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Order of New Zealand
ONZ-FS-MF-WB-01-clearcut-v2.jpg
Badge of a Member of the Order of New Zealand (neck ribbon and bow)
Awarded by the Monarch of New Zealand
Type Order
Eligibility Subjects of the Crown
Awarded for Outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity
Status Currently constituted
Founder Elizabeth II
Sovereign Charles III
Grades Member (ONZ)
Statistics
First induction 6 February 1987
Last induction 5 June 2023
Total inductees 46 ordinary members
21 additional members
2 honorary members
Precedence
Next (higher) Order of Merit
Next (lower) New Zealand Order of Merit
Order of New Zealand ribbon.png
Ribbon of the Order of New Zealand

The Order of New Zealand is the highest honour in the New Zealand royal honours system, created "to recognise outstanding service to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a civil or military capacity". It was instituted by royal warrant on 6 February 1987. The order is modelled on the British Order of Merit and the Order of the Companions of Honour.

Composition

The order comprises the Sovereign and ordinary, additional and honorary members. The ordinary membership is limited to 20 living members, and at any time there may be fewer than 20. Additional members may be appointed to commemorate important royal, state or national occasions, and such appointments were made in 1990 for the 150th anniversary of the Treaty of Waitangi, in 2002 for the Queen's Golden Jubilee, in 2007 for the 20th anniversary of the institution of the Order, in 2012 for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, in 2022 for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and in 2023 to mark the coronation of King Charles III. Additional members have the same status as ordinary members. Honorary membership is for citizens of nations of which the Sovereign is not head of state. Members are entitled to the post-nominal letters "ONZ".

Appointments to the order are made by royal warrant under the monarch's sign manual on the prime minister's advice. The order is administered by a Secretary and Registrar, (the Clerk of the Executive Council).

Richie McCaw represented the Order at the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023, and took part in the procession of the King and Queen at the beginning of the ceremony.

Insignia

Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand (cropped)
Elizabeth II wearing the insignia of the Sovereign of the Order of New Zealand (the bow on her shoulder)

The insignia is made up of an oval medallion of the coat of arms of New Zealand in gold and coloured enamel, worn on a white and ochre ribbon around the neck for men or a bow for women on their left shoulder.

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