From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
History
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]
Orders
and other honours
- Other decorations and medals. These usually do not carry
titles, but nonetheless entitle the holder to place post nominals after his or
her name. The New Zealand Antarctic Medal and the Distinguished
Service Decoration are analogues to the Polar Medal and the Medal of the Order of
the British Empire. (See British and Commonwealth orders and
decorations)
- The Most Venerable Order of St
John of Jerusalem (founded 1888). Although it is an independent
order of chivalry, it is officially sanctioned by virtue of the
fact that the Queen is the Sovereign of the Order. The Governor-General of New
Zealand is the Prior in New Zealand. The members of this
semi-official order can wear the Order's insignia, but do not
receive any titles of Knighthood or use any post-nominal
letters.
See also
References
External
links
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