Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George GCMG

Image Source

Instituted in 1818 this order has three classes [GCMG, KCMG/DCMG, and CMG.
Awarded for distinguished administrative or diplomatic service.

GCMG

The Right Honourable Sir Michael HARDIE - BOYS
GNZM, CGMG, QSO

Born on 6th October 1931, Educated at Hataitai School and Wellington College, he gained a BA
and LLB degrees from Victoria University, Wellington.

A lawyer by profession, he became a High Court Judge in 1980, and was elevated to the Court
of Appeal and appointed as a Privy Councillor.

Appointed as the 17th Governor General of NZ on 21st March 1996

On completion of his term, 21st March 2001, both he and his wife, Mary Zohrab, were awarded
additional Companions of the QSO

Awarded the GCMG in the January 1995 Honours list.

In 1996 he was the first person to be awarded the GNZM,

Info Source

---

The Honourable Dame Catherine Anne TIZARD
ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO, DStJ,

Born 4th April 1931, in Wahatoa, Matamata, and gained a Bursary in her final year.

In 1949 she entered Auckland University in Zoology.

Married Bob Tizzard in 1951 and had four children before turning 27, while Bob had
one out of four successful attempts at entering parliament.

In 1963 Bob won the Pakuranga Seat and Cath re-entered University to complete her
Zoology degree, later teaching at Auckland University.

Voted onto the Auckland City Council in 1971 to 1980 and the Auckland Regional
Authority in 1980, and ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Auckland in 1980.

From 1976 to 1985 she starred in the popular TV chat show “Beauty and the Beast” with
Selwyn Toogood and Shona McFarlane.

In 1983 she was successful running for Mayor of Auckland and became the first woman
to hold that office.

She was re-elected in 1986 and 1989, following the major amalgamation of Local
Authorities.

She was also the patron of No 99 Police Recruit Wing in 1985, all 75 recruits were sent
to Auckland after graduating.

Appointed as the 16th Governor of New Zealand on 13th December 1990, being the
first female Governor of NZ, and the third female Governor in the Commonwealth,
following Dame Minita Gordon of Belize, and Dame Jeanne Sauve in Canada.

She also stopped the practice of bowing to the Governor as “No New Zealander should
have to bow to another”.

On 9th October 2007, she was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 3rd Auckland
[Countess of Ranfurly’s Own] and Northland Regiment, a mainly ceremonial role.

Awarded the
ONZ on 3 June 2002,
The QSO in 1996 and
The GCVO in 1995 and,
The GCMG in 1990,
The DStJ also in 1990 and
The DBE in 1984,

Info from
Source

---

Sir Francis Henry Dillon BELL
GCMG, KC PC

Born 31st March 1851 in Nelson, Educated at Auckland Grammer School and
Otago Boys High, St John’s College, Cambridge,

Returned to NZ to practice Law in Wellington, and became President of the NZ
Law Society.

Served as Mayor of Wellington from 1981 to 93 and 1896 to 1897, he was elected
to the House of Representatives in 1893, but only served one term before retiring
to return to Law.

In 1912 he was appointed to the Legislative Council as a representative of the
Reform Party in the Reform Government lead by William Massey.

When Massey died in office in 1925 he was commissioned as his replacement until
the party elected a new leader, Gordon Coates.

His was the second shortest period as Prime Minister [Henry Sewell 7 to 20th May
1856] and the second oldest person [Walter Nash at 75] to have served as PM

Awarded the GCMG in 1923 and
Appointed to the Privy Council the same year.
Awarded the King George V Silver Jubilee Medal in 1935
Died in Wellington on 13 Mar 1938

---

Sir Edward Denis BLUNDELL
GCMG, GCVO, KBE, QSO

Born 29th May 1907 in Wellington, Educated Waitaki Boy’s High and Trinity
College, Cambridge, where he read Law, and was called to the Bar of
England and Wales.

He never practised Law in England, but returned to Wellington in 1930.

During WW 2 he rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the 2nd Expeditionary
Force between 1939 to 1944.

He was President of the Wellington District Law Society in 1951,

President of the NZ Law Society from 1962 to 1968 and Vice-President of the
Law Society of Asia and the Pacific.

In his youth, his sport was Cricket, an opening Bowler for Cambridge University,
MMC, and Wellington.

The highlights being, 6 for 25 and 3 for 103 against Leicester shire in 1928.

Captaining Wellington in the 1934-35 Plunket Shield taking 6 for 82 and 5 for 48
against Otago, and he was selected twice when the MCC toured in 1935-36.

Appointed High Commissioner for NZ in Britain from 1968 to 1972.

Appointed as 12th Governor General on 27th September 1972 to
5th October 1977.

The first NZ born and resident person to become Governor General.

Died in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, while on holiday on 24th
September 1984

Awarded GCMG on 7 February 1975
GCVO
KBE
QSO

Info from
Source

---

Sidney George HOLLAND NZ Prime Minister 7 June 1951
GCMG, CH, PC,

Born 18 October 1883
Died 5 August 1961

Born in Greendale, Canterbury, his father served as Mayor of Christchurch
between 1912 and 1919.

In WW 1 he rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, saw action in Battle of Messines
where he contracted a severe illness that eventually cost him a lung.

A provincial and inter-island rep at Hockey, and managed an unbeaten tour
of the NZ Hockey team of Australia in 1932.

Was instrumental in the creation of the National Party, co-opted other
political parties like the Liberal Party, the Soldier’s Movement and the
People’s Movement into the National Party, which was to dominate
NZ politics for the second half of the 20th Century.

