His career involved piloting Kittyhawk and Corsair fighter aircraft over the Pacific in World War II and helping to kick-start the top-dressing industry by flying Tiger Moth biplanes off makeshift strips perched over steep terrain.
The award honours his services to both military and agricultural aviation and is extra special to him as it is in the name of round-the-world solo Kiwi aviator Jean Batten, who made a big impression on him as a youth.
He learned to fly in the air force and became an instructor before three tours of duty flying fighter escorts for United States bombers over the Pacific.
He ultimately commanded 20 Squadron.
Although he remains modest about his part in the war effort, family friend Martin Gummer says he received two citations for meritorious service as an exceptional pilot.
He turned down a permanent air force job after the war but, as chief instructor with Waikato Aero Club, trained 100 more pilots before founding Robinson Air Services.
In 1953, Mr Robertson imported the first purpose-built Fletcher FU24 top-dressing aircraft from the US before building up a fleet of 16.
He later helped to establish Air Parts (NZ). This evolved into Pacific Aerospace, the country's largest contemporary plane-maker.
