is limited to 30 living people. Additionally, new appointments are limited to 15 Knight Companions, 40 Companions, 80 Officers and 140 Members per year.[4]

As well as the five grades, there are three types of membership. Ordinary membership is limited to citizens of New Zealand or a Commonwealth realm. "Additional" members, appointed on special occasions, are not counted in the numerical limits.

People who are not citizens of a Commonwealth realm are given "Honorary" membership; if they subsequently adopt citizenship of a Commonwealth realm they are eligible for Additional membership.[5]

Insignia and other distinctions

Knight/Dames Grand Companion and Knight/Dames Companion are entitled to use the style Sir for males and Dame for females.

The order's statutes grant heraldic privileges to members of the first and second level, who are entitled to have the Order's circlet ("a green circle, edged gold, and inscribed with the Motto of the Order in gold") surrounding their shield. Grand Companions are also entitled to heraldic supporters. The Chancellor is entitled to supporters and a representation of the Collar of the Order around his/her shield.[6]

Grand Companions and office holders

Member number Name Postnominals Known for Date of appointment Age
1 New Zealand The Rt. Hon. Sir William Francis Birch GNZM JP 38th Minister of Finance 1999 82
2 United Kingdom New Zealand The Rt. Hon. Dame Sian Seerpoohi Elias GNZM QC 12th Chief Justice of New Zealand 1999 67
3 New Zealand Prof. Sir Lloyd George Geering ONZ GNZM CBE Theological scholar 2000 98
4 New Zealand Sir Patrick Ledger Goodman GNZM CBE Businessman, arts patron & philanthropist 2002 86
5 New Zealand Dame Malvina Lorraine Major ONZ GNZM DBE Opera singer 2007 73
6 New Zealand Sir Ralph Herberley "Ngātata" Love GNZM QSO JP Māori leader 2008 79
7 United Kingdom New Zealand Sir Raymond John "Ray" Avery GNZM Pharmaceutical scientist 2010 69
8 New Zealand Sir Murray Frederick Brennan GNZM Surgeon, cancer researcher & medical academic 2015 76
9 Vacant
10 Vacant
11 Vacant
12 Vacant
13 Vacant
14 Vacant
15 Vacant
16 Vacant
17 Vacant
18 Vacant
19 Vacant
20 Vacant
21 Vacant
22 Vacant
23 Vacant
24 Vacant
25 Vacant
26 Vacant
27 Vacant
Additional members
1 New Zealand The Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM GCMG QSO KStJ Former Governor-General of New Zealand 21 March 1996 85
2 New Zealand The Rt. Hon. Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM QSO KStJ Former Governor-General of New Zealand 23 August 2006 72
3[9] New Zealand The Rt. Hon. Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM QSO KStJ Former Governor-General of New Zealand 31 August 2011 62
4 New Zealand The Rt. Hon. Dame Patsy Reddy GNZM QSO DStJ Governor-General of New Zealand 27 June 2016 62

Two positions, (Secretary & Registrar and Herald) were created in the Statutes of the Order with all appointments published in the New Zealand Gazette.[10]

Principal and Distinguished Companions

From 2000 to 2009, the two highest levels of the Order were Principal Companion (PCNZM) and Distinguished Companion (DCNZM), without the appellation of "Sir" or "Dame".[13][14]

The following contains the names of the small number of members of the grades Principal Companion (PCNZM) and Distinguished Companion (DCNZM) who chose not to convert their appointment to a Knight or Dame Grand Companion, or Knight or Dame Companion, and thus not to accept the respective appellation of "Sir" or "Dame". The majority of those affected chose the aforereferenced appellations.

Member Number Name Postnominals Known for Date of appointment Age
Principal Companions
1 New Zealand The Hon. Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright PCNZM DBE QSO DStJ Former Governor-General of New Zealand 4 April 2001 73
Distinguished Companions
1 New Zealand Vincent Gerard O’Sullivan DCNZM Writer and Actor 2000 79
2 New Zealand Pauline Margaret O'Regan DCNZM CBE Education 2001 94
3 New Zealand Asst. Prof. Witi Tame Ihimaera-Smiler DCNZM QSM Writer 2004 73
4 United Kingdom New Zealand The Rt. Rev. Penelope Ann Bansall "Penny" Jamieson DCNZM Former Bishop of Dunedin 2004 74
5 New Zealand Cassia Joy Cowley DCNZM OBE Writer 2005 80
6 New Zealand Dr. Patricia Frances Grace DCNZM QSO Writer 2007 79
7 New Zealand The Hon. Margaret Anne Wilson DCNZM Former Attorney-General of New Zealand 2008 69
8 United Kingdom New Zealand Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill DCNZM OBE Actor 2009 69

