Five Southlanders and three recipients with strong Southland connections have received New Years Honours for 2022.

They are;

Ms Laura Thompson MNZM, of Invercargill has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to paralympic cycling.

A sighted pilot for Para-cyclists, Thompson was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013 for her services to Paralympic sport.

Following the London Olympics, Ms Thompson began a partnership with Para-cyclist Emma Foy. The pair won gold with a world record in the Pursuit at the 2014 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships. They competed in the 2016 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships in the Women’s B 3km Pursuits, winning their third consecutive world title. They competed at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Paralympic Games, winning silver in the Women’s B Individual Pursuit and bronze in the Women’s B Road Race. She retired from competing in 2016 with 10 world championship medals and five Paralympic medals. Thompson has since transitioned to coaching, sharing her knowledge with other coaches and aspiring Para athletes and pilots as Para Cycling National Development Coordinator with Paralympics New Zealand.

Thompson became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2013.

Mrs Gillian Gordon of Mataura has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to musical theatre.

Gordon has contributed to New Zealand musical theatre through the Wellington Gilbert and Sullivan Light Opera Society for 50 years as a performing member, Society President and through directing and organising numerous performances. 

Society President from 1993 to 2001 and 2002 to 2003, Gordon has volunteered hundreds of hours annually until 2021 to continue the legacy of the organisation. With similar Gilbert and Sullivan societies within New Zealand closing more than a decade ago, her personal commitment to the Wellington society has been a key factor in navigating financial difficulties on several occasions, donating her own money, managing grant applications and sourcing donations to ensure the society’s progression. She has championed the direction and production of numerous performances, including productions such as ‘The Mikado (2014)’ and ‘Merry Widow (2016)’, that have reached a total audience of more than 50,000 and supported hundreds of performers through show appearances. Her time on the society’s Executive saw her coordinating schedules for rehearsal, production and performances for cast and crew of more than 100 people on several productions. Gordon’s willingness to share her years of experience and coach those with a range of abilities from diverse demographics led to successful live performances on tour around the lower North Island.

Mr Leicester Rutledge of Invercargill has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby and the community.

Rutledge is a well known former rugby union player for both the All Blacks and Southland.

He played 113 matches for Southland between 1972 and 1983 and 31 matches and 13 tests for the All Blacks from 1978 to 1980, including one match as Captain. He was voted the Grand Slam Tour Player of the Year in 1978. He coached the Southland team for two years and has been an administrator for the club for decades. In 2002, he was Assistant Coach of the undefeated U-19 New Zealand Rugby Team and Assistant Coach of the Italian national team in 2003. In 2011 he managed the Highlanders rugby team. He became President of Southland Rugby Union in 2020 and is a Life Member of the club. Alongside another former teammate, he endorsed and has been the face of the Southland Bowel Screening programme with the Southern District Health Board. Within his wider community, Rutledge regularly drives the Myross Bush school bus and created Match-Fit, a basic rugby fitness programme for older men in Bluff facing health issues. 

Rutledge also received a Sports Southland, Services to Sport Award in 2020.

Mrs Beryl Wilcox of Invercargill has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.

Wilcox has contributed to community governance in the Southland region for more than 30 years. 

She has served as member or chair of more than 20 local boards and committees in the fields of education, health, social development and employment. She was a member of the Stewart Island Community Board between 1992 and 1995 and was the Chair of Rimu School Board of Trustees between 1996 and 2004. She was the Manager of Southland Community College and Youth Service between 1996 and 2018, focussing on programmes and services supporting at-risk youth aged 15 to 19 years. She was Chair of the Ministry of Education’s Joint Schools Initiative Funding Management Group, the Chair of the Southland Tertiary Training Providers Association for ten years and was a ministerial appointee and Chair of the establishment board of trustees for secondary schools. She was the Deputy Chair of the Community Colleges New Zealand Council between 2005 and 2013. She has been a member of the Oban Volunteer Fire Brigade for several years and was awarded a Life Membership for 15 years of service. Wilcox is currently the Chair of the South Alive – South Invercargill Urban Rejuvenation Charitable Trust and a Trustee of South Alive Limited – The Pantry since 2020.

