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Responsibilities include regulation of charities, distribution of community grants funding, and development and support of community-led initiatives.

Responsibilities include setting the strategic direction and priorities for Defence, Defence Force deployments, recommending acquisition of significant military capabilities, and maintaining international defence relationships.

Responsibilities include advocating on disability issues, overall strategy for the disability sector (including implementing and monitoring the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), and promoting and maintaining New…

Cliff Whiting, born 1936, is one of New Zealand ’s influential contemporary Maori artists. He is highly esteemed in the field of Maori carving, having led carving and other traditional Maori art into the 20th century and forged new cultural directions for…

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, born 1944, is one of the world’s leading opera soprano singers and celebrated contemporary figures and nearly 30 years after she made her debut, she has continued to enthral and entertain audiences around the world. Whilst she has had…

Ms Clark was the longest serving leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and became Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008. She was the first female Prime Minister to win office at an election and the fifth longest…

Mr McKinnon was a Member of Parliament from 1978 to 2000. In the course of his long parliamentary career, he was the longest serving Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 1990 to 1999 and held the portfolios of Disarmament and Arms Control, Veteran’s…

Professor Lloyd Geering, born 1918, is one New Zealand’s most eminent theologians. He was ordained as a Presbyterian Minister of the Kurow Presbyterian Parish in 1943 and served in the Opoho and St James Parishes until 1956. He was the Honorary Associate…

Since becoming a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999, Sir Bob Charles has continued to play international golf, support and mentor young players, and donate one percent of his income to New Zealand golf through the Sir Bob Charles…

Sir Ron Carter has contributed to New Zealand in the areas of regional and national infrastructure planning, governance, business and education. Sir Ron was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 1998 for services to engineering…

Emeritus Professor Albert Wendt is a novelist, poet, short story writer, playwright and painter. Since the 1970s he has been an influential figure in the development of New Zealand and Pacific literature and is regarded internationally as one of the world…

Mr Richard McCaw has been a member of the All Blacks since 2001 and Captain since 2006, and is regarded as New Zealand’s finest rugby player. Mr McCaw captained the All Blacks to victory in the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups. He played in the 2003 World…

Professor Sir Peter Gluckman is one of New Zealand's internationally recognised biomedical and medical scientists. Sir Peter's research focuses have ranged from the hormonal control of growth before and after birth, intrauterine growth restriction and…

Sir Paul Reeves, born 1932, made an outstanding contribution to the Anglican Church and the community.  He was Primate and Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia from 1980 to 1985 and was Bishop of Waiapu in 1971.  He was…

Sir Roy McKenzie, born 1922, is one of New Zealand’s leading dedicated philanthropists who has contributed to the community for over 50 years. He has spent half of his life contributing funds to areas of need in New Zealand society and being involved with…

Sir James Fletcher, born 1914, has made an admirable contribution to the business industry and the community in New Zealand. He became the Managing Director of Fletcher Construction and Fletcher Holdings Ltd in 1942 and remained in that position until…

Dame Ann Ballin has made an outstanding contribution to the welfare of New Zealanders. She was chairperson of the Victims’ Task Force from 1988 to 1993 and pioneered changes in the criminal justice system to ensure greater justice for victims of crime.…

Sir Owen Woodhouse had a distinguished legal career as a lawyer, jurist and chair of government commissions. He was a law partner from 1946 to 1961 prior to his appointment to the New Zealand Supreme Court. Sir Owen was appointed a Judge of the New…

Mr Ralph Hotere is a painter, sculptor and collaborative artist and is regarded as one of New Zealand's most important contemporary artists. His works are a reaction to local and global social and environmental issues and are dominated by black, both in…

Lady Blundell, born 1922, is the widow of Sir Denis Blundell (the Governor-General of New Zealand from 1972 to 1977). Over the years, she has made a contribution to New Zealand society through a wide range of community and welfare work. She has been…

Margaret Mahy, born 1936, is one of New Zealand’s greatest authors of children’s literature and is regarded as one of the best authors of English books for children in the world. As well as writing many prolific, popular, and award winning books, she has…

Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan, born 1932, has been active in a wide-range of educational, welfare, cultural, and community programmes for Maori people for over 30 years. She has worked towards the harmonious relationship between the Maori and European New…

Doreen Blumhardt, born 1914, is one of New Zealand’s foremost potters and has worked as a ceramicist and arts educator for 70 years. She is considered to be a pioneer of art education and was head of the Art Department of Wellington College of Education…

Dr Ivan Lichter, born 1918, is a retired thoracic surgeon who is regarded as one of the founding fathers of palliative care and the modern hospice movement in New Zealand. He has devoted his life to this branch of medicine, improving the standards of care…

Sir Edmund Hillary, born 1919, is a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer and is one of New Zealand’s most famous living icons. He is most notable for conquering the summit of Mount Everest; however, he has also made significant contributions…

Professor MacDiarmid has made an outstanding contribution to chemistry and the New Zealand science community. He was born and educated in New Zealand but has lived and worked in the United States of America since 1950. In 2000 he was one of three joint…

Sir Hugh Kawharu has an outstanding record of service as an academic and to the Maori people. In 1970 he was the foundation Professor of Social Anthropology and Maori Studies at Massey University. Between 1985 and 1993 he was Professor of Maori Studies…

Born 1931. Arikinui (Head) of the Maori Kingship to which she was elected in succession to her father, King Koroki, the 5th Maori King, in 1966. She is the highest ranking person in the Tainui tribes who live in the Waikato. She is Patron of the Maori…

Mr Lange, during the past twenty-five years, has made a major contribution to public affairs in New Zealand. He was the Member of Parliament for Mangere from 1977 to 1996 and served as Deputy and later Leader of the Opposition. In 1984, at the age of 41,…

Born 1923. For many years active in trade union movement. First women vice-president of the Federation of Labour (1981-87). Founder New Zealand Child Care Association. National chairperson of the New Zealand International Year of Peace Committee, 1986,…

Born 1917. He is regarded as one of the world's leading athletic coaches. He helped start jogging in many countries and the movement is now world-wide. Citation prepared 1990