Award makes two in musical family

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Che Fu holds the Queen close to his heart which makes an official honour all the more satisfying, he says.

The 35-year-old hip-hop star became a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

"It's something that me and my family are absolutely stoked about ...

"It's really a huge honour to get the nod from Her Majesty and the Crown."

The former Supergroove lead singer, who is of Niuean descent, said learning about Britain's role in protecting the island nation from pirates had turned him into a keen monarchist.

"It was a huge thing that all Niuean people are thankful for, so there's a special link there."

Fu has a musical pedigree his father, reggae pioneer Tigilau Ness, has just been given a lifetime achievement award by Manukau Institute of Technology.

But he had to keep his own award extremely close to his chest for weeks, he said.

"It was a little bit tough. My Dad won that huge award a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to say, `I got one too, Dad', but I had to wait."

Carl Doy, an internationally renowned composer who works on television's Dancing with the Stars, was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

Graeme Sinclair, a producer of television's Gone Fishin', and magazine photographer Jane Ussher were made members of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

- © Fairfax NZ News