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This guide is designed to help you nominate (or re-nominate) a person for a New Zealand Royal Honour.
Honours Lists are published at New Year and on the occasion of The Queen’s Birthday. Special Lists are published periodically (e.g. for gallantry and bravery awards).
NOMINATING A PERSON FOR AN HONOUR
Anyone can nominate a person who they think is worthy of a New Zealand Royal Honour. The nominator needs to complete a nomination form and forward it to the Prime Minister.
COMPLETING THE NOMINATION FORM
Please complete the nomination form accurately, following the instructions in each section closely.
It is important that you provide as much information as possible about your nominee and the reasons for which recognition is sought. You should state how your nominee has contributed to the community and explain how they have made a difference to their community or field of work, whether they have demonstrated innovation or entrepreneurship, improved the lives of others, or exemplified selfless voluntary service.
You may list jobs and posts held in organisations, but try to be specific about their contribution to the organisation in this role.
Support letters from different organisations that the nominee is involved in add depth to the nomination. They not only add provide additional information but also validate your nominee’s character and their achievements.
You may use additional sheets, but please ensure you include the nominee’s name on each page. Do not send original documents and examples of the nominee’s work such as DVDs, photographs, or books.
ADDING TO AND CHANGING THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED
You may send additional information to support the nomination at any time. We will ensure that it is considered with the existing papers.
You should also advise the Honours Secretariat if there have been any changes to the personal details of the nominee or any other information supplied on the nomination form. You must notify the Honours Secretariat immediately if your nominee dies. It is not possible for a posthumous award to be made.
GETTING PERMISSION FROM THE NOMINEE
The consent of the person being nominated is not required. The nominee should not be informed that they have been nominated, as it is not fair to raise expectations in case they are not met.
If the nomination is successful the nominee will be formally asked by the Governor-General whether the proposed honour is acceptable to them before their name is recommended to The Queen.
RETAINING THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF NOMINATIONS
All nominations for honours are treated in the strictest confidence. No information regarding the nominee or the details of the nomination is divulged.
DETERMININING THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF HONOUR
The number of honours available is strictly limited for each list. Therefore, not everyone can receive recognition no matter how worthy their accomplishments. It is important to realise that an honour will not automatically follow a submission.
The type and level of the award should not be stated in your submission. The levels are recommended by the Honours Secretariat when reviewing the nominee’s service. The recommendations are put to the Prime Minister and a Cabinet Committee, who make the final decision.
Details on all the New Zealand Royal Honours can be found at www.honours.govt.nz.
SUBMITTING THE NOMINATION
If you wish to nominate someone for a Queen’s Birthday List, your application should reach the Honours Secretariat no later than 1 February and no later than 1 August for a New Years List. These dates are the same each year.
NOMINATING NON-NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS
People who are not New Zealand citizens or citizens of Commonwealth countries of which The Queen is Head of State, are eligible for honorary awards.
SUBMITTING EMPLOYMENT RELATED SERVICE NOMINATIONS
Nominations for members of the State Sector, the New Zealand Police, and the New Zealand Fire Service should be sent to the Chief Executive of the employing organisation who will then forward the nomination for consideration to the Prime Minister or Honours Secretariat with an endorsement letter.
NOMINATING A PERSON FOR A NEW ZEALAND BRAVERY AWARD
Nominations for New Zealand Royal Bravery Awards are made by completing a different nomination form which is available from the Honours Secretariat on request.
RE-NOMINATING UNSUCCESSFUL NOMINATIONS
If, after one year or two honours list, your nominee has not been successful the nomination is unlikely to be considered further.
In order for your nominee to be reconsidered, you are required to re-nominate them. To do this, you will need to write a note to, or email, the Honours Secretariat (honours@dpmc.govt.nz) and request that the nominee be reconsidered for a further list.
All information and nomination forms previously sent are kept on file at the Honours Secretariat, therefore you do not need to re-submit any nomination forms, information, or support letters previously sent, or copies thereof.
We encourage you to update your nominee’s biographical information if they have completed more service worthy of recognition since the time you first nominated them. You should also inform us if their personal information has changed, i.e. address.
ACKNOWLEDGING AND REVIEWING THE PROGRESS OF YOUR NOMINATION
The Honours Secretariat will send you an acknowledgement letter upon receipt of your nomination.
Thereafter, we will not enter into any more correspondence with you about the nomination, such as its merits or progress.
You will need to check the honours list at the time of its announcement, in the national newspapers and on the honours website from 6am, to see if your nominee has been successful.
ENQUIRIES
Further information on Honours can be found at www.honours@govt.nz. If you have any further questions, or require guidance in the preparation of the nomination please contact the Honours Secretariat:
Honours Secretariat
Cabinet Office
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Telephone number: (04) 817 9840
Facsimile number: (04) 473 9903
E-mail: honours@dpmc.govt.nz
Page updated April 2009