Six Southlanders - three of whom who now live outside the province - have received the King's Birthday Honours today (3rd Jun).

They are:

KNZM

Dame or Knight Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit

BECK, Peter Joseph, formally of Invercargill but now living in Auckland, for services to the aerospace industry, business and education.

Sir Peter has been founder and CEO of Rocket Lab since 2006, which designs, builds and launches advanced rockets and satellites, pioneering an industry previously non-existent in New Zealand.

Sir Peter has led Rocket Lab to become a highly successful, award-winning business, engaged with STEM education, and as a widely connected and recognised leader within global aerospace. Rocket Lab’s Ātea 1 became the first rocket in the Southern Hemisphere to reach space in 2009. Rocket Lab employs 1,800 people globally, with 750 New Zealand employees, and is the most prolific commercial launch provider behind only SpaceX, launching 46 missions to space including NASA’s 2022 lunar CAPSTONE mission, and more than 160 satellites to orbit as of April 2024. These satellites have enabled scientific and climate monitoring for NASA, national security for international governments, school and university research, and commercial innovations. The Electron rocket, first launched in 2017, achieved several world-firsts including materials used, and allows frequent launch at a dramatically reduced cost to other commercially available dedicated launch options. He has been pivotal in growing New Zealand’s $1.69 billion space industry, which as of 2019 supported around 12,000 jobs nationally, both directly and indirectly. Mr Beck was the driving force behind a Technology Safeguards Agreement between New Zealand and the United States, enabling the use and secure management of sensitive US space launch and satellite technology in New Zealand.

ONZM

Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit

LINDSAY, Patricia Elizabeth Clare (Trish), of Invercargill, for services to netball and governance.

Mrs Trish Lindsay has contributed significantly in Southland to netball, the arts and governance.

Mrs Lindsay was a founding director of the Southern Teamco Board (Southern Sting Netball), which helped revitalise netball in the South Island. She undertook key initial actions to drive the franchise to success. She became a director of the ILT Stadium Board in 1999, established for the build of a multi-purpose sports and leisure facility in Invercargill. She had a crucial role in fundraising, stakeholder engagement, design and build of the new facility, which is now a key Southland stadium for events. She was Trustee and Deputy Chair of the Community Trust of Southland from 2006 to 2014 and is a founding Trustee of Shakespeare in the Park Trust, which presents an annual outdoor production and provides scholarship opportunities for locals. She is secretary and manages its sponsorship for continuation. She has been a Trustee of the Southland Art Foundation promoting the visual arts, overseeing and growing a collection of public art works. She became a member of the Museum Governance Group in 2021, to upgrade the Museum, looking at its long-term purpose. Mrs Lindsay was a Board member and is now Trustee of Southland Disability Enterprises, a Director of Invercargill Rotary, and an Executive Member of the Southland Medical Foundation Council.

MACKAY, Mr Alexander James (Jamie), formerly of Gore now residing in Dunedin, for services to broadcasting and the rural community

Mr Jamie Mackay has been a pioneer of rural radio, driving the broadcasting of rural content nationally in mainstream media through New Zealand’s leading rural network show ‘The Country’.

In 1994, Mr Mackay co-purchased the radio station now known as Hokonui Gold in Gore and began a daily five-minute rural segment broadcast, working towards a one-hour show format. In 2007 he obtained a nationwide slot on Radio Sport through The Radio Network (TRN). In 2016 he co-presented a business case to TRN to take ‘The Country’ to more markets on Newstalk ZB’s provincial network. In 2021 he fought to get his weekly ‘Best Of’ show into the metro markets of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, to strengthen understanding of rural New Zealand in urban centres. He has been rural New Zealand’s voice in mainstream media and has acted as MC for numerous rural events and awards ceremonies, donating all his MC fees to charities. He has been a prominent advocate for rural mental health and wellbeing support and initiatives. He has also supported various causes including cancer fundraisers, IHC’s Calf and Rural Scheme, the Farmstrong wellbeing charity, and Rabobank’s Good Deeds initiative. Mr Mackay has been President of Riversdale Rugby Club, a Gore District Councillor, and a Trustee of Sport Southland and Mataura Licensing Trust.

