Order of New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Order of New Zealand |
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Badge of a Member of the Order of New Zealand (neck ribbon and bow)
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| Awarded by the Monarch of New Zealand | |
| Type | Order |
| Founded | 6 February 1987 |
| Eligibility | Subjects of the Crown |
| Awarded for | Outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Founder | Elizabeth II |
| Sovereign | Charles III |
| Grades | Member (ONZ) |
| Statistics | |
| First induction | 6 February 1987 |
| Last induction | 5 June 2023 |
| Total inductees | 46 ordinary members 21 additional members 2 honorary members |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Order of Merit |
| Next (lower) | New Zealand Order of Merit |
 Ribbon of the Order of New Zealand |
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The Order of New Zealand is the highest award in New Zealand. It was created to celebrate people who have done amazing things for the country. This includes great work for the King or Queen of New Zealand and for the people of New Zealand. The award can be given for work in everyday life or in the military.
The Order was started on 6 February 1987. It is similar to other special awards like the Order of Merit.
Contents
What is the Order of New Zealand?
The Order includes the King or Queen of New Zealand, who is the leader. It also has different types of members:
- Ordinary members: There can only be 20 living ordinary members at one time.
- Additional members: These are chosen for special events. For example, new members were added in 1990 to celebrate 150 years since the Treaty of Waitangi. More were added in 2002 for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and in 2023 for the coronation of King Charles III. Additional members have the same importance as ordinary members.
- Honorary members: These are people from other countries where the King or Queen of New Zealand is not their head of state.
When someone becomes a member, they can use the letters "ONZ" after their name.
The King or Queen officially appoints members. They do this based on advice from the Prime Minister of New Zealand. A special team helps manage the Order.
In 2023, famous rugby player Richie McCaw represented the Order at the coronation of King Charles III. He was part of the procession at the start of the ceremony.
The Badge of the Order
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The badge of the Order is a special oval medal. It shows the coat of arms of New Zealand in gold and bright colours.
Men wear the badge on a white and brown ribbon around their neck. Women wear it on a bow on their left shoulder.
Who are the Members?
The King of New Zealand, Charles III, is the leader of the Order.
Current Ordinary Members
Here are some of the people who are currently ordinary members of the Order:
- Dame Kiri Te Kanawa: A world-famous opera singer. She became a member in 1995.
- Jim Bolger: A former Prime Minister of New Zealand. He joined the Order in 1997.
- Helen Clark: Another former Prime Minister of New Zealand. She became a member in 2009.
- Sir Bob Charles: A well-known golfer. He joined in 2010.
- Richie McCaw: A famous rugby union player. He became a member in 2015.
- Joy Cowley: A much-loved writer, especially of children's books. She joined in 2017.
- Dame Anne Salmond: A respected historian. She became a member in 2020.
Current Additional Members
These members were appointed for special occasions:
- Sir Peter Jackson: A famous film director, known for movies like The Lord of the Rings. He became an additional member in 2012.
- Dame Malvina Major: Another celebrated opera singer. She also joined in 2012.
- Dame Silvia Cartwright: A judge and former Governor-General of New Zealand. She joined in 2022.
- Sir Tipene O'Regan: An important Māori leader. He became a member in 2022.
- Queen Camilla: The Queen of New Zealand. She joined the Order in 2023.
Officers of the Order
- Secretary and Registrar: Rachel Hayward
Past Members
Many important New Zealanders have been members of the Order. Here are a few examples of ordinary members who have passed away:
- Sir Edmund Hillary: He was one of the first two people to officially climb Mount Everest. He was one of the first members of the Order in 1987.
- Dame Te Atairangikaahu: She was the Māori Queen. She also joined in 1987.
- Dame Whina Cooper: A very important Māori leader. She became a member in 1991.
- Margaret Mahy: A beloved children's author. She joined the Order in 1993.
- Mike Moore: A former Prime Minister of New Zealand. He became a member in 1999.
- Alan MacDiarmid: A chemist who won a Nobel Prize. He joined in 2001.
- David Lange: Another former Prime Minister of New Zealand. He became a member in 2003.
- Sir Murray Halberg: An Olympic runner. He joined in 2008.
Some notable additional members who have passed away include:
- Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother: The mother of Queen Elizabeth II. She became an additional member in 1990.
- Janet Frame: A famous author. She also joined in 1990.
- Arthur Lydiard: A well-known athletics coach. He became an additional member in 1990.
- The Duke of Edinburgh: Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. He joined in 2012.
