Former Auckland Grammar headmaster and All Black captain John Graham is among seven prominent New Zealanders made knights or dames in the Queen's Birthday Honours today.
Auckland philanthropist Rosie Horton and Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira, from Hamilton, who has helped lead the revival of the Maori language, have been made Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and Court of Appeal judge Grant Hammond, Anzco Foods founder Graeme Harrison, Manawatu businessman Patrick Higgins and arts patron James Wallace join Sir John as Knights Companion.
Whilst we offer our congratulations to all those who have been honoured in any way, there are a couple of stand-outs to us. Sir John Graham has made an wonderful contribution to education and to sport. A former All Black captain and stalwart of Auckland rugby, he had a long tenure as headmaster at Auckland Grammar School. Since his retirement he has been involved in a number of community organistations including Parents Inc., and he is also remembered for a term as manager of the New Zealand cricket team at a time when under Steve Rixon's coaching and Graham's management, they achieved some strong results.
Having been brought up in the Manawatu, we are well aware of the influence of the Higgins name. Sir Pat Higgins is now chairman of the family-owned group of companies which has built all manner of roads and other civil engineering projects throughout the country and beyond. But the Higgins name is also synonomous with sport in the Manawatu, and with support of a number of community projects. Sir Pat's honour is richly deserved.
We offer our heartiest congratulations to Sir John, Sir Pat, and everyone else who has been honoured this year. Your service, in whatever way it has been delivered has not gone unnoticed, and the recognition you have received is a fitting reward for a lifetime of service above self.
17 comments:
will these honours be canned again if Labour .... shudder .. get back in power?
One would most certainly hope not Jabba. If Labour surveys public opinion with respect to the restoration of the titular honours system, I think they will find overwhelming support.
Pat Higgins is a nice man.
@ Anon - so was his father Dan, who established the company. The Higgins family has made a huge contribution to Palmerston North on many levels.
Titular! tee hee hee!.
Seriously though, I'd toss them out in a moment.
Sir Eustace Toff-Worthypiddle wouldn't tolerate that sort of nonsense from me though, harrumph harrumph!
He'd be on the blower to Sir John in a trice!
And Banks!
Hoick!
I'm told (haven't perused the list and more than likely won't) that the ND cancer has been given a gong for (I assume) destroying the NZ cricket team - certainly couldn't be bowling (his job) or leadership (none shown).
Puts the things in perspective really.
Robertguyton @ 11.39am.......I agree with you & your spit on the subject of Banks' award because he's a self serving, mediocre egotist.
The dealing out of gongs, however, seems to bring into the open facets of a persons character never seen before. Can you honestly state that were your abilities in growing cabbages in your own excrement recognised with a KCMG that you wouldn't have the donkey cart hitched up & be heading to Wellington pronto?
It's a good question nasska and colourfully put :-)
My answer is no, I'd decline with thanks, well aware that I'd be losing something in the process. What I'd like to see is Kiwi-equivalent system in place, so that those who deserve recognition, get it, and that it doesn't come reeking of corgi-urine, G&T and privilege.
I don't btw, grow cabbages. Everything but.
http://norightturn.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-services-to-national-party.html
Please don't post links to No Right Turn on this blog Robert. Idiot/Savant is so keen on open debate that he refuses to allow comments; not my idea of discourse.
As for you, I reckon that you are out of step with the vast majority of New Zealanders. It's telling that around 95% of those receiving the top honour under Labour were happy to accept a knighthood or damehood when National restored titular honours. With Helen Clark and Maragret Wilson having departed the scene, I doubt that Labour has the appetite to sever our links with the monarchy again.
Now Inv2 - your request that I don't link to NoRightTurn here is ridiculous and dictatorial, if you are in fact serious, not just taking the p*ss. Your reasoning is that it's because he doesn't allow comments - what on earth makes you baulk so much at that practice that you'd disallow linking to Idiot/savants blog? It seems quite mad.
Many people might say, 'don't link to that 'Keeping Stock' blog - he posts anonymously! Boo, sucks!
Come Inv2, explain yourself!
It's not dictatotial at all Robert, and as you yourself know and Have said, I cut people a fair bit of slack. But it's my blog, and I decide what content I want. If NRT's blog-post is of such import, blog about it yourself.
and sir john graham is the second knighthood from his family after his brother sir james graham,knighted for srevices to the dairy industry
ahhh, Sir Bob Guyton is adding to Global Warming, I mean Climate Change by using the Internet that is being accused of being a HUGE user of power supplied by dirty dirty coal etc .. mm
and why would a person have a blog where he doesn't engage in the way I2 is unless of course you write crap and know it?
And if you compared John Bank's service through business and both national and local politics to Sir Bob G's record then!!!!
I've been awarded a gong by jabba and can hardly sit still, I'm that excited!
You ready the sword jabba, while I compile my acceptance speech.
Sir!
Cripes!!
not a sword Sir Bob .. I would use a suitable sized branch that had fallen, naturally, from a tree. A sword is made of .... wait for it ... sssstttteeeeellll and I wouldn't want to offend you by using such a product.
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