AWARDS

New Zealand Guild of Agricultural Journalists, Agricultural Communicator of the Year, 2006

MacGREGOR, Allister Morrison, of Edendale, for services to pipe bands.

Mr Allister Macgregor was a Board member from 2012 to 2023 and President from 2014 to 2018 of the Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands Association (RNZBPA).

Mr Macgregor drove the growth in youth participation in pipe bands via an education programme and the National Youth Band of New Zealand. He introduced livestreaming of the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships, receiving international attention for New Zealand’s pipe bands. To revive the diminished state of pipe bands in Southland, he donated his own money and time towards establishing the Southland Piping and Drumming Development Trust in 2007, chairing it until 2014 and since serving as Treasurer and Secretary. Through the Trust two internationally recognised teachers were hired, beginning a world-class community-focused teaching programme in Southland. This helped revive the City of Invercargill Caledonian Pipe Band, the oldest civilian pipe band in the Southern hemisphere. The Trust continues to provide music tuition in Southland schools and through the Invercargill band, which now comprises five bands across all grades including a premier grade one band. He established the New Zealand Piping Centre in Otago in 2017, which has created a teaching programme in Dunedin. He became President of the Otago Centre of the RNZBPA in 2023. Mr Macgregor organised an inaugural pipe band competition in Queenstown in 2024.

Julie Paterson ONZM, has been made an Officer of The New Zealand Order of Merit in this year's Kings Birthday Honours. Photo: Supplied

PATERSON, Ms Julie Leslie, formerly of Invercargill but now residing in Auckland, for services to women and sport.

Ms Julie Paterson co-founded Women in Sport Aotearoa in 2016, an organisation that advocates for women and girls to gain equity of opportunity to participate, compete, and build careers in sport and active recreation.

Ms Paterson co-chaired the successful bid to deliver the 2018-2022 International Working Group on Women and Sport and 8th World Conference on Women and Sport, the world’s largest gathering for gender equity in sport. The event held in 2022 hosted 1,850 participants online and in-person. As Chief Executive of Tennis New Zealand since 2017, she has led significant growth for the representation of women and girls, particularly in coaching and management roles, with the Wahine Coaching Scholarship programme winning an international award. She has been a member of the International Tennis Federation’s global committee for Gender Equality in Tennis. She was CEO of Netball Southland and the Southern Sting and Southern Steel franchises from 2005 to 2012, then CEO of Netball Northern Zone until 2017. She contributed to the growth of coaches and umpires delivering local grass roots netball as well as an Elite Performance Pathway, providing resources to bring promising athletes from high school into the pre-elite arena and franchise space. Ms Paterson chaired Auckland Badminton from 2014 to 2017, during a period of facility upgrades to host the World Masters Games.

BOYLE, Mrs Patricia Mackenzie (Trish), of Invercargill, for services to the community

Mrs Trish Boyle has been contributing to the Southland community through various community initiatives, particularly through Rotary.

Mrs Boyle served as the President of Invercargill North Rotary in 2007 and then became the Rotary District Trainer between 2008 and 2012. She was the Chair of the Australia New Zealand Rotary Conference in 2012 and helped organise events and conferences to create an environment for Rotarians to network and exchange ideas. She served as the Rotary International President Representative to District Conferences in New Zealand and Australia in 2013, 2014 and 2017, acting as a bridge between local rotary clubs and the international organisation. As District Governor for South Island Rotary in 2010 she helped train new members and championed the role of women in the Rotary space as the first female district governor. She was the New Zealand Trainer of Rotary Leaders from 2013 to 2016, International Trainer from 2015 to 2016, and Chair of Rotary International Leadership and Training from 2018 to 2020. She has been a Trustee of the Community Trust South, driving the trust through financial difficulty to serve community needs. She was a member of the Southland Regional Strategy Governance Board and chaired the Southern District Rotary Foundation between 2016 and 2020. Mrs Boyle has been an Invercargill City Councillor since 2023.

Full King's Birthday Honours list

Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM):

Theresa Gattung for services to women, governance and philanthropy; and Joan Withers for services to business, governance and women.

Mrs Joan Withers, for services to business, governance and women

Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM):

Peter Beck for services to the aerospace industry, business and education; and Professor Peter Hunter for services to medical science.

