Northland has a new knight, with politician diplomat Lockwood Smith given the award in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his services as an MP and as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
And, unlike Rugby Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens and Queenstown businessman John Davies, who will also receive knighthoods, Sir Lockwood has been rubbing shoulders with the monarch who lines her subjects up for the ceremonial dubbing and presentation of insignia showing they are Knights - or Dames, the female equivalent - Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
He has met the Queen three times since moving to London and beginning his four-year term as New Zealand High Commissioner to the United Kingdom on March 25.
Sir Lockwood said it was really humbling to be ranked among those who had received the honour before him.
He is the most distinguished politician to emerge from the small Kaipara Harbour settlement of Matakohe since Gordon Coates, who was Prime Minister from 1925-28.