2021 New Year Honours for Dave Dobbyn, Rob Fyfe and Dame Anne Salmond

Tuesday, 29 December 2020

One-hundred-and-fifty-four people from a variety of sectors including education, sport, health, and science have been honoured.

Musician Dave Dobbyn, former Air New Zealand chief executive Rob Fyfe, public health expert Professor Michael Baker, and Covid-19 modeller Professor Shaun Hendy are among those named on the New Year Honours list.

Two people received the highest honour, the Order of New Zealand – Professor Emeritus Sir Mason Durie for his transformational approach to Māori health, and Distinguished Professor Dame Anne Salmond for her work on cross-cultural exchanges and environmental matters.

Dave Dobbyn, left, Rob Fyfe, bottom right, and Dame Anne Salmond, top right, have been recognised on the New Year Honours list.

Former Consumer New Zealand chief executive Suzanne Chetwin, Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge, former cricketer Debbie Hockley have also received praise for their work.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern congratulated the list of recipients and praised their work during what has been a difficult year.

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Dame Anne Salmond at the 2017 Marlborough Book Festival.

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Sir Mason Durie became a Member of the Order of New Zealand.

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* New Year Honours: Dame Anne Salmond lands New Zealand's highest royal honour

Chief science adviser to the prime minister, professor Juliet Gerrard.

Former CEO of Air New Zealand Rob Fyfe has most recently been working as a business advisor to the Government’s Covid recovery plan.

“The past year has been one that few of us could have imagined. In spite of all the things that have tested us, the contributions and achievements of the people honoured today remind us of the amazing Kiwis amongst us.”

The 2021 New Year Honours recipients included public health expert professor Michael Baker, Covid-19 modeller professor Shaun Hendy, and Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge.

Ardern said Durie and Salmond were named for their enormous contributions to the country.

“Professors Anne Salmond and Mason Durie are rightly recognised for their enormous contributions to New Zealand in many fields, including science and social science across Maori education and health.

“The country is richer for their contributions,” she said.

Dobbyn joined former MP and Speaker of the House David Carter, former television presenter Ian Taylor, and one of the founding directors of Te Panekiretanga o Te Reo Māori (The Institute of Excellence in the Māori Language) Professor Pou Temara in becoming Knights Companions.

“Dave Dobbyn is responsible for some of our most popular Kiwi anthems and has been part of the music industry for five decades,” Ardern said of the Slice of Heaven singer.

The Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor Professor Juliet Gerrard, and Professor Cynthia Kiro who led the development of a formal te reo Māori policy at the University of Auckland have been named Dame Companions.

Suzanne Snively was made an honorary Dame Companion for her work as chair of Transparency International’s New Zealand chapter since 2011.

“Juliet Gerrard is rightly recognised for the role she’s played putting science front and centre or our decision-making, including during Covid-19. Cindy Kiro has made a huge contribution in ensuring the wellbeing of our country’s children, and Suzanne Snively is a tireless worker for ensuring public and private sector transparency,' Ardern said.

Fyfe and Chetwin were named as Companions to the New Zealand Order of merit – Fyfe for his services to business and tourism, and Chetwin to consumer rights. Ex-cricketer Hockley joined them, for her work in the sport.

Two of the most prominent names during the Covid-19 pandemic – Hendy and Baker – were also recognised for their efforts, becoming Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Other notable inclusions on the list of Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit include Cocksedge for her contributions to the game of rugby, and professor Bronwyn Hayward, the director of Sustainable Development and Civic Imagination Research group at the University of Canterbury.

The husband of ex-prime minister Jenny Shipley, Burton Shipley, received title of Officer for his work in basketball administration, and adjunct Associate Professor James Tully was named for his achievements in journalism.

Thirteen Pacific leaders were included in the New Year honours, representing a suite of sectors including health, education, community, arts, sports, media and the public sector.

“These Pacific recipients have all demonstrated leadership, dedication and tenacity with a heart for Pacific, and each has made a genuine difference that has impacted on the communities they have worked with,” said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.

Afamasaga Vaafusuaga Telesia McDonald Alipia’s involvement with Pacific early childhood education was celebrated with the title of an Officer, while Reverend Elder Tumama Vili, a strong advocate for the Samoan and wider Pacific community in the South Island, was appointed a member.

“This is just a glimpse of the important contributions made by all the Pacific recipients and highlights the considerable role they have played in supporting our Pacific communities,” said Sio.

Ardern said the prominent theme in this year’s list is that while the work of those honoured has improved life in New Zealand, the job continues.

The New Zealand Royal Honours system is used to thank and congratulate people for their community service and to recognise achievements. There are 154 recipients in 2021, including athletes, conservationists, scientists, medical professional, judges, and educators.