New Zealand Order of Merit

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The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order of chivalry established on 30 May 1996 by Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand. The Order includes five classes:

• Principal Companion (PCNZM) (formerly Knight or Dame Grand Companion, GNZM)
• Distinguished Companion (DCNZM) (formerly Knight or Dame Companion, K/DNZM)
• Companion (CNZM)
• Officer (ONZM)
• Member (MNZM)

It was established "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."^[1]

The Order replaces the Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael and St George, Order of the British Empire, Order of the Companions of Honour as well as the distinction of Knight Bachelor as a result of the reorganisation of the New Zealand Honours System in 1996.^[2]

The Order's motto is For Merit/Tohu Hiranga.^[1]

[edit] Controversy

Until 2001 the two highest ranks entailed admission to knighthood, when the Order's statutes were revised during the term of Labour prime minister Helen Clark.^[3][4] This was criticised by opposition parties, with Richard Prebble of the ACT New Zealand party deriding the PCNZM's initials as standing for 'a Politically Correct New Zealand that used to be a Monarchy'.

In the lead up to the 2005 general election, Leader of the Opposition Don Brash suggested that should a National-led government by elected, he would reverse Labour's changes to the Order and re-introduce knighthoods and damehoods to the order.^[5]

[edit] Membership quotas

The Order is limited to 30 Principal Companions. Ordinary appointments to the other grades are subject to an annual limit; no more than 15 new Distinguished Companions, 40 new Companions, 80 new Officers and 140 new Members can be appointed per year.^[6] Ordinary membership is open to citizens of Commonwealth Realms. On special occasions "Additional" members may be admitted outside of these limits. Foreigners are given honorary appointments and are also not counted in the appointment limits. If a foreigner subsequently becomes a citizen of a Commonwealth Realm s/he can be reclassified as an Additional member.

Reference: Sections 6–11 of the Statutes of the Order

[edit] Insignia

Queen Elizabeth II wearing the sash and the star of the New Zealand Order of Merit, as well as the badges on her shoulder of the Order of New Zealand and the Queen's Service Order

• The Collar is a gold chain of korus (in an "S" shape) and the "central medallion of the badge", with the Coat of Arms of New Zealand hanging at the centre. Hanging from the Coat of Arms hangs the badge of the Order. The collar is worn only by the Sovereign and the Chancellor of the Order.
• The Star is an eight-pointed star, gold for Principal Companions and silver for Distinguished Companions, with the appearance of fern leaves, bearing at the centre the badge of the Order. It is worn on the left chest.
• The Badge for the three highest classes is a gold and white enamel cross with curved edges. The central disc has the Coat of Arms of New Zealand, surrounded by a ring in green enamel bearing the Motto of the Order, and topped by a royal crown. The badge for Officers and Members are similar, but in silver-gilt and silver respectively. Principal Companions wear the badge on a sash worn over the right shoulder; Distinguished Companions and Companions wear a necklet (men) or a bow on the left shoulder (women). For Officers and Members it is worn from a ribbon on the left chest (men) or a bow on the left shoulder (women).
• The ribbon and sash is plain red ochre.

[edit] Precedence and privileges

Section 50 of the Order's statutes outline the heraldic privileges associated with membership in the Order.^[6]

Principal Companions (and Knights and Dames Grand Companion) are granted the right to heraldic supporters. They, and Distinguished Companions (ordinary Knights and Dames) are also granted the right to have the Order's circlet (a green, gold-edged circle with the Order's motto) surrounding the shield on their coat of arms. The Chancellor is entitled to have a representation of the Collar of the Order around his/her shield, in addition to the supporters.

[edit] Important members and officials of the Order

• Sovereign: HM The Queen
• Knights and Dames Grand Companion and Principal Companions:
  • Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM GCMG QSO (1996)
  • Rt Hon. Sir William Birch GNZM (1999)
  • Rt Hon. Dame Sian Elias GNZM (1999)
  • Rt Rev. Te Whakahuihui Vercoe PCNZM MBE (5 June 2000)
  • Emeritus Professor Lloyd Geering PCNZM CBE (30 December 2000)
  • Hon. Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM DBE QSO (20 March 2001)
  • Sir Patrick Goodman PCNZM CBE (3 June 2002)
  • Rt Hon. Sir Ivor Richarson PCNZM (3 June 2002)
  • Prof. Paul Callaghan PCNZM (31 January 2005)

• Officials:
  • Chancellor: HE Hon. Anand Satyanand PCNZM (Governor-General of New Zealand)
  • Herald: Phillip O'Shea CNZM LVO (New Zealand Herald Extraordinary)
  • Secretary and Registrar: Diane Morcom (Clerk of the Executive Council of New Zealand)

Reference: Sovereign, Chancellor, Secretary and Registrar, and Herald: The New Zealand Order of Merit;^[1] Knights and Dames Grand Companion and Principal Companions: Principal and Distinguished Companions of The New Zealand Order of Merit and Knights and Dames.^[7]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} The New Zealand Order of Merit (English). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved on 2006-02-22.
2. ^ Prime Minister's Office. "The New Zealand Order of Merit", New Zealand Executive Government News Release Archive, 1996-05-02. Retrieved on 2006-02-22.
3. ^ Prime Minister's Office. "Titles discontinued", New Zealand Defence Force, 2000-04-10. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
4. ^ Additional Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (NZ Regulation SR 2000/84) (English) (TXT). Knowledge Basket. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
5. ^ Milne, Jonathan, Spratt, Amanda. "Brash plans to bring back knighthoods", New Zealand Herald, 2005-09-05. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.
6. ^ ^{a b} Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit (NZ Regulation SR 1996/205) (English) (TXT). Knowledge Basket. Retrieved on 2006-02-22.
7. ^ Principal and Distinguished Companions of The New Zealand Order of Merit and Knights and Dames (English). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved on 2006-06-15.

[edit] External links

• The New Zealand Order of Merit at Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Accessed 22 February 2006. Has images of the various insignia.
• The Governor-General (second from left) is wearing the sash of the Order.
• Statutes of the New Zealand Order of Merit by Royal Warrant of 30 May 1996 (SR 1996/205). Accessed 22 February 2006.