NZ Royal Honours Gallery

Badge of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) The badge of the Order of New Zealand is worn suspended from a neck ribbon for men (as pictured) or attached to a ribbon tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder, for women. The badge is an oval medallion in gold and coloured enamels. In the centre is the design of the shield of the New Zealand Coat of Arms, within a kowhaiwhai rafter pattern. The ribbon is red ochre (kokowai) with a narrow white stripe towards either edge. The badge must be returned to the Crown on the death of the holder or on the holder ceasing to be a member of the Order. The badge is then passed to another appointee to the Order. Often there is some sort of link between the former and current holders of the badge. The badge of the Sovereign of the Order (The Queen of New Zealand) is surmounted by a Royal Crown, and the badge of the Secretary and Registrar of the Order (the Clerk of the Executive Council) is surmounted by crossed quills. A lapel badge was instituted in 1990. The insignia of the Order is currently made by Spink and Son Ltd, of London, United Kingdom.	Breast star of a Knight or Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit The breast star of a Knight or Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (GNZM) is worn on the left hand side. The breast star has eight points, in gold. Each arm bears in relief a representation of a fern frond. Superimposed in the centre is a small representation of the badge of the New Zealand Order of Merit. A GNZM receives a badge as well as the breast star. The GNZM badge is in cross form, with white enamel set in silver-gilt (gold). In the centre is a medallion of the New Zealand Coat of Arms in coloured enamel, within a circle of green enamel bearing the motto of the Order, and surmounted by a Royal Crown. Since the Royal Warrant was revised in 2009, the badge may be worn in three ways: suspended from a wide ribbon or sash over the right hand shoulder, passing to the left-hand side of the waist; worn on a neck ribbon; or on a ribbon tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder. The ribbon is red ochre (kokowai). The motto of the Order is FOR MERIT, in English, and TOHU HIRANGA, in Maori. The literal translation of the Maori is “to achieve excellence”. All the insignia of the New Zealand Order of Merit is currently made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, of Birmingham, United Kingdom.	Badge of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (woman's) The badge of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit is the same as that for the two top levels of the New Zealand Order of Merit (Knight or Dame Grand Companion, and Knight or Dame Companion), but no breast star is awarded. The badge is worn either from a neck ribbon or, for women, a ribbon bow on the left shoulder (as pictured). The badge is in cross form, with white enamel set in silver-gilt (gold). In the centre is a medallion of the New Zealand Coat of Arms in coloured enamel, within a circle of green enamel bearing the motto of the Order, and surmounted by a Royal Crown. The motto of the Order is FOR MERIT, in English, and TOHU HIRANGA, in Maori. The literal translation of the Maori is “to achieve excellence”. The ribbon is red ochre (kokowai). All the insignia of the New Zealand Order of Merit is currently made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, of Birmingham, United Kingdom.	Badge of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The badge of a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit is a smaller representation of the CNZM badge, in silver and green enamel. The badge is in cross form. In the centre is a medallion of the New Zealand Coat of Arms, within a circle of green enamel bearing the motto of the Order, and surmounted by a Royal Crown It is worn from a ribbon on the left lapel of the coat (as pictured) or from a ribbon tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder. The ribbon is red ochre (kokowai). The motto of the Order is FOR MERIT, in English, and TOHU HIRANGA, in Maori. The literal translation of the Maori is “to achieve excellence”. All the insignia of the New Zealand Order of Merit is currently made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Collar and Badge of the New Zealand Order of Merit The collar and badge of the New Zealand Order of Merit is only worn by two people: the Sovereign of the Order (The Queen of New Zealand) and the Chancellor of the Order (the Governor-General of New Zealand). The collar (chain) of the Order is composed of links of the central medallion of the badge and gold koru (in the form of the letter S) with, in the centre (or front), a representation of the New Zealand Coat of Arms from which the badge of the Order hangs. The collar provides a blend of both English and Maori cultures and alludes to the ancient origins of both, in particular the concept of chivalry. The earliest known English collars were composed of the letter “S” (for Sovereign). The koru design is found in many forms in Maori art and is a stylised representation of a fern frond. It may symbolise new birth, growth, vitality, strength and achievement. The collar of The Sovereign of the Order has “THE SOVEREIGN” engraved on the reverse of the New Zealand Coat of Arms in the centre of the chain. All the insignia of the New Zealand Order of Merit is currently made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, of Birmingham, United Kingdom.	