Lewis Sanson NZAM, who now resides in Wanaka, has been made a Companion of the Queen's Service Order.

Mr Lou Sanson has had a public service career of 47 years, with six years as Conservator for Southland Conservancy, 11 years as CEO of Antarctica New Zealand, and was Director-General of Conservation from 2013 until retiring in 2021.

Mr Sanson led the Department of Conservation (DOC) to successfully deliver projects, while maintaining positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including community groups and organisations, iwi, central, regional and local government, business partners, private landowners and 4,000 concession holders. He has focused on improving biodiversity and systems to prevent the continued loss of taonga species. His strong relationships enabled him to successfully deliver major regional projects such as the establishment of the new Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island, Hump Ridge Track Project with the Tuatapere Community, the world’s largest rat eradication project on Campbell Island, and Tai Timu Tai Pari Marine Spatial Plan for the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park. He was Crown negotiator for the Ngai Tahu Deed Settlement Act on the Titi lslands/Whenua Hou Settlements. He has helped New Zealand meet obligations in various international conservation agreements and been a leader in responding to significant natural disasters nationally. Mr Sanson has overseen the launch of the Predator Free New Zealand Strategy and the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy and encouraged more investments in job-generating conservation projects.

Sanson also received the New Zealand Antarctic Medal in 2015.

Trevor Agnew, who now resides in Christchurch, but spent many years as a teacher at Central Southland College has received the Queen's Service Medal.

Mr Trevor Agnew was a teacher for nearly 40 years and has contributed widely as a freelance writer and reviewer.

While teaching at Hillmorton High School in Christchurch, and Central Southland College in Winton, Mr Agnew regularly wrote articles, book and television reviews for several publications including The Listener, Southland Times, and The Press. He reviews children’s books and writes author interviews for Australian magazine ‘Magpies’. He has written more than 3,000 New Zealand book entries for ‘The Source’, an Australasian website listing available children’s literature for schools and libraries. He has contributed previously untold histories of Chinese people in New Zealand and helped correct misunderstandings of early Chinese settler life. Together with his wife Jenny, they researched and wrote ‘Merchant, Miner, Mandarin: The Life and Times of the Remarkable Choie Sew Hoy’ (2020), about Jenny’s great-great-grandfather. This contributed to Choie Sew Hoy’s posthumous membership of the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame and the Sew Hoy building in Dunedin being recognised as a category one heritage building. He helped found the Christchurch Friends of the Library and was involved for many years with the New Zealand Literacy Association and the School Library Association. Mr Agnew was a judge of the 2010 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards, the 2019 and 2021 Mallinson-Rendel Illustrators Award.

Agnew has also received the Nada Beardsley Literacy Award in 1993 and the Betty Gilderdale Award for Services to Children’s Literature in 2013.

Mr Glenn Cockroft of Invercargill has received the Queen's Service Medal for services to traffic safety.

Cockroft has been advocating for traffic safety in his community and nationally for more than 30 years.

He was a Ministry of Transport Traffic Sergeant from 1989 before becoming Sergeant with New Zealand Police in 1992. Until retiring from the Police in 1997, he implemented and campaigned for national child safety programmes travelling from North Cape to Bluff, showcasing a mobile showroom promoting the importance of the safety of children. He visited Lion’s Club members’ homes, communities and schools for the campaign, on a voluntary basis to allow the funding to have the best possible reach for children nationally. Following the completion of the programme, he received a commendation from the Minister of Transport and Minister for Police for his contributions to child safety education. He was involved with national campaigns such as for cycle helmets in 1987, ‘Are they in your hands’ 1989, and Lions for Life in 1992. Since retiring, he opened a museum dedicated to preserving New Zealand Traffic history, located on his property, holding scale model patrol cars and motorbikes and other equipment, touring groups from schools and communities. His museum was named New Zealand Garden Magazine’s ‘Shed of the Year’ in 2018. Cockroft helped establish and run the Cycle Bike Park Safety Training Centre in Invercargill.

