Queen's Birthday Honours 2012: Deane leads list of business honours

Roderick Deane. Photo / Richard Robinson

New Zealanders who have made outstanding contributions to business are among those recognised in today's Queen's Birthday Honours.

Dr Roderick Deane is made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) for his contribution to business, policymaking and for supporting the arts and disability sector for more than 30 years.

Once described by the Herald as "the godfather of NZ commerce", Sir Roderick played a large part in shaping New Zealand's economy, first as chief economist and then as deputy-governor of the Reserve Bank.

Anne and David Norman are made Companions of the order (CNZM) for their services to business. The pair preside over James Pascoe Ltd, the retail giant with more than 690 stores and 10,000 staff in New Zealand and Australia.

They have forged a reputation for revitalising flagging businesses, purchasing Farmers in 2003 and raising the company out of a financial slump.

They also bought 57 Whitcoulls stores and five Borders stores in 2011 after their Australian owners went into voluntary administration, effectively saving over 900 jobs.

John Shewan, chief executive of PricewaterhouseCoopers since 1978, is also made a CNZM.

As well as his PWC role, he chairs the advisory board of Victoria University's faculty of commerce and administration, is a former chairman of the Tax Education Office, and former chairman of the National Tax Committee of the New Zealand Institutes of Chartered Accountants.

John Spencer, the chief executive of KiwiRail and chairman of Tainui Group Holdings, is also made a CNZM. He worked to establish Tainui as one of the most commercially successful iwi groups in New Zealand.

Former NZX chief executive Mark Weldon is made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) for services to business and the community. Weldon spent 10 prosperous years leading NZX from 2002-12, has been involved with the Capital Markets Development Taskforce, Tax Working Group, Climate Change Leadership Forum and chaired the prime minister's Job Summit.

A top swimmer, he also served on the boards of the New Zealand Olympic Committee and High Performance Sport NZ.