Doubts cast on validity of country's highest honour

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It is supposed to be the country's most exclusive club – a league of the 20 greatest living Kiwis recognised for outstanding service to the Crown and to the people of New Zealand.

But when six of the 17 members of the Order of New Zealand are former politicians, many Kiwis are left questioning the validity of the country's highest honour.

The nomination of former MPs has attracted controversy since former Labour MP and Speaker of the House Jonathan Hunt, known as "The Minister of Wine and Cheese", was made a member of the order in 2000.

One newspaper editorial noted it raised "the thorny question of what honours or rewards politicians should be offered for doing the jobs they were elected [and paid] to do".

Former prime minister Helen Clark's elevation to the Order of New Zealand this year brings to eight the number of former politicians who have held the honour since its inception in 1987, including former prime minister David Lange and Labour MP Sonja Davies.

Commentators have noted the absence of great Kiwis such as Sir Peter Blake and Sir Howard Morrison from the list. Living Kiwis mentioned as worthy include scientist Paul Callaghan, former All Black and businessman Sir Wilson Whineray, singer Neil Finn, film-maker Peter Jackson, and top judge Dame Sian Elias.

Three spots remain empty, meaning any of these, or others, could be in the running for the Queen's Birthday list in June.

Any member of the public can nominate people for awards, but the decisions are made by Prime Minister John Key and a committee of his senior ministers and are signed off by the Cabinet.

Bill Ryan, of the Victoria University School of Government, said that, although many politicians worked hard to improve society, he believed New Zealand should honour other groups more.

"We honour our public figures but they get enough honours in their public life. There's huge numbers of people out there doing absolutely brilliant work completely unsung."

Many people who contributed to the community, making sure people were fed, housed and happy, did it through work that was unpaid and unlauded.

"And the people who do our thinking, the people who do our creating, the people who express the inner soul of our society – thinkers, artists, scientists – they are people who I personally think should be honoured," he said.

Lewis Holden, chairman of the Republican Movement, said the decision should be taken from politicians and given to a head of state such as the governor-general.

"I'd say the reason there's so many politicians is the honours secretariat is part of the prime minister's office, which I think needs to change. It's not a very open and transparent process."

- © Fairfax NZ News