Mrs Gloria McHutchon of Tapanui has received the Queen's Service Medal for services to the community.

McHutchon has been involved in the West Otago community for more than 40 years.

She has been voluntarily teaching English to speakers of other languages since 2006 as a qualified ESOL Teacher, in response to growth in farmers from other nations in the region. She is part of a group from the local church who provide ‘Welcome Boxes’ consisting of necessities and baking to welcome the many farm workers to the region. She is former Director of International Students at Blue Mountain College in Tapanui, which hosted international students and taught them English and about New Zealand culture. She is a funeral celebrant and oral historian working with a group to interview those over the age of 85 to record their stories. She is founding member of Step Sisters Leisure Marching Team and organises the annual Heriot School Craft Week, coordinating local women to organise craft projects including baking, woodwork, and sewing for 80 children. She is vice Chairperson of Moa Flat Rural Women. She organised the Armistice Day centenary celebrations for West Otago and chairs the annual ANZAC services at Heriot and Dunedin. McHutchon has been a member for more than 40 years of Heriot Plunket Society and is a past Chairperson and Life Member.

McHutchon was also awarded the A&P Society, Agriculture Community Award in 1995 and the Clutha District Council Community Service Award in 2020.

The full list of New Years Honours is:

Dames Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Lisa Marie Carrington, for services to canoe racing; Sophie Frances Pascoe for services to swimming; Janet Marie Shroff for services to the state and the community.

Knights Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Christopher Patrick Thomas Farrelly for services to health and the community; Robert Nairn Gillies for services to Māori and war commemoration; Professor Joel Ivor Mann for services to health.

Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Peter David Broughton (Rāwiri Paratene), for services to Māori, film and theatre

David Ronald Brunsdon for services to engineering and emergency management

Professor Philip Howard Butler for services to science, education and health

Dr Michael William Dunbier for services to agricultural science

Rodger Denis Fox for services to music

Dr Michèle Margaret Hawke for services to gymnastics

Professor Harlene Hayne for services to health and wellbeing

Helen Christine Lake for services to Plunket

Dr Geoffrey Bevan Lorigan for services to business and leadership development

Professor Emeritus Stuart Alan Middleton for services to education

Neil Andrew Richardson for services to business and philanthropy

John David Rosser for services to choral music

Dr Arapera Royal Tangaere for services to Māori and education

Faumuina Professor Fa'afetai Sopoaga for services to Pacific health and tertiary education

Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Tuita'alili Vaitava'e Su'a Aloese-Moe for services to the Pacific community

George Chandrakumar Arulanantham for services to the community

William John Blakey for services to education

Dr Linda Julia Morcombe Bryant for services to pharmacy and health

Gaye Maree Bryham for services to sport and recreation

Alison Pauline Cadman for services to housing and the community

Emeritus Professor Ralph Paul Cooney for services to science and innovation

Prodhumun Dayaram for services to orthopaedics

Dr Peter Francis Fennessy for services to agricultural science and business

Deborah Louise George for services to education and governance

Dr Anthony Jonathan Royce Godfrey for services to disabled people, particularly blind and low vision people

Anne Marie Te Puata Grennell for services to health

Bronwyn Elizabeth Hayward for services to people with disabilities and the arts

Richard Bond Hoskin for services to the blind and people with low vision

Professor John David Hutton for services to women's health education

Clare Francesca Jacobs (Dr Clare Healy) for services to medical forensic education

Dr Angela Jean Jury for services to victims of family and sexual violence

Phillip Ross Ker for services to tertiary education

Raymond Stanley Lind for services to industry training governance

John Bowden Mackintosh for services to the legal profession

Superintendent Peter Andrew McGregor for services to the New Zealand police and the community

