Today actor, director, writer and Kamo High School old girl Rachel House will receive her New Zealand Order of Merit honour from the Governor General, Dame Patsy Reddy.
Ms House was named in the 2107 Queen's Birthday Honours in June, and will be one of many people in the investitureline-up at Government House in Wellington today, during a week of such ceremonies.
She said hearing she was awarded the gong made her feel: "Weird. Shocked then delighted then, frankly, a little confused."
Of Ngati Mutunga, Ngai Tahu and Pakeha descent, the adopted daughter of Whangarei identities Sheila and the late John House graduated from the New Zealand national drama school, Toi Whakaari, in 1992.
Ms House has had wide experience in film, stage, broadcast and tutoring performance arts, and recently worked on rescripting the Disney animated movie Moana into te reo Maori.
She was the voice of the grandmother in the original Moana movie.
She had major roles in iconic New Zealand movies Whale Rider, Eagle Vs Shark, Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople Ms House's award-winning theatre career has included staging theatrical productions in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and touring productions to Canada and Australia.
After studying at the Prague Film School, she directed the New Zealand short film The Winter Boy (2010).
She has been instrumental in bringing Maori and Pacific culture to a wide international audience.
In 2012 she directed a te reo Maori production of Troilus and Cressida at the Globe Theatre in London.
In 2012 Ms House was a recipient of a Laureate Award at the Macquarie Private Wealth New Zealand Arts Awards in Auckland.
She said she has been honoured in recent years to direct a series of road safety, anti-drink driving television ad campaigns aimed at preventing young Maori deaths.