Professor Peter John Hunter, MNZM, for services to medical science

Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM):

Vincent Ashworth for services to agriculture.

Arihia Bennett for services to Māori, governance and the community

James Boult for services to local government, tourism and the community

Anne Candy for services to Māori and local government

Rodney Adrian Duke for services to philanthropy and business

William Holland for services to community governance and philanthropy

Mary Lee for services to snow sports and tourism

Lesley Joan Milne for services to rowing

Dr John Peek for services to fertility treatment and reproductive health

Catherine Ann Grant Sadleir for services to sports governance and women

Christopher John Seed for services to the State

Air Marshal Kevin Ronald Short for services to the New Zealand Defence Force

Megan Faye Tamati-Quennell for services to Māori and First Nations art

Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM):

Professor Fiona Alpass for services to health psychology and seniors

Associate Professor Rohan Ameratunga for services to immunology

Andrew Barnes for services to business and philanthropy

Professor Ian Bissett for services to colorectal surgery and education

Andrea Blair for services to the geothermal industry and women

Dr Patricia Bradbury for services to sport and education

Richard Coon for services to business and philanthropy

Stephen Cox for services to cycling

Noel Davies for services to engineering, business and the community

Tanya Drawbridge (Ashken) for services to sculpture, silversmithing and jewellery

Andrew Dunn for services to people with Parkinson's disease

Peter Fegan for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community

Allison Ferguson for services to netball

Meri Gibson for services to dragon boating and breast cancer awareness

Tere Gilbert for services to early childhood and Māori language education

Gordon Glentworth for services to the livestock and dairy industries

Ian Grant for services to literature and historical preservation

Sarah Haydon for services to people with disabilities

William Jansen for services to wildlife conservation

Robert Jury for services to structural engineering and design

The Very Reverend Taimoanaifakaofo Kaio for services to the Pacific community

Christopher Lewis for services to tennis

Patricia Lindsay for services to netball and governance

Alexander Mackay (Jamie) for services to broadcasting and the rural community

Deborah Manning for services to the community and the environment

Leslie Noel McCutcheon for services to the thoroughbred and harness racing industries

Gemma New for services to music direction

Dr Colin O'Donnell for services to wildlife conservation

Professor Emerita Nicola Peart for services to the law

Anapela Polataivao for services to Pacific performing arts

Professor Phillippa Poole for services to medical education

Dr William Round for services to medical physics and biomedical engineering

Professor Christine Stephens for services to health psychology and seniors

Lisa Warrington for services to theatre and education

Dr Murray Williams for services to wildlife conservation and science

Ms Sheryll Christine Wilson for services to early childhood education

Adrienne Winkelmann for services to the fashion industry

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM):

Jeanette Banfield for services to philately

Karen Bartlett for services to the community and social services

Dr Suzanne Blackwell for services to clinical and forensic psychology and the law

Barry Brown for services to structural engineering

Jane Cartwright for services to health governance

Frank Chapman for services to health

I-Hua (Eva) Chen for services to the Asian community

Phillip Lam for services to martial arts

Christine Clark for services to alcohol and drug harm reduction

Professor John Collins for services to surgical education and breast cancer management

Fleur Corbett for services to conservation

Thomas Coyle for services to the New Zealand Police, Disaster Victim Identification and theatre

Mark Crompton for services to meteorology and the community

Detective Niall Deehan for services to the New Zealand Police

James Doy for services to theatre, particularly youth theatre

Anthony Dreaver for services to the community

Reid Fletcher for services to the wine industry

Brian Foley for services to the plumbing industry and the community

Ian Godfrey for services to surf lifesaving and water safety education

Keith Gordon for services to diving and maritime history

Inspector Freda Anne Grace for services to the New Zealand Police

Elizabeth Greive for services to child poverty reduction

John Haldane for services to arts administration, particularly music

Grant Harrison for services to volleyball

David Henshaw for services to archery

Dr Barbara Hochstein for services to radiology and education

Jolie Hodson for services to business, governance and women

Leigh Hopper for services to property development and philanthropy

Kerry Hudson for services to land management

The Venerable Joseph Anthony Huta for services to the Anglican Church, Māori and the community