25th PM for NZ, from 13th Dec 1949 to 20th September 1957. This was
National’s first win in the Elections,

They abolished the Legislative Council [the upper house of Parliament]
on the grounds that it was ineffective.

In 1951, faced with a major challenge from the Waterside Workers’ Union,
he ordered the Armed Services
to unload the cargo from the ports.
[the unloading rate increased by 25% and the rate of theft fell by 90%]

He then called a “Snap Election” on 11th July 1951 and won with a greater
majority

Signed the ANZUS Treaty and sent troops to Korea.

Joined the SEATO in September 1954, aimed at combating the spread of
Communism in Southeast Asia.

Introduced PAYE Income tax system in place of the annual assessment
system that was in place.

Handed over leadership of the Country and party to Holyoake on
20th September 1957,

Was awarded the GCMG on 5th August 1951
and the CH on 5th August 1951

---

Keith Holyoake NZ Prime Minister 1 January 1963
KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ, PC
Born 11th February 1904
Died 8 December 1983
Became the first Deputy Prime Minister in NZ.
26th Prime Minister of NZ for two months [20th September to
12 December up to the general election, in 1957, and again from
12 December 1960 to 7th February 1970
13th Governor General of NZ, from 26th October 1977 to 25th
October 1980 [ the normal five-year term was shortened to three
on account of his age]

The only person to have filled both these positions.

Awarded the CH on 8th December 1983
GCMG on 1 January 1963

---

Michael Meyers
GCMG, KC

Born 7th September 1873 in Motueka, Nelson, educated at
Thorndon School and Wellington College, he gained an LL.B at
Canterbury College in 1897, afterwards he was admitted to
the Inner Temple.

He became the 6th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of NZ
from 1929 to 1946.

He served occasionally as Administrator of NZ from 1930 to 1941.

Died in Wellington on 8th April 1950

Awarded Kings Counsel in 1922,
The KCMG in 1930 which was replaced with
The GCMG in 1937

---

Rob MULDOON NZ Prime Minister 11 June 1977
GCMG, CH, PC,

Born 25 September 1921
Died 5 August 1982

Served as an SNCO in WW2 in the RNZ Army, in the South
Pacific and Italy

Completed his accountancy and sat his final exam in Jack Marshall’s
Tent, in Italy.

After the war, he went to an English Accountancy firm for a year,
then returned to NZ as the first Cost Accountant in the country.

Took the Tamaki seat from the incumbent Bob Tizzard in 1960,
and held the seat for the next 32 years.

Appointed Finance Minister in February 1967, [the youngest person
to fill that post]

A position he held for 14 of the next 17years.

Introduced ‘Mini-Budgets’ from 4 May 1967 to correct the downturn
of the NZ Economy.

After David Yallop drew his attention to the Harvey & Jeanette Crewe
murder he asked Robert Adams-Smith QC to investigate the case.

When told an injustice may have been done he pushed through a Royal
Pardon for Arthur Allan Thomas.

A later Royal Commission awarded Thomas $950.000 as compensation
.
During the South African Rugby Tour, he believed that Politics should
not interfere with Sport, and he resisted banning the tour, which
divided the country into two camps with major riots,

In 1982 his government supported the British in the Falklands war by
sending two NZ Frigates [HMNZS Canterbury and Waikato] to the
Indian Ocean to replace two British Frigates that could then be deployed
as required.

31st Prime Minister of NZ from 12 December 1975 to 14 July 1984,
when he called a “Snap Election” over a contentious “Nuclear Free”
Legislation. which the opposition Labour party won by 56 to 37 seats.

Had a short stage career as the Narrator of the Rocky Horror Show.

Retired from politics on 17th December 1991 and died 5th August 1982

Awarded the CH on 11th June 1977 Silver Jubilee and Queen’s
Birthday Honours
GCMG in January 1984 [the second PM to receive a Knighthood
while still in office]

info
Source

---

Paul Alfred REEVES
ONZ GCMG, GCVO, QSO KStJ

Born 6th December 1932 in Wellington, Educated at Wellington
College and Victoria University where he gained a BA in 1955 and
a BA in 1956.

Went to study for ordination as a priest of the Anglican Church at
St John’s College, Auckland, where he received his Licentiate in
Theology in 1958.

Ordained as Deacon in 1958 and spending a brief period in
Tokoroa he spent the period 1959 to 1964 in England.

From 1959 to 61 he was an advanced student at St Peter’s College,
Oxford. [BZ in 1961 and MA in 1965] as well as assistant Curate
at the University Church of St Mary The Virgin.

He was ordained as a priest in 1960 and served two other curacies
at Kirkley St Peter [1961 to 63] and Lewisham St Mary [1963 to 64]

Returning to NZ he was Vicar of Okato St Paul [1964 to 66],
a lecturer at St John’s in Auckland, and Director for Anglican
Education [1969 to 71]

In 1971 he was appointed Bishop of Waiapu, and Bishop of Auckland
from 1979 to 85, appointed Archbishop and Primate of NZ in 1980 to 85]

He was appointed the 15th Governor General of NZ on 22nd November
1985 to 13th August 1990.

He was the first Governor of Maori descent.

He became the Anglican Conservative Council Observer at the UN
in New York from 1991 to 93 and Assistant Bishop of New York 1991 to 94,

Was involved with Fiji’s readmission to the Commonwealth in 1995

Died of Cancer 14th August 2011.

He was awarded
Queen Elizabeth 11 Silver Jubilee Medal in 177
Chaplain of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of
St John of Jerusalem
KB in June 1985
KCMG on 2 March 1986
QSO in 1990
KCMG from the Queen on
ONZ on 6th February 2007
Companion of the Order Of Fiji

Info from
Source

Award info
Source