Me a Dame? No thanks, I'd rather have a Maori honour, says Wilson

Margaret Wilson was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit yesterday. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

The Hon Margaret Wilson says she would much prefer the title of Kahurangi to Dame any day.

At a ceremony in Auckland yesterday, the former Speaker of the House was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services as an MP and as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

She was among 20 people presented with the country's top awards at Government House.

Ms Wilson, who is eligible for the reinstated title of Dame, said she would not accept it.

"If there was a New Zealand title, I would be really honoured to take it.

"I'm not disrespecting the honours system at all, but it's really an English title. What I'd like to see is a New Zealand title."

She acknowledged that the title Kahurangi - the Maori equivalent of Dame - and Ta for Sir would be much more appropriate titles for honoured Kiwis.

"I think it is important to New Zealand to have our own titles, which recognise us as New Zealanders," she said.

"I can't imagine that someone hasn't got something that signifies New Zealand."

Ms Wilson, also the former Attorney-General, chairwoman of the Parliamentary Service Commission and Minister of Labour, was the founding editor of the New Zealand Journal of Industrial Relations, a law commissioner and director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand.

She would now focus her efforts on education, acting as the foundation dean and a professor of law and public policy at the University of Waikato, she said.

"It's been a day of reflection - yes - and it's an opportunity to think about where we're heading to now," Ms Wilson said.

Also among those to receive awards yesterday were three-time world rowing champion Mahe Drysdale, chef de mission Dave Currie and South Australian Premier Mike Rann for services to New Zealand-Australian relations.

Drysdale, considered the fastest single sculler in history, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

"When you're out on the water, you don't think that what you're doing is going to get you a medal," he said. "It's a huge award, I'm just really happy."

Today will see the final round of investiture ceremonies in Auckland, with those to be honoured including television director and actor Oscar Kightley.

AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING WORK

DISTINGUISHED COMPANION OF THE NZ ORDER OF MERIT (DCNZM)
* Margaret Wilson for services as an MP and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

COMPANION OF THE NZ ORDER OF MERIT (CNZM)
* Dave Currie for services to sports administration.
* Dr Ron Goodey for services to otolaryngology.
* Mike Rann for services to New Zealand-Australia relations.

OFFICER OF THE NZ ORDER OF MERIT (ONZM)
* John Edgar for services to art, in particular structure.
* Lt Col Chris Mullane for services to Vietnam veterans.

MEMBER OF THE NZ ORDER OF MERIT (MNZM)
* Robin Beckett for services to the design industry.
* Colyn Devereux-Kay for services to business.
* Mahe Drysdale for services to rowing.
* Associate Prof Michele Leggott for services to poetry.
* David Peart for services to local body affairs and the community.

QUEEN'S SERVICE MEDAL (QSM)
* Teina Akavi for services to the Cook Islands community.
* Gina and Prof Russell Garcia for services to music.
* Marie Hull-Brown for services to the Mental Health Foundation.
* Brian Joyce for services to Maori and the community.
* Dr Frank Liaw for services to community medicine and the community.
* Gwen Nagel for services to special education.
* Lynne Renwick for services to theatre and youth.
* Homer Stubbs for services to the community.
* Tupou Tamata-Manapori for services to the Pacific Islands community.