Dianne John for services to ornithology

Keith Jones for services to metrology

Stephen Kafka for services to conservation and wildlife research

Bridget Kauraka for services to the Cook Islands community

Rex Kerr for services to the community and rugby

Murray King for services to the dairy industry

Frederick Lewis for services to philanthropy and sport

Samuel Lewis for services to business and the community

HunKuk Lim for services to the Korean community

Jee Chin Lim (Venerable Abbess Manshin) for services to the community

Allister Macgregor for services to pipe bands

Allan John McCaw for services to the apiculture industry

Anthony McGovern for services to the racing industry

John McKenzie for services to education

Lorraine Mentz for services to education and philanthropy

Ereti Mitchell for services to New Zealand - United Kingdom relations

Maureen Morris for services to nursing

Vivian Naylor for services to people with disabilities

Linda Nelson for services to people with intellectual disabilities

Frances Oakes for services to mental health and the Pacific community

Julie Paterson for services to women and sport

Leitualaalemalietoa Lynn Lolokini Pavihi for services to Pacific education

Catherine Petrey for services to the New Zealand Police, arms control and the community

David Robie for services to journalism and Asia-Pacific media education

Louise Rummel for services to nursing education

Merrick Sanderson for services to orthopaedic surgery

Emma Scotter for services to Motor Neuron Disease research

Rachel Smalley for services to broadcasting and health advocacy

Akinihi Smith for services to Māori and the Anglican Church

Graham Smith for services to horticulture

Orquidea Mortera for services to diversional and recreational therapy and education

Amohaere Tangitu for services to Māori health

Glenn Teal for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community

Allison Todd for services to equestrian coaching and water safety

Kristine Tynan for services to people with long-term conditions and older adults

Jocelyn Urbahn for services to surf lifesaving and squash

Sally Walker for services to health advocacy

Detective Inspector Lewis Warner for services to the New Zealand Police and the community

Lisa Whittle for services to wildlife conservation

Adine Wilson for services to netball

Nicola Wilson for services to mental health advocacy, particularly disordered eating

Abann Yor for services to ethnic and migrant communities

Honorary Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Allyn (Aliya) Danzeisen for services to the Muslim community and women

Companions of the King's Service Order (KSO):

Daniel Allen-Gordon for services to youth and charitable governance

Josephine Anderson for services to Māori

Colleen Brown for services to people with disabilities, local government and the community

Elizabeth Cunningham for services to governance

Michael Hollings for services to education and Māori

Karen Morrison-Hume for services to the community

King's Service Medal (KSM)

Mervyn Allison for services to brass bands

Marie Bennett for services to seniors

Lance Berry for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community

Patricia Boyle for services to the community

John Bray for services to rugby league

Henry Brittain for services to transport history and tourism

Janice Burnett for services to the community

Sandra Burrow for services to swimming

David Cade for services to conservation and bio-security awareness

Ian Campbell for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Taekwon-Do

Patricia Carrick-Clarke for services to sport, particularly cricket

Brian Carter for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Marian Ceregra for services to the Polish community and veterans

Robin Clarke for services to the community

Jacqueline Dwyer for services to the community

Robert Feisst (deceased) for services to the community

Patricia George for services to mosaic art and the community

Mervyn Gore for services to rugby league

Dr Matire Harwood for services to Māori health

Mailigi Hetutū for services to the Niuean community

Leslie Hokianga for services to physical fitness and mental health

Arthur Imms for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Tupuna Kaiaruna for services to the Cook Islands community and performing arts

Katareina Kaiwai for services to women and the civil construction industry

Maituteau Karora for services to the Cook Islands community

Fraser Lake for services to the community

David Laughlin for services to conservation

Trevor Marshall for services to the community

Peter McNeur for services to education and the community

Marilyn Milne for services to netball

Charles Nightingale for services to the community

Linda-Lee Odom for services to people with disabilities and sport

Sharda Patel for services to the Indian community and women

Bernard Power for services to the community

David Grant Smith for services to the community

Heather Smith for services to the community

Jillian Spicer for services to the community and refugees

Fay Taylor for services to the community

Robert Webb for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community

Glenn Williams for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community

Vicki Wood for services to victim support

Joseph Zawada for services to the Polish community and historical research

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD)

Wing Commander Mark Alan Whiteside for services to the New Zealand Defence Force