Rosemary Margaret McLeod for services to journalism and television

Dr Lindsay Francis James Mildenhall for services to neonatal intensive care and resuscitation training

Roger Holmes Miller for services to governance and the community

Dianne Mary Milne for services to the rural community

Ross Mitchell-Anyon for services to the arts

Professor Evan Paul Moon for services to education and historical research

Dr Christopher David Moyes for services to health

Alexander Nathan for services to Māori and art

Celia Mary Patrick for services to tennis

Detective Superintendent Peter Dunbar Read for services to the New Zealand police and the community

Peter James Simpson for services to education

Campbell Roy Smith for services to the music industry

Monica Stockdale for services to Māori health

Jane Tehira for services to sport

Laura Gail Thompson for services to Paralympic cycling

James Edward Tucker for services to journalism

Victor Thomas Walker for services to the Māori community

Sina Moana Wendt for services to governance

Malcolm Ashley Wong for services to the community and New Zealand-China relations

Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit:

Farid Ahmed for services to interfaith communities

Louise Ānaru-Tangira for services to education

Dr Alison Patricia Barrett for services to women's health

Nigel John Floyd Borell for services to Māori art

Anne Marie Borren for services to ceramic art

Vivien Anna Bridgwater for services to governance and education

Jessie Chan for services to dairy and agriculture

John William Cheyne for services to conservation

Moira Janet Clunie for services to LGBTQI+ communities

Rebekah Helen Corlett for services to education

Beverley Grier Douglas for services to netball and the community

Kevin William Evans for services to wildlife conservation and the community

Meijia Feng for services to health and Asian communities

Dr Graeme Holt Fenton for services to Māori and rural health

Alfred Meredith Filipaina for services to the New Zealand police and the community

William Eccles Fleury (Bill) for services to conservation

Elizabeth Anne Goodwin for services to education

Gillian Margaret Gordon for services to musical theatre

Cheryl Anne Greer (Cheryl MacDonald) for services to oncological nursing

Tanea Jane Heke for services to the arts and Māori

Alison Maynard Henry for services to conservation and the community

Melanie Lyn Hewitson for services to governance

Dr Kathleen Gaye Irwin for services to Māori education

Ian James Jackson for services to the plumbing industry and the community

Judith Anne Jessop for services to lifesaving and water safety

Ian McKenzie Jordan for services to the livestock industry

Anthony Rangi Kake for services to Māori

Noel James Inglis Kay for services to surf lifesaving

Shane Patrick McManaway for services to agriculture and the community

James Anderson McPhee for services to judo

Susan Mary Miller for services to agricultural journalism

Marilyn Joan Moffatt for services to surf lifesaving

Dr Rose Namoori-Sinclair for services to the Kiribati community

Patrick William Newman for services to education

John Rutherfurd Oliver for services to philanthropy

Robert Mark Oliver for services to the food industry and Pacific communities

Shane (Shannon) Karen Pakura for services to social work

Shelley Aileen Payne for services to people with intellectual disabilities

Margery Sylvia Pita for services to music

Helen Bernice Purcell for services to public health nursing

Venkat Raman for services to the Indian community

George Haig Reedy for services to people with disabilities and the community

Namulau'ulu Taotua Leaoa Joshua James Potoa'e Robertson for services to the Pacific community

