New Year Honours reflect diversity

By ANGELA GREGORY

A distinguished scientist has joined a select group which tops the New Zealand honours system and representatives of film, sports, business and literature have picked up other high rankings.

The New Year Honours list announced today also reflects New Zealand's increasingly multi-cultural society.

Nobel Prize-winning chemist Professor Alan MacDiarmid has been awarded New Zealand's highest honour, membership of the Order of New Zealand.

Professor MacDiarmid, 74, last year jointly won the Nobel Prize in chemistry for helping discover electricity-conducting plastics.

He has been working in the United States since 1950.

His brother Roderick, a Kerikeri orchardist, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for his contribution to horticulture and the community.

The arts featured heavily in this year's honours.

Director Peter Jackson was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for his services to the film industry.

His partner, Fran Walsh, was made MNZM.

Their partnership was the driving force behind the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Its first instalment, The Fellowship of the Ring, recently opened to rave reviews.

Jackson directed the films, and Walsh co-wrote the screenplay, did some directing and was a producer in the project.

Children's author Lynley Dodd, famous for her Hairy Maclary books, was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DCNZM), as were former Rural Women New Zealand president Margaret Millard and Olympic Games triple gold medallist Peter Snell.

The Right Honourable Edmund (Ted) Thomas, QC, was also made a DCNZM for his services as a Judge of the Court of Appeal.

Justice Thomas enjoyed a distinguished career as a barrister and solicitor, and Queen's Counsel from 1981, before being appointed a High Court judge in 1990.

The Aucklander has written a large number of papers on judicial and legal issues.

The DCNZM replaced knight and dame companions last year.

Businessman and arts supporter Michael Hill, who created a biennial world violin competition that attracts top performers, becomes a CNZM.

Other CNZM recipients include Maori author and educationalist Margaret Orbell and Maori Women's Welfare League president Jacqui Te Kani.

Fourteen people were made Companions of the Queen's Service Order (QSO) for community or public service.

They include former Auckland mayor Christine Fletcher, who was ousted by John Banks in October's election.

Among the 26 Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) are former MP and Auckland City councillor Richard Northey and historian Emeritus Professor Russell Stone.

There will be 55 new Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit, including Aucklander Lim Chhour for his services to the Chinese Cambodian Society and Chhotubhai Sima for services to the Indian community.

More than 70 people were recognised with the Queen's Service Medal for their contributions to public and community services. They include Aucklander Muriel Wehi, a leading authority in kapa haka and waiata.