Controversy

A change to non-titular honours was a recommendation contained within the original report of the 1995 honours committee (The New Zealand Royal Honours System: The Report of the Prime Minister’s Honours Advisory Committee) which prompted the creation of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Titular honours were incorporated into the new system before its implementation in 1996 after the National Party caucus and public debate were split as to whether titles should be retained.[3]

There has long been debate in New Zealand regarding the appropriateness of titles. Some feel it is no longer appropriate as New Zealand has not been a colony since 1907, and to these people titles are out of step with present-day New Zealand. Others feel that titles carry both domestic and international recognition, and that awarded on the basis of merit they remain an appropriate recognition of excellence.

In April 2000 the then new Labour Prime Minister, Helen Clark, announced that knighthoods and damehoods had been abolished and the order's statutes amended. From 2000 to 2009, the two highest levels of the Order were Principal Companion (PCNZM) and Distinguished Companion (DCNZM), without the appellation of "Sir" or "Dame"; appointment to all levels of the Order were recognised solely by the use of post-nominal letters.[13][14]

A National Business Review[15] poll in February 2000 revealed that 54% of New Zealanders thought the titles should be scrapped. The Labour Government's April 2000 changes were criticised by opposition parties, with Richard Prebble of the ACT New Zealand party deriding the PCNZM's initials as standing for "a Politically Correct New Zealand that used to be a Monarchy".

The issue of titular honours would appear whenever honours were mentioned. In the lead up to the 2005 general election, Leader of the Opposition Don Brash suggested that should a National-led government be elected, he would reverse Labour's changes and re-introduce knighthoods.[16]

In 2009, Prime Minister John Key restored the honours to their pre-April 2000 state. Principal Companions and Distinguished Companions (85 people in total) were given the option to convert their awards into Knighthoods or Damehoods.[17] The restoration was welcomed by Monarchy New Zealand.[18] The option has been taken up by 72 of those affected, including rugby great Colin Meads.[19] Former Labour MP Margaret Shields was one of those who accepted a Damehood, despite receiving a letter from former Prime Minister Helen Clark "setting out why Labour had abolished the titles and saying she hoped she would not accept one".[20] Clark's senior deputy, Michael Cullen, also accepted a knighthood.

See also

References

  1. "New Zealand Royal Honours". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 21 August 2013.
  2. Prime Minister's Office (2 May 1996). "The New Zealand Order of Merit". New Zealand Executive Government News Release Archive. Retrieved 22 February 2006.
  3. 1 2 "The Review of the New Zealand Royal Honours System". New Zealand Numismatic Journal, Proceedings of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand (75): 17–21. 1997. Archived from the original on 27 October 2009.
  4. Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (SR 1996/205), reg 9
  5. Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (SR 1996/205), regs 6-11
  6. Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (SR 1996/205), reg 50
  7. Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (SR 1996/205), reg 4
  8. Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (SR 1996/205), reg 5
  9. Sir Jerry Mateparae held higher precedence as Chancellor and Principal Knight Grand Companion while Governor-General.
  10. Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit, SR 1996/205, reg 51)
  11. "The Queen's Service Order / The Order of New Zealand / The New Zealand Order of Merit". New Zealand Gazette (44): 1287. 28 April 2014.
  12. "The New Zealand Order of Merit". New Zealand Gazette (130): 3198. 26 September 1996.
  13. 1 2 "Additional Statutes of The New Zealand Order of Merit (SR 2000/84)". NZ Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  14. 1 2 "Titles discontinued". New Zealand Defence Force. 10 April 2000. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  15. National Business Review 24 March 2000
  16. Milne, Jonathan; Spratt, Amanda (5 September 2005). "Brash plans to bring back knighthoods". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 15 June 2006.
  17. Prime Minister's Office (8 March 2009). "Titular Honours to be reinstated". New Zealand Government. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  18. "Press Release – Knighthoods restored". Monarchist League of New Zealand. 15 March 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2009.
  19. "Colin 'Pinetree' Meads to take knighthood". NZPA. 12 May 2009.
  20. Young, Audrey (14 August 2009). "Helen Clark Loses: Ex-Labour MP takes Title". New Zealand Herald.

External links

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