New Year Honours: Shipley, Slane share top honours

Former prime minister Jenny Shipley, potter Doreen Blumhardt, Privacy Commissioner Bruce Slane and law expert Peter Trapski have been given top nods in the New Year Honours list.

The four have been appointed Distinguished Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DCNZM) -- the third highest honour in the country.

There was no Member of the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) -- the country's highest honour -- appointed this New Year, and no Principal Companion of the NZ Order of Merit (PCNZM), both senior to the DCNZM.

Mrs Shipley, New Zealand's first woman prime minister, who held the office from 1997 to 1999, is made a DCNZM for her services as an MP between 1987-2002. Her portfolios included minister of state-owned services, state-owned enterprises, transport, health, women's affairs, and social welfare.

Dr Blumhardt, from Wellington, was head of the art department at Wellington College of Education from 1951-1972, and is regarded as one of New Zealand's foremost potters. Her work is found in many New Zealand and overseas galleries. She won the Wattie Book of the Year Award for her work Craft New Zealand, the Art of the Craftsman (1981) and the Governor-General's Art Award in 1991.

Mr Slane, from Auckland, was appointed the country's first Privacy Commissioner in 1992 and was Human Rights Commissioner from 1992-2001. His appointment as a DCNZM is also for services to the law. He is a former New Zealand Law Society president and was deputy secretary-general for the New Zealand and Pacific Islands International Bar Association from 1994-1998.

Mr Trapski, from Tauranga, was chairman of the War Pensions Appeal Board from 1989-2001. Between 1985-1989 he was Chief District Court Judge, and from 1989-1993 a member of the Waitangi Tribunal. He served in the Territorial Army from 1955 to 1962 and is a former Colonel Commandant of the Army Legal Service. He is editor of Trapski's Family Law and is involved in community, church and horse racing organisations.

The 15 new Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) include Wairarapa politician Wyatt Creech, Wellington painter Melvin Day, Wellington geological scientist Richard Suggate and Sister Pauline Leonard, principal of Sacred Heart Girls' College in Hamilton for 14 years. Dunedin city councillor and lawyer Peter Chin, Red Cross Society worker Lynette Jones, from Blenheim, and meat industry executive Graeme Lowe of Havelock North are also made CNZM. The other seven are Taupo local politician John Black, Tauranga philanthropist Robert Clarkson, former Master of the High Court Anne Gambrill of Auckland, Massey University veterinary scientist Roger Morris, Wellington women's advocate Mary Mowbray, head of the Parliamentary Service John O'Sullivan, of Lower Hutt, and Christchurch judge Peter Penlington.

Newly appointed Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) include Rotorua rodeo champion Mervyn Church, musician and songwriter Dave Dobbyn, and Waikato University lecturer in Maori and Pacific development, Sidney Melbourne. Matamata jockey Lance O'Sullivan, Dunedin-based sports journalist Ron Palenski, and Australian-based jazz musician Michael Nock are also made ONZM, along with Warkworth sculptor Terry Stringer and Wellington Refugee Council chairperson Silvia Zonoobi. Tab Baldwin, the American who coached the Tall Blacks men's basketball team to the semifinals of this year's world championship tournament, is appointed an honorary ONZM.

There are 59 new appointments as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, including Wellington actor Donna Akersten, North Shore marine historian Clifford Hawkins, former Silver Fern netball captain Bernice Mene and former All Black Jeff Wilson.

Former Race Relations Conciliator Rajen Prasad and seven other recipients are appointed Companions of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) for public services and seven for community service.

The Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for community service and public services is awarded to 65 people.

The investitures will take place at Government House in April.

*