The New Zealand Royal Honours system is the system of orders, decorations and medals which are awarded to recognise achievements of, or service by, New Zealanders or others in connection with New Zealand. Until 1975, the British honours system was used. Since then a number of uniquely New Zealand honours have been introduced, and now only the dynastic British honours are retained.
Awards are made by the Queen (in her capacity as Queen of New Zealand), on ministerial advice. However, certain awards exist which are in the exclusive gift of the Queen.[1]
The Honours Secretariat of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is responsible for the administration of honours.
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Since the beginning of settlement in the mid nineteenth century, British honours were awarded in New Zealand. In 1848, Governor George Grey received the first honour granted to a New Zealand resident, becoming a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.[2]
For more than a hundred years the British honours system was used for New Zealand. In 1975, after a review of the system, two uniquely New Zealand honours were integrated into it: the Queen's Service Order, and its affiliated Medal. In 1987, the Order of New Zealand was instituted as the supreme New Zealand honour. A further review of the system in 1996 and 1997 resulted in the termination of awards of almost all British honours and the creation of a new five-level New Zealand Order of Merit to replace them.[3]
In March 2009, Prime Minister John Key announced the return of knighthoods to the New Zealand Honours system, with past recipients of the New Zealand Order of Merit to be eligible to receive titles.[4]
| Complete name | Ranks / Letters | Ribbon | Established | Founder | Motto | Awarded to/for | Associated awards | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Most Noble Order of the Garter | KG/LG | 23 April 1348 | King Edward III | Honi soit qui mal y pense ("shame upon him who thinks evil of it") | Relating to England and Wales | None | [5] | |
| The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle | KT/LT | 29 May 1687 | James VII and II | Nemo me impune lacessit ("No one provokes me with impunity") | Relating to Scotland | None | ||
| The Royal Victorian Order | GCVO, KCVO/DCVO, CVO, LVO, MVO |
21 April 1896 | Queen Victoria | Victoria ("Victory") | Services to the Crown | The Royal Victorian Medal, The Royal Victorian Chain | [6] | |
| The Order of Merit | OM | 23 June 1902 | King Edward VII | For merit | Military, science, art, literature, culture | None | ||
| Order of New Zealand | ONZ | 6 February 1987 | Queen Elizabeth II | None | Outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity | None | [7] | |
| New Zealand Order of Merit | GNZM, KNZM/DNZM, CNZM, ONZM, MNZM |
30 May 1996 | Queen Elizabeth II | None | Meritorious service to the Crown and the nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions, or other merits | None | [8] | |
| Queen's Service Order | QSO | 13 March 1975 | Queen Elizabeth II | For service — Mō nga mahi nui | For valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or appointed office | Queen's Service Medal | [9] | |
| New Zealand Antarctic Medal | NZAM | 1 September 2006 | Queen Elizabeth II | None | For outstanding contribution to exploration, scientific research, conservation, environmental protection, or knowledge of the Antarctic region; or in support of New Zealand’s objectives or operations, or both, in the Antarctic region. | None | [10] | |
| New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration | DSD | 14 May 2007 | Queen Elizabeth II | None | Distinguished military service, by regular, territorial and reserve members of the New Zealand Defence Force | None | [11] |
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