The New Zealand royal honours system, a system of orders, decorations and medals, recognises achievements of, or service by, New Zealanders or others in connection with New Zealand. Until 1975, New Zealand used the British honours system. Since then the country has introduced a number of uniquely New Zealand honours, and as of 2021, only the dynastic British honours continue in active use in New Zealand, with the exception of the Order of the Companions of Honour.
Destiny Church is a New Zealand Christian fundamentalist organisation variously described as a church, a religious movement, or a cult. Based in South Auckland and with a strong Māori conservative character, Destiny Church's direction and ideology is highly personalised around its leader and founder, Brian Tamaki, whose title is "Apostle Bishop", and his wife Hannah Tamaki. The couple founded Destiny Church in 1998, and quick growth led to it peaking in 2003 with approximately 5,000 members. As of the 2018 New Zealand Census, the organisation has a recorded 1,772 followers, under a third of the 6,000 claimed by Tamaki.
Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is 3,250 as of June 2024.
Brian Raymond Tamaki is a New Zealand Christian fundamentalist religious leader, and politician. He is the leader of Destiny Church, a Pentecostal Christian organisation which advocates strict adherence to fundamentalist biblical morality. Tamaki has been involved with various fringe political parties and movements, and since 2022 he has led the Freedoms New Zealand party. A perennial candidate, he has run for office several times but has yet to be elected.
Dame Temuranga Batley-Jackson, known as June Jackson, was a New Zealand community worker and public servant.
The Westland Pioneers' Memorial is a statue in Hokitika, New Zealand, commemorating the pioneer settlers of Westland. Unveiled in 1914, the statue had its right arm broken off in 2009 and was subsequently dubbed Venus de Hokitika. The memorial was relocated in 2016 from its original location on the side of State Highway 6 to the centre of a roundabout in one of Hokitika's main streets.
Takutai Moana Natasha Kemp is a New Zealand politician, chief executive and hiphop dance director. Kemp won the Tāmaki Makaurau electorate for the Māori Party by 42 votes in the official results of the 2023 New Zealand general election.
Patricia Elizabeth Florence Bradbury is a New Zealand academic, who retired as a full professor at Massey University, specialising in sport management, in December 2023. In 2024, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to sport and education.
Shirley Jean Jülich is a New Zealand social work academic, and is an associate professor at Massey University, specialising in restorative justice for sexual abuse. In 2023 Jülich was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to restorative justice and survivors of sexual abuse.
Beryl Te Haumihiata Mason is a New Zealand linguist, translator, lecturer and tutor of te reo Māori. In 2023, Mason was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori language education.
Miriam Edna Saphiranée Gibson is a New Zealand lesbian activist, poet, artist and psychologist. Saphira founded New Zealand's only museum of lesbian culture, The Charlotte Museum. Saphira was awarded a New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, a New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal, and in 2022 was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Mary Puatuki Aue is a Niuean–New Zealand STEM advocate, social media specialist and Pacific and Māori leader. In 1999 Aue launched the Coconut Wireless community newsletter, which later relaunched as a social media platform, and she also founded the South Auckland STEM group to encourage Pacific and Māori children into technology. In 2023 Aue was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to education, technology and Pacific and Māori communities.
Darien Ruth Takle is a New Zealand actor, playwright and teacher. Takle is best known for playing Cyrene, Xena's mother in Xena: Warrior Princess. In 2021, Takle was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the performing arts.
Andrea Jane Blair is a New Zealand geothermal consultant. She was president of the International Geothermal Association for three years, and co-founded the international association Women in Geothermal. In 2024, Blair was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the geothermal industry and women.
Susan Battye is a New Zealand playwright and drama teacher. In 2024 Battye was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to performing arts education.
Leigh Carol Brewer was a New Zealand dancer and choreographer. In 2000 she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to dance.
Tara Lai-Ianne Moala is a New Zealand social and community development worker. In 2023 Moala was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community and environment.
Sylvia Margarite Piera McArthur is a New Zealand painter. In 2012 she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the arts.
Āni Pātene Gazala Wainui is a New Zealand teacher and Māori language advocate. In 2020 Wainui was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori language education.
Brenda Pilott is a New Zealand public servant, and has advocated for greater recognition of the issue of domestic violence, fair pay, and more resources for public services. In 2021 Pilott was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to social and public service sectors.
