A physicist working at Victoria University has topped the New Year's Honours list for 2005 in recognition of his services to science for his work in Nuclear physics.
No-one joined the top rank, the Order of New Zealand, but Professor Paul Callaghan received the country's second highest accolade, becoming a Principal Companion to the New Zealand Order of Merit. Callaghan is recognised across the globe and is the only non-European to have received science's Ampere Prize. Callaghan says it is good that science is making the headlines for the right reasons.
Ralph Norris, the former chief executive and managing director of Air New Zealand who left the national carrier to head the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, has been awarded the country's third highest honour.
Norris was one of four to receive the Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Norris was honoured for services to business covering a career of 20 years at the ASB bank and eight at Air New Zealand. Norris was named Executive of the Year twice but says he is shocked to learn of the New Year's honour award.
Others to receive the same award are Professor Judith Binney for services to historical research, David Gasgoigne for services to art and business and Andrew Tipping for services as a judge of the supreme court and court of appeal.
The New Year's Honours list has a long history which has evolved from a British-based "imperial" awards system, which bestowed titles such as Knights and Dames, to a completely New Zealand Royal Honours System which was established in 1996. The awards recognise extraordinary New Zealanders who have served and achieved with the first level honour being the Order of New Zealand (ONZ). The honours are awarded sparingly and are non-titular (ie the recipient does not receive a title).
Former Police Commissioner Rob Robinson, who is now retired, has
received the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit along with
12 others. He says he is very humbled by the recognition and admits
there have been many challenges for police over the last few years.
Robinson says police staff have worked hard through that time and
this honour is more about recognising police overall.
Other awards went to:
Arts
Writer and cartoonist Tom Scott has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Scott is best known for his work as a satirist, and has won many awards for his journalism and cartoons. He says he is proudest of his documentaries on Sir Edmund Hillary and David Lange as well as a play he wrote loosely based on his father.
Singer/songwriters Midge Marsden and Bic Runga have been made Members of the Order of Merit. Whirimako Black has also been honoured for her services to Maori Music for her songs which are sung in Maori and which use traditional Maori instruments. Black says she is dedicated to promoting Te Reo Maori through her music, and says it is important to keep it relevant to today's society
Designer Marilyn Sainty, who recently retired, has been made a Member of the Order for services to the fashion industry.
Science
Professor David Penny, a biologist who created computer programmes to analyse DNA, has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Penny has teaching at Massey University for 39 years and says he has lost none of his enthusiasm and says constantly asking questions is the key to science. He added that New Zealand will always need innovative scientists who are looking to the future.
Community
The former President of the Maori Women's Welfare League has been made a Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit more than 20 years after her first honour from the Queen. June Mariu, who was also the Chairperson of the Waipareira Trust for 10 years, has been honoured for her services to Maori and the community. She has previously been given the Queens Service Medal and says this year's honour is even more of a surprise.
A Christchurch police sergeant who is an expert in disaster victim identification and was sent to Thailand following last year's tsunami, has been awarded the Queens Service Medal for public services. Peter Summerfield was sent to Phuket following last year's disaster. Closer to home, he helped identify the victims of the Christchurch plane crash in 2003 that claimed eight lives. Summerfield says despite the nature of the job, it is rewarding. Summerfield is also the search and rescue co-ordinator for the Canterbury police district.
Farming
Ian Blair, a retired Otago farmer, has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contribution of forty years for his services to ploughing. He has been a member of the World Ploughing Organisation since 1980 and says he is proud of the recognition he has been given.
Sport
The New Year's Honours list includes 10 sportspeople, with the US Golf Open champion Michael Campbell at the head of the line. Campbell has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Other sportspeople on the list include the Kiwis rugby league halfback Stacey Jones, who becomes an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Cricketer, Emily Drumm, becomes a member of the Order of Merit, as well as former All Blacks Andrew Merhtens, Mathew Cooper and Tane Norton and the former New Zealand Maori rugby coach Matt Te Pou. Other new members of the order are Grant Beck for services to yachting and boardsailing, Bruce Cameron for services to sport and Jennifer Hair for services to hockey.
The investiture ceremony for the honours recipients will be held at Auckland's Government House in March 2006.
For more information about the history of the Honours List see http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours
