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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
Criteria	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	Knight/Dame Grand Companion (GNZM) Knight/Dame Companion (KNZM/DNZM) Companion (CNZM) Officer (ONZM) Member (MNZM)
Statistics
Last induction	2018 New Year Honours
Precedence
Next (higher)	Order of New Zealand
Next (lower)	Queen's Service Order
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 by royal warrant 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.

In the order of precedence, the New Zealand Order of Merit ranks immediately after the Order of New Zealand.

Creation

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]

Composition

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

The monarch of New Zealand is the Sovereign of the order and the Governor-General is its Chancellor. Appointments are made at five levels:

• 
  Knight or Dame Grand Companion (GNZM)


• 
  Knight or Dame Companion (KNZM or DNZM)


• 
  Companion (CNZM)


• 
  Officer (ONZM)


• 
  Member (MNZM).

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

As well as the five levels, there are three different 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]

There is also a Secretary and Registrar (the Clerk of the Executive Council) and a Herald (the New Zealand Herald of Arms) of the Order.

Insignia and other distinctions

Grand Companion's breast star

• The Collar, worn only by the Sovereign and Chancellor, comprises "links of the central medallion of the badge" and "S"-shaped Koru, with the Coat of Arms of New Zealand in centre. Hanging from the Coat of Arms is the badge of the Order.


• The Star is an eight-pointed star with each arm bearing a representation of a fern frond, with the Order's badge superimposed in the centre. Grand Companions wear a gold star and Knight Companions wear a silver star.


• The Badge for the three highest classes is a gold and white enamel cross with curved edges bearing at its centre the coat of arms of New Zealand within a green enamel ring bearing the motto For Merit Tohu Hiranga, topped by a royal crown. The badge for Officers and Members is similar, but in silver-gilt and silver respectively. Grand Companions wear the badge on a sash over the right shoulder (though the Governor-General usually wears it as a neck decoration in lieu of the Collar); Knight Companions and Companions wear the badge on a neck ribbon (men) or a bow on the left shoulder (women). Officers and Members wear the badge from a ribbon on the left lapel (men) or a bow on the left shoulder (women).


• The ribbon and sash are plain red ochre.

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

• 
  Sovereign: The Queen^[7]


• 
  Chancellor and Principal Dame Grand Companion: The Governor-General^[8]


• 
  Knights and Dames Grand Companion:

Member number	Name	Postnominals	Known for	Date of appointment	Age
1	The Rt. Hon. Sir William Francis Birch	GNZM JP	38th Minister of Finance	1999	84
2	The Rt. Hon. Dame Sian Seerpoohi Elias	GNZM QC	12th Chief Justice of New Zealand	1999	69
3	Prof. Sir Lloyd George Geering	ONZ GNZM CBE	Theological scholar	2000	100
4	Dame Malvina Lorraine Major	ONZ GNZM DBE	Opera singer	2007	75
5	Sir Raymond John "Ray" Avery	GNZM	Pharmaceutical scientist	2010	71
6	Sir Murray Frederick Brennan	GNZM	Surgeon, cancer researcher & medical academic	2015	78
7	The Rt. Hon. Sir John Phillip Key	GNZM AC	38th Prime Minister of New Zealand	2017	57
8	Vacant
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	The Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys	GNZM GCMG QSO KStJ	Former Governor-General	21 March 1996	87
2	The Rt. Hon. Sir Anand Satyanand	GNZM QSO KStJ	Former Governor-General	23 August 2006	74
3[9]	The Rt. Hon. Lieutenant General Sir Jerry Mateparae	GNZM QSO KStJ	Former Governor-General	31 August 2011	64
4	The Rt. Hon. Dame Patsy Reddy	GNZM QSO DStJ	Governor-General	27 June 2016	64

• Officials:

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

• Secretary and Registrar: Michael L. C. Webster (18 March 2014)^[11]


• Herald: Philip O'Shea CNZM CVO (23 September 1996)^[12]

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	The Hon. Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright	PCNZM DBE QSO	Former Governor-General	4 April 2001	75
Distinguished Companions
1	Vincent Gerard O’Sullivan	DCNZM	Writer and Actor	2000	81
2	Pauline Margaret O'Regan	DCNZM CBE	Education	2001	96
3	Asst. Prof. Witi Tame Ihimaera-Smiler	DCNZM QSM	Writer	2004	75
4	The Rt. Rev. Penelope Ann Bansall "Penny" Jamieson	DCNZM	Former Bishop of Dunedin	2004	76
5	Cassia Joy Cowley	ONZ DCNZM OBE	Writer	2005	82
6	Dr. Patricia Frances Grace	DCNZM QSO	Writer	2007	81
7	The Hon. Margaret Anne Wilson	DCNZM	Former Attorney-General of New Zealand	2008	71
8	Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill	DCNZM OBE	Actor	2009	71

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.^{[citation needed]}

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 (later to become a Knight Grand Companion himself) 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.

Appointments have continued under the Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand, the first time Labour has been in government since 2008. The 2018 New Year Honours included seven knights and dames. The government has not commented on its position regarding knighthoods and damehoods, but the Prime Minister did specifically congratulate two women on becoming Dames Companion.^[21]

See also

• Special Honours 2009


• New Zealand campaign medals


• Orders, decorations, and medals of New Zealand


• Orders and decorations of the Commonwealth realms


• Order of Australia


• Order of Canada

References

External links

• 
  The New Zealand Order of Merit at Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Accessed 8 July 2013.


• 
  NZDF Medals – The New Zealand Order of Merit (Images)


• 
  Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit by Royal Warrant of 30 May 1996 (SR 1996/205). Accessed 22 February 2006.


• 
  ODM – New Zealand Order of Merit (Images)