It made me proud to be a Kiwi and I felt we live in a country that shows it honours compassion and recognises folk doing their utmost for their community.
It was a change in direction from the usual assortment of rich blokes acknowledged for enriching themselves even further, often at the expense of others.
Sir Michael Fay comes to mind over his profits selling the BNZ, Tranzrail and Telecom before decamping to Geneva.
The obvious and most standout example was Dame Catherine Healy, head of the Sex Workers Collective.
She fought a tough and difficult battle to change attitudes, gain acceptance and get the law that meant it was illegal to solicit but not illegal for the client to pay for the services changed.
In the end she led the successful campaign to decriminalise prostitution.
For many years she has been the human face and voice of the sex worker industry and has done everything possible to keep her members safe.
And now she’s a dame.
Who would have thought?
Then in the same vein Jools and Lynda Topp were also made dames. Of course, they could have just got it for being some of our best, funniest and long-lived entertainers but they too have campaigned for social justice for a long time.
As Jools put it “The rebels got their medals.”
They’d protested against apartheid and for nuclear-free and equal rights for gays.
Robyn Bartlett, a simple cleaner who fought for equal pay for her own group and other professions dominated by women, got a deserved CNZM.
I was pleased to see Roger Shepherd, founder and part-owner of Flying Nun records recognised.
If you are like me and love that original kiwi music to come out of Dunedin and Christchurch, Roger was the person who facilitated that remarkable talent and thoroughly deserves his medal.
At the other end of the scale with a far more conservative bent is Grant Nisbett who will shortly be calling his 300th All Blacks rugby test.
Sir Bill English’s gong was more in keeping with past lists but the dramas of being finance minister during the global financial crisis and through the Christchurch earthquakes where he kept his head is worthy of recognition.
He retained his integrity in a profession where few manage the feat.
Sir Bill of Dipton has a nice ring to it.
There were a few there that were deserved because they were helping others with their passion but they still made me smile.
Services to pipe bands, services to quilting and best of all was Mrs Beverley Doreen Van, of Christchurch, for services to bonsai. I’ve always felt sorry for the trees but will reconsider my views.
We got a few from the rural sector.
It was good to see Professor Nicola Shadbolt get an ONZM for services to agribusiness and Robert Kerridge who has advocated for animal welfare for a very long time.
Dr John Francis McGettigan from Methven was also recognised for services to rural health.
Without our rural doctors we are stuffed as a sector.
I’ve had a think about who I reckon has been overlooked to date and would suggest that Tim and Neil Finn should be knighted.
Their music has been an integral part of a whole generation or two of New Zealanders and they are still out there doing.
Neil has even been invited to join Fleetwood Mac, which is very cool.
I’ll nominate them for the next list.
