Four dames, three knights in 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours

Sunday, 2 June 2019

We have four dames and three knights in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours.

The first New Zealand woman to win an Olympic gold medal becomes a dame at long last, but sadly the honour has only come after the death of recipient Yvette Corlett.

The recognition is inexplicably long overdue, and marks the contribution Corlett - who competed as Yvette Williams - made to athletics in New Zealand.

She is one of four new Dame Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM), alongside three new Knight Companions (KNZM) in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

DNZMs and KNZMs rank third in the hierarchy of the New Zealand Royal Honours system. They recognise pre-eminent contributions at national or international level.

* Gender imbalance sees outstanding Kiwi sportswomen shunned for Damehoods

Yvette Corlett with her 1952 Helsinki Games gold medal, in a picture taken in 2002.

* Five-time champion Scott Dixon still striving to be better

* Hauraki pirates smashed broadcast stranglehold thanks to Wellington reporter**

Sir Graham Lowe, who is honoured for his services to youth and education.

The country's most senior honour is the Order of New Zealand. It is limited to 20 living persons at any time - along with additional and honorary members.

Second in rank are Knight or Dame Grand Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit (GNZM).

The other three dames in the 2019 Queen's Birthday honours are Dr Sue Bagshaw, who has worked in the youth health sector for 30 years; Areta Koopu, recognised for her services to Māori and the community; and Academy Award-winning screenwriter, film producer and musician Fran Walsh.

The three new sirs are Paul Adams, for services to philanthropy and the community, playwright Roger Hall and rugby league super coach Graham Lowe.

Mike King is recognised for services to mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

Altogether 183 people are on the honours list, with other well-known recipients including racing car driver Scott Dixon, former Silver Ferns netball player and coach Yvonne Willering, Radio Hauraki co-founder David Gapes, entertainer and mental health campaigner Mike King, writer and broadcaster Gordon McLauchlan, former professional boxer David Tua, child and adolescent psychiatrist and former broadcaster Dr Hinemoa Elder, and actor Robyn Malcolm.

Corlett won gold in the long jump at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, setting an Olympic record. In Gisborne in 1954 she broke the world record with a jump of 6.29 metres.

She also won four golds and a silver at what became the Commonwealth Games. Then later, as a mother of four, she continued to inspire and coach athletes. Corlett was previously made an MBE and CNZM, and was nominated for a damehood at least twice in the past.

She died of 'old age' in mid-April, at the age of 89. Notes accompanying the honours list said Corlett had indicated her acceptance of the honour before her death. After the appointment was approved by the Queen, it was backdated to April 12 - the day before Corlett died.

Dixon is made Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM), as is Willering. Among others also being made a CNZM are Dr Judith Aitken, who was a member of Wellington's regional council and the Capital & Coast District Health Board for 15 years, Cawthron Institute chief executive Professor Charlie Eason, Child Poverty Action Group Aotearoa co-founder Associate Professor Susan St John, and Environmental Defence Society executive director Gary Taylor.

Gapes, King, McLauchlan and Tua are all made Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM). Others made an ONZM include long serving Māori Council member Maanu Paul, choreographer Dorothea Ashbridge, Professor Charles McGhee - head of the ophthalmology department at the University of Auckland, and natural history writer and filmmaker Rod Morris.

Elder and Malcolm are made Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM). Others also made MNZMs include Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini, author and Auckland Writers Festival founder Stephanie Johnson, former MP Dr Jackie Blue, and former New Zealand women's softball player and coach Naomi Shaw.

Altogether 88 recipients are recognised for their contributions to community, voluntary and local services, 27 for arts and media, 23 for health, 19 for sport and recreation, 11 for education, 11 for services to the state, two for science and technology, and two for business and the economy.

The full list of recipients can be found here.