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.
This is a timeline of the history of New Zealand's involvement with Antarctica.
The King's Service Order, established by royal warrant of Queen Elizabeth II on 13 March 1975, is used to recognise "valuable voluntary service to the community or meritorious and faithful services to the Crown or similar services within the public sector, whether in elected or appointed office". This order was created after a review of New Zealand's honours system in 1974. The King's Service Order replaced the Imperial Service Order in New Zealand.
The Polar Medal is a medal awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom to individuals who have outstanding achievements in the field of polar research, and particularly for those who have worked over extended periods in harsh climates. It was instituted in 1857 as the Arctic Medal, and renamed the Polar Medal in 1904.
The New Zealand Gallantry Decoration (NZGD) is the third level military decoration of the New Zealand armed forces.
The New Zealand Gallantry Medal (NZGM) is the fourth level military decoration of the New Zealand armed forces.
Prior to 1999 the New Zealand armed forces received honours of the United Kingdom, including military decorations and campaign medals. Since the end of World War II there have been constant moves towards an independent New Zealand honours system. This has resulted in a new system of New Zealand honours, military gallantry and civil bravery awards, and campaign medals.
The New Zealand Bravery Star (NZBS) is the second-level civil decoration of New Zealand.
The New Zealand bravery awards are civil decorations for bravery that were instituted in 1999. In some circumstances, the awards can be awarded to military personnel.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is the central public service department of New Zealand, charged with providing support and advice to the governor-general, the prime minister and members of the Cabinet of New Zealand. The department is also charged with centrally leading New Zealand's "national security planning, which includes civil defence." The department's overall area of responsibility is in helping to provide, at an administrative level, the "constitutional and institutional glue" within New Zealand's parliamentary democracy. The department along with the Public Service Commission, and the Treasury constitute the central agencies or public service departments leading the state sector of New Zealand.
The Australian Antarctic Medal, originally designated the Antarctic Medal until 18 December 1997, is a meritorious service award of the Australian honours and awards system, instituted by Letters Patent on 2 June 1987.
Peter John Barrett is a New Zealand geologist who came to prominence after discovering the first tetrapod fossils in Antarctica in 1967.
Patricia Jean Langhorne is a British-New Zealand Antarctic sea ice researcher. She retired as Professor in the physics department at the University of Otago, New Zealand in 2020. She was previously head of department (2012–2015). She was New Zealand's leading sea ice physicist. For a time she led the observational component of one of New Zealand’s National Science Challenges – the Deep South.
Gillian Shirley Wratt is a New Zealand botanist and science administrator. She was the first woman director of the New Zealand Antarctic Programme (1992–1996) and made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Antarctica.
Timothy George Haskell is a New Zealand scientist.
Arnold John Heine was a New Zealand glaciologist, mountaineer, tramper and ski-field safety expert.
Megan Ruby Balks is a New Zealand Antarctic soil scientist and former lecturer at the University of Waikato.
In New Zealand, the Cabinet Office is an executive office within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet that acts as a secretariat for Cabinet, the Executive Council and Cabinet Committees. It provides constitutional, policy and procedural advice to the Governor-General, Executive and Parliament on a range of administrative matters, including procedures, appointments, and the general administration of Cabinet and its committees. It is situated in the New Zealand Parliament building.
Valerie Ann Deakin is a New Zealand dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. Deakin danced, choreographed and taught in the UK, Turkey and the US before returning to New Zealand. She established a dance school and theatre trust in Taranaki, which celebrated their fiftieth anniversay in 2022. In 1993 Deakin was awarded a New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal. In 2024 she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to dance.
Sylvia Mary Ellen Fausett was a New Zealand community worker. She was awarded a New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal, and in 1999 was appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.