Dr Kenneth Robert Romeril for services to haemotology

Hans Rook for services to wildlife conservation

Professor Jacinta Arianna Ruru for services to Māori and the law

Leicester Malcolm Rutledge for services to rugby and the community

Rukumoana Tira Marie Schaafhausen for services to Māori and the community

Dr Angela Denise Sharples for services to education

Rochana Sheward for services to the community

Gwendoline Smith for services to mental health

Allan Stowers for services to the Samoan community

Kolokesa Uafā Māhina-Tuai for services to cultures and the arts

Helen Muriel Tuhoro for services to education

Frian Percy Wadia for services to disability and education

John Tahana Ward-Holmes for services to Māori and conservation

Air Commodore Darryn Robert Webb for services to the New Zealand Defence Force

Alan Bruce Whiteman for services to fullbore target rifle shooting

Michele June-Marie Whiting for services to education

Beryl Joan Wilcox for services to the community

Dr John Douglas Wilson for services to health and seniors

Rosalie Myrtle Martha Wrathall for services to golf

William Richard Wright for services to conservation

Teremoana Yala for services to the Cook Islands community

Companions of the Queen's Service Order

Stephanie (Steve) Anne Chadwick For services to local government and as a Member of Parliament

Kenneth James Durbin for services to the community and youth

Margaret Ann Hartley for services to local government and the community

Lewis Vernon Sanson for services to conservation and public service

Queen's Service Medal

Jennifer Agnew for services to historical research and the Chinese community

Trevor Gordon Agnew for services to children's literacy and historical research

Nonu 'Unga Alatini for services to the Tongan community and education

Robyn Baldwin for services to seniors

Aart Brusse for services to music

David John Bullock for services to bowls administration

Lynley Ann Bunton for services to education and the community

Peter Powles Caccia-Birch for services to the community

Keith Raynor Carter for services to the community

Gina Blaize Chaffey-Aupouri for services to Māori

John Lawrence Cocking for services to theatre and the community

Glenn Graeme Cockroft for services to traffic safety

Claire Annette Eyes for services to midwifery

Hazel Beatrice Georgantis for services to the community

Ina Mary Hansen for services to rugby and education

William Mervyn Harris for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community

Brenda Mary Hayes for services to theatre

David Dennis Hinman for services to tramways and heritage

Thomas Edward Howard for services to conservation, particularly wildlife conservation

Alan Wayne Kissell for services to the community

Catherine Mary Knight for services to the community

Jacinta Maria Krefft for services to youth

Jillian Meryl Lord for services to genealogy

Coral Ann Macdonald for services to floristry

Alistair Donald MacDougall for services to the community

Vaisamoa Manoa for services to the Tuvalu community

Wayne Calven Martin for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand

Ailsa Diane McGilvary (Ailsa McGilvary-Howard) for services to conservation, particularly wildlife conservation

Gloria Elaine McHutchon for services to the community

Ernest Ryburn Meyer for services to the community and education

Maureen Stuart Meyer for services to the community

Reverend Canon Ihipera Waikare Morrell for services to the Māori language and community

Irene Edith Mosley for services to the community

Janet Elinor Oakley for services to the community and the arts

Yvonne Margaret O'Dowd for services to the community

Taulapu Oliver for services to the Pacific community

Glorious Marie Oxenham for services to the Melanesian community

Jane Painter for services to the community

Nicholas David Perrin for services to historical research

Nigel Ernest Perry for services to tennis and table tennis

Jan Maree Rutledge for services to transitional housing

Sandra Maree Spier for services to health and the community

Alison Rosemary Stanes for services to the environment

Garry Manson Taylor for services to the community and philanthropy

Kevin Manson Taylor for services to the community and philanthropy

Ingi Kulesa Sale Tusini-Rex for services to the Niue community

Brian William Vincent for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand and the community

Noeline Ann Watson for services to the community

Paul Henry Wilkins for services to Fire and Emergency New Zealand the community

John David Thomas Williamson for services to the community

Honorary

Jessica Wim Geertje Buddendijk for services to the aged care sector

Tito Daurewa for services to the Pacific community and Pacific rugby

Falanisesi Fusitu'a Hafoka for services to the Tongan community

New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration

Lieutenant Colonel Anthony Dean Blythen for services to the New Zealand Defence Force

Wing Commander Richard Francis Deihl for services to the New Zealand Defence Force