Badge of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (obverse, woman's) The badge of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) is based on a stylised representation of a manuka flower. The badge may be worn on a woman’s bow, as pictured, or a short ribbon from the left lapel. The obverse of the badge (pictured) consists of five large and small stylised petals in frosted sterling silver, 49mm in diameter, superimposed in the centre of which is a silver-gilt medallion bearing the crowned effigy of The Queen designed by Ian Rank-Broadley within a circle of red enamel surmounted by a Royal crown (St Edward’s Crown) also in silver-gilt. The circle of red enamel bears the inscriptions “FOR SERVICE” and “MO NGA MAHI NUI”. The full name of the appointee is engraved on the reverse. The QSO ribbon has central alternating stripes of red ochre (kokowhai), white and black in a descending step pattern from left to right with narrow red ochre edges. The design is based on the Maori poutama (stepped) pattern used in tukutuku wall panels. It is usually interpreted as the “stairway to heaven”, but in this case alludes to “steps of service”. A lapel badge for everyday wear was introduced in 1999. Since 2007, the badge has been made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, of Birmingham, United Kingdom. See also the Design of the New Zealand Orders Insignia - the Maori Dimension and the Designer.	Badge of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (obverse, man's) The badge of a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) is based on a stylised representation of a manuka flower. The badge may be worn on a short ribbon from the left lapel, as pictured, or on a woman's bow. The obverse of the badge (pictured) consists of five large and small stylised petals in frosted sterling silver, 49mm in diameter, superimposed in the centre of which is a silver-gilt medallion bearing the crowned effigy of The Queen designed by Ian Rank-Broadley within a circle of red enamel surmounted by a Royal crown (St Edward’s Crown) also in silver-gilt. The circle of red enamel bears the inscriptions “FOR SERVICE” and “MO NGA MAHI NUI”. The full name of the appointee is engraved on the reverse. The QSO ribbon has central alternating stripes of red ochre (kokowhai), white and black in a descending step pattern from left to right with narrow red ochre edges. The design is based on the Maori poutama (stepped) pattern used in tukutuku wall panels. It is usually interpreted as the “stairway to heaven”, but in this case alludes to “steps of service”. A lapel badge for everyday wear was introduced in 1999. Since 2007, the badge has been made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, ofBirmingham,United Kingdom. See also the Design of the New Zealand Orders Insignia - the Maori Dimension and the Designer.	The Queen's Service Medal (obverse, woman's) The Queen's Service Medal (QSM) is awarded in association with the Queen’s Service Order, established in 1975. The QSM is worn either from a short ribbon on the left lapel, or for a woman, in a ribbon bow on the left shoulder (as pictured). The medal is of sterling silver, 36mm in diameter. On the obverse (pictured) is the effigy of The Queen designed by Ian Rank-Broadley, surrounded by the Royal styles and titles “ELIZABETH II QUEEN OF NEW ZEALAND”. On the reverse appears the New Zealand Coat of Arms surrounded by the inscription “THE QUEEN’S SERVICE MEDAL” and “for service – MO NGA MAHI NUI”. The QSM ribbon is identical to the QSO ribbon. The QSO ribbon has central alternating stripes of red ochre (kokowhai), white and black in a descending step pattern from left to right with narrow red ochre edges. The design is based on the Maori poutama (stepped) pattern used in tukutuku wall panels. It is usually interpreted as the “stairway to heaven”, but in this case alludes to “steps of service”. A lapel badge for everyday wear was introduced in 1999. Since 2007, the medal has been made by Thomas Fattorini Limited, of Birmingham, United Kingdom. See also the Design of the New Zealand Orders Insignia - the Maori Dimension and the Designer.

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