Queen's Birthday Honours 2011: Blessings come from life of giving

Dame Rosie Horton says today's honour is very humbling. Photo / Martin Sykes

Not being able to bake cakes set Rosie Horton on a path of helping others.

Mrs Horton, of Auckland, has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in today's Queen's Birthday Honours and becomes Dame Rosie.

She has been honoured for her services to philanthropy.

Dame Rosie is chairwoman of the Friends of Starship and has been the vice-chairwoman of the Starship Foundation for 20 years.

She has also chaired and worked with dozens of children's charities, causes and groups helping the sick, disabled, animals, women's refuge, the performing arts and the environment.

Dame Rosie told the Herald she was humbled by the appointment and talked about the early days when she first got involved in what would be a lifetime of giving back.

"I had a very philanthropic mother. She baked cakes for Plunket and things. We grew up in a family who gave - it was second nature. And because I was so awfully bad at baking cakes and sewing, I always ended up in committees," she said.

Dame Rosie is married to Auckland millionaire and former Herald publisher and owner Michael Horton.

She will accept the title of Dame as a tribute to the thousands of unsung heroes in the not-for-profit sector.

"I'm overwhelmed. I'm actually speechless, I can't get used to it.

"It's very humbling and I didn't expect anything for it. I do it because I love it," she said.

Dame Rosie said the Christchurch quake had had a huge impact on charity work in New Zealand.

"Times at the moment are very tough and a lot of the money in Auckland is going down to Christchurch, so charities are really hurting as well.

"Budgets are not being met and services are not able to be provided as readily. It's quite a worry to me to see how things are going now.

"Over the course of 40 years, I've been through quite a lot of downturns with economies with fundraising and you cut your cloth accordingly or collaborate with other charities, so I'm doing a huge amount of that," she said.

Dame Rosie said she had enjoyed her lifetime of charity work.

"I've adored working with such talented people and I'm in awe of what they're able to do. I've learnt such a lot from them and we've all been so productive working together for an end that's been hugely satisfying," she said.

In August last year, the Auckland City Council convened an extraordinary meeting to present Dame Rosie with an Auckland City Distinguished Citizen award.

In previous years she has also been honoured for her services to philanthropy, receiving a Catherine Sheridan Worldwide Variety Award in 2008, awarded a Queen's Service Medal in 1993 for services to the community and made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order in 2004 for her services to charities and the community.

Dame Rosie said she hoped young people would see such work as inspiring and want also to give back to the community.

"I do hope that it does rub off and carries on - that feeling of wanting to give. It's so lovely being part of a team, and very rewarding. I tell you, giving back has led to a greatly blessed life."

- additional reporting by NZPA