| Order of New Zealand | |
|---|---|
Badge of a Member of the Order of New Zealand (neck ribbon and bow) | |
| Awarded by theMonarch of New Zealand | |
| Type | Order |
| Founded | 6 February 1987 |
| 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 |
![]() Ribbon of the Order of New Zealand | |
TheOrder of New Zealand is the highest honour in theNew 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 byroyal warrant on 6 February 1987. The order is modelled on theOrder of Merit and theOrder of the Companions of Honour.[1]
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 in1990 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.[1] Members are entitled to thepost-nominal letters "ONZ".
Appointments to the order are made byroyal 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 thecoronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023, and took part in the procession of the King and Queen at the beginning of the ceremony.[2]
The insignia is made up of an oval medallion of thecoat 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.