High-profile entertainers Dai Henwood and Suzy Cato, and former government minister Steven Joyce are among those recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.
Read the full list: King’s Birthday Honours 2025
Henwood, who has today been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, is a television host and stand-up comedian who has been performing on both television and stage for 25 years.
He is battling bowel cancer after being diagnosed in 2020. Henwood has also been a vocal advocate for those living with the disease, as well as campaigning on men’s mental health. Henwood played a role in raising more than $250,000 for the Cancer Society in 2023.
Speaking to 1News about the honour, Henwood said he feels blessed he has been able to do comedy for over half his life within Aotearoa and abroad, while making people laugh.
“Comedy is something people need, especially now.”
He added he has “seen the best of humanity” since sharing his diagnosis, and gets emails every day from people relating to the experience.
“I’m super proud I went public… this honour has given me this pause and this time to reflect on my career, which I don’t often do… and actually taking a moment to look at a few achievements, rather than just sort of moving forward, has been awesome.”
Henwood said his mother, Dame Carolyn Henwood, and late father, Ray Henwood, had both received a royal honour, and him receiving one has been a happy moment for him and his family despite a tough few years.
“In a year that I’ve had a lot of twists and turns with my cancer… it’s been very hard, very hard on myself and my whānau, so this brings a smile to my face.”
Children’s entertainer Suzy Cato has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
She has been a central figure in children’s programming, education and music for more than 35 years.
Along with her work in children’s entertainment, Cato is also an ambassador for organisations such as the SPCA and Pink Shirt Day, and is a key organiser of the New Zealand Children’s Music Awards each year.
Cato told 1News it was an “absolute honour” to be recognised.
“It’s not just honouring me and my mahi, but it is honouring all those I’ve worked with, the wonderful teams, because it’s not just one person, ever. You’ve got an amazing team for whatever project you work on.
“So its not only honouring them, its honouring the kids and their families, right across Aotearoa and through so many generations.”
Cato said it shows the importance of programming for tamariki, and she isn’t stopping any time soon.
“It is a heartfelt honour, and I am so grateful that we are recognising children, and the mahi that has been done for so long by so many in ensuring that children have the best start to life as possible.
“Whether that is through preschool entertainment, or education, or broadcasting. Giving kids a start, giving them hope, and giving them a great future. I am so grateful for that.”
Steven Joyce has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services as a National Party MP from 2008 to 2018.
Joyce held a wide range of Government portfolios, including finance and transport.
He was responsible for difficult issues, such as Novopay, the government response to the grounding of the ship the Rena in 2011 and a botulism scare. He also led the rollout of New Zealand’s ultrafast broadband network and created the concept of roads of national significance.
Many other notable Kiwis were recognised in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours across many different fields.
Politics
Ruth Richardson has been made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services as a member of Parliament and to governance. She served as National’s Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993, the first woman to hold the portfolio, and delivered the controversial “Mother of all Budgets” in 1991.
Dover Samuels has been made a Companion of the King’s Service Order for his services as a member of Parliament. Samuels was a Labour Party List member in the 1990s before becoming the Member of Parliament for Te Tai Tokerau from 1999 to 2005. He served as Minister for Māori Affairs.
Sport
Sophie Devine has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to cricket. Devine was selected for the White Ferns at age 17 in 2006, and has been the captain of the White Ferns since 2020.
Tim Southee has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to cricket. Southee, who retired in 2024, was captain of the team in all formats of the game. He is currently the Black Caps’ all-time leading international wicket-taker with 770 dismissals across all formats.
Murray Mexted has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to rugby. Mexted was an All Black between 1979 and 1985, and an adovcate for rugby union. In 2001 he founded The International Rugby Academy of New Zealand, and has helped to enhance coaching standards and talent recognition in rugby across the globe.
Sarah Walker has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to BMX and sports governance. Walker is an internationally accomplished BMX rider and currently represents New Zealand as a member of the International Olympic Committee.
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to rugby. She is the top try scorer in women’s sevens history, and has been recognised as a leading figure in New Zealand women’s rugby. Woodman-Wickliffe has promoted gender equality in sports and has participated in various programmes providing mentorship, training and resources to help young women develop their sports skills and confidence.
Education
Paul Spoonley has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to sociology. He has been recognised as a distinguished professor, who served 42 years as a teacher and researcher in sociology at Massey University, and retired in 2021.
Spoonley has published 29 books and has more than 300 peer-reviewed academic journal articles and is a regularly contributor to the media. He fostered strong relationships with local authorities and the community through community-based research.
He served as Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences between 2013 and 2019 and was co-director of the National Centre for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism.
Entertainment
Jude Dobson has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her work in entertainment, community charities and history preservation. Shows she’s presented include Sale of the Century, 5.30 with Jude and parenting programme Homegrown.
Knights and Dames
Ranjna Patel, a multi-award-winning leader and advocate for community wellbeing, has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to ethnic communities, health and family violence prevention.
Professor Alison Stewart, an internationally renowned scientist, has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to plant science and the arable sector.
Catriona Williams, founder and driving force behind CatWalk Spinal Cord Injury Trust, has been made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to spinal cord injury research and equestrian sport.
Mark Cooper, president of the Court of Appeal from April 2022 to November 2024, has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to the judiciary.
Brendan Lindsay, who founded Sistema Plastics in 1982, has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to business and philanthropy.
Ewan Smith, managing director of Air Rarotonga Ltd since 1978, has been made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to Cook Islands